Investigation of Clinical, Laboratory, Imaging Findings and Histopathological Features of Patients with Gastric Neuroendocrine Cell Hyperplasia.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia is a non-neoplastic proliferation of enterochromaffin-like cells and is considered a premalignant lesion because of their potential to progress to neuroendocrine tumor. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the demographic and clinical features, laboratory, radiological and endoscopic findings, gastric biopsy histopathological features, follow-up frequency, and histopathological findings of patients diagnosed with gastric neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia as well as to investigate the factors that play a role in the development of neuroendocrine tumors on the basis of neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study has been conducted in 2 centers with 282 patients that were grouped as those with and without neuroendocrine tumor. Individuals with control endoscopy were separated as those with regression of neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia and those without regression, and the determined parameters were evaluated between the groups. RESULTS: The most common histological subtype of neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia was linear+micronodular (50.4%). Neuroendocrine tumor developed in 4.3% (12/282) of the patients with neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia after a mean of 36 months. The presence of polyps as confirmed via endoscopy and dysplasia as confirmed via histopathological examination was significantly higher in favor of the group with neuroendocrine tumor (P = .01). In patients with neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia regressed and patients in whom it did not regress were examined, the rate of asymptomatic patients and increased sedimentation rate were found in favor of the group that did not regress (P = .02 and P = .02), but no difference was found in other parameters. CONCLUSION: Neuroendocrine tumor development rate was found to be 4.3% in the background of neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia. Two factors predicting progression from neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia to neuroendocrine tumor can be elaborated as the presence of polypoid appearance due to neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia as confirmed via endoscopy and dysplasia as confirmed via histopathological examination.

Impact of HER2-Low status in metastatic gastric cancer:A real-world retrospective cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: Information regarding HER2-low tumors in metastatic gastric cancer is sparse. Our aim here was to determine the frequency of low HER2 expression in metastatic gastric cancer and to compare the clinicopathological characteristics, survival, and treatment response of HER2-low patients with HER2-zero patients. METHODS: All the data were collected retrospectively from computerized system of the hospital. We categorized the patients according to clinicopathological features, treatment responses, and survival in terms of HER2-low tumors and HER2-zero tumors. RESULTS: Of 226 patients, 71 (31.4%) had low HER2 expression and 155 (68.6%) had zero HER2 expression. HER2-low tumors were detected more frequently in older patients and in low-grade tumors than HER2-zero tumors (69% vs 47.7%, P = 0.003, 16.9% vs 3.8%, P < 0.001). All patients received a first-line chemotherapy regimen. The disease control rate was not statistically different between both groups (40% vs 46.4%, P=0.11). The median survival was 12.05 (95% CI, 8.09-16.02) months in HER2-low patients, and 10.41 (95% CI, 8.52-12.3) months in HER20-zero patients with no statistical difference (P=0.73). CONCLUSION: HER2-low metastatic gastric cancer has a higher rate of being low-grade than HER2-zero tumors. HER2-low metastatic gastric cancer is similar to HER2-zero in terms of chemotherapy response and survival.

Rectal biopsy: is it really necessary in anorectal malformations?

AIM OF THE STUDY: The coexistence of Hirschsprung's disease (HD) with anorectal malformation (ARM) is rare but many surgeons still ask pathologists to look for ganglia in the terminal rectum or fistula. In this study, we aimed to highlight the rarity of this association and question the necessity of histological evaluation. METHODS: After obtaining board review approval, rectal specimens of ARM patients who underwent corrective surgery in the last 8 years were re-analyzed by two blinded pathologists for the presence and structure of ganglia. Clinical and radiological data of patients retrieved from center records and correlated with histopathologic findings. MAIN RESULTS: 67 patients with ARM were identified, distal rectal specimen was obtained in 47. The median age at the time of surgery was 11 months (2 days-59 months). A normal pattern of ganglia was present in 51.1% (24/47), 29.7% (14/47) had aganglionosis and 19.1% (9/47) were inconclusive due to insufficient material. None of the aganglionic specimens showed other histological findings of HD. Patients were followed up regularly in the outpatient colorectal clinic for a median of 87 months (42-117 m). Only 6 experienced severe constipation (3 ganglionic, 2 no biopsy, 1 aganglionic), all of whom responded to a bowel management program, and none developed other manifestations of HD (abdominal distension, failure to thrive or enterocolitis) or required additional surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Our results strongly suggest that the association of ARM and HD is extremely rare and the practice of searching for ganglia in the distal rectum or fistula of ARM patients should be discouraged to avoid potential misdiagnosis and overtreatment.

Tissue Expression of Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin and Kidney Injury Molecule-1 in Breast Cancers.

Objective: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide. Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) has important roles in immunity, cell proliferation, and carcinogenesis. Kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) is a transmembrane glycoprotein also known as hepatitis A virus cellular receptor 1 and T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin, has restricted expression in immune cells and healthy epithelial cells, but it is up-regulated in several human cancers. The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic values of NGAL and KIM-1 expression in tumor cells and to detect the presence of NGAL-positive neutrophils (PNL) in the tumor microenvironment. Materials and Methods: The expression of NGAL and KIM-1 protein were assessed by immunohistochemical staining in tissue specimens from 412 primary breast cancer cases. Results: In this series, the mean age of the patients was 55.6±12.4 years. In 218 (52.9%) cases, there was NGAL expression in tumor cells. In 104 (25.2%) cases there was KIM-1 expression in tumor cells. NGAL-positive inflammatory cells were seen in tumors of 45 (10.9%) cases. There was no significant relationship between NGAL-positive PNL presence in the tumor microenvironment and other clinicopathological features. However, there was a significant association between the presence of in situ carcinomas and NGAL expression (p = 0.008) and KIM-1 expression (p = 0.020) in tumor cells. Conclusion: This study has demonstrated positivity of NGAL and KIM-1 in breast cancer cells. Considering the development of anti-KIM-1 therapies, the presence of KIM-1 expression may be a new treatment option in breast cancer, especially in in situ component-rich tumors. These findings should be confirmed in larger series.

The prognostic significance of serum CA125 levels with ER, PR, P53 and Ki-67 expression in endometrial carcinomas.

OBJECTIVES: The present study evaluates the relationship between the expression levels of hormone receptors (HRs), Ki-67, p53 and serum cancer antigen 125 (CA125) levels in endometrial cancer and clinicopathological risk factors, and determines their prognostic values. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This retrospective study included 49 patients with endometrial cancer whose estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) Ki-67 and p53 expression levels were determined through immunohistochemical methods, and whose preoperative serum CA125 levels were measured. These factors relationship with various clinicopathological factors, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) was investigated. RESULTS: The study included 49 patients with EC with a mean age of 61 ± 10 years. The rate of HR positivity was significantly higher in the endometrioid histology group than in the non-endometroid histology group (p = 0.026). A high level of Ki- 67 expression was found to be associated with a non-endometroid histology (p = 0.016), and a high tumor grade (p < 0.001) and a high p53 expression were found to be associated with advanced disease stage (p = 0.026). A positive correlation was found between p53 and Ki-67, a negative correlation was found between p53 and Ki-67 and the presence of HR. Significant relationship was not found between HR status, p53, Ki-67, CA125 and either other clinicopathological risk factors or survival. CONCLUSIONS: While HR positivity indicates favorable clinicopathological prognostic factors, high Ki-67 and high p53 expression indicate unfavorable ones. However, no direct effect of these factors on prognosis was found in this study.

Tissue expression of human epididymal secretory protein 4 may be useful in the differential diagnosis of uterine cervical tumors.

OBJECTIVES: Human Epididymal Secretory Protein 4 was firstly described as an epididymis-specific protein but more recently it has been demonstrated to be a putative serum tumor marker for different malignancies, especially ovarian epithelial cancers. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between tissue Human Epididymal Secretory Protein 4 expression and the clinicopathological features of uterine cervical tumors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This retrospective study was designed to evaluate the differences of tissue expressions of Human Epididymal Secretory Protein 4 protein in a spectrum of cervical neoplasms. One hundred and seven patients recently diagnosed as having cervical intraepithelial neoplasm or invasive squamous cell carcinoma, adenosquamous carcinoma and adenocarcinoma based on pathology databases. RESULTS: Decreased or negative Human Epididymal Secretory Protein 4 expressions were determined in both normal cervical epithelia and in intraepithelial carcinomas, while increased HE4 expression was observed in invasive tumors. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that altered expression of Human Epididymal Secretory Protein 4 may involve in tumorigenesis in the uterine cervix. Our findings also suggested the presence of a correlation between Human Epididymal Secretory Protein 4 expression and the invasive potential of uterine tumors. Therefore it may be thought that the tissue expression of HE4 can be used to differentiate high grade intraepithelial tumors from carcinomas.

Differences in the ARID-1 alpha expressions in squamous and adenosquamous carcinomas of uterine cervix.

AT-rich interactive domain 1A (ARID1A) is a tumor suppressor gene involved in chromatin remodeling which encodes ARID1A (BAF250a) protein. Recent studies have shown the loss of ARID1A expression in several types of tumors. This retrospective study was designed to evaluate the differences in tissue expressions of ARID1A in a spectrum of cervical neoplasms. Cervical intraepithelial neoplasms, invasive squamous or adenosquamous carcinomas were identified in 100 patients recently diagnosed as cervical neoplasms based on pathology databases. In this series, there were 29 low- and 29 high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasms, 27 squamous cell carcinomas, and 15 adenosquamous carcinomas. Mean age of the patients was 47.8 ± 13 years (20-80 years). It was determined that the expression of ARID1A was statistically significantly down-regulated in adenosquamous carcinomas when compared with non-invasive or invasive squamous cell carcinomas (p = 0.015). Lower levels of the ARID1A expression were detected in cases with adenosquamous carcinomas (60%), low- or high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL) (31%), and squamous cell carcinomas (18.5%). Our findings have demonstrated the presence of a correlation between ARID1A expression and adenomatous differentiation of uterine squamous cell carcinomas. Therefore, ARID1A gene may suggestively have a role in the pathogenesis of cervical adenosquamous carcinomas.

A pitfall in transrectal prostate biopsy: malakoplakia evaluation of two cases based on the literature review.

Malakoplakia is a rarely seen inflammatory condition that is considered to develop secondary to a chronic Escherichia coli infection. Although malakoplakia usually affects the genitourinary tract, it may also be observed in the colon, stomach, lungs, liver, bones, uterus, and skin. Malakoplakia of the genitourinary system usually involves the bladder, whereas it may also affect the prostate along with the bladder. Malakoplakia of the prostate is very rare, and it may be clinically mistaken for prostatic malignancies. Definitive diagnosis is only possible through histopathological examination. This study elaborates on two patients who presented to our hospital in 2013 with high PSA levels. The primary clinical consideration was prostate carcinoma. However, these two cases were diagnosed as malakoplakia based on the results of histopathological analysis of the transrectal prostate biopsy specimen.

Diagnosis of primary langerhans cell histiocytosis of the vulva in a postmenopausal woman.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a very rare disease of female genital tract, most commonly seen in vulva and unusual in postmenopausal period. Herein, we report the 8th case of pure vulvar LCH in a postmenopausal woman. We pay attention to the differential diagnosis in postmenopausal state, features of pathologic diagnosis, and treatment options.