Identification of Germline FOXE1 and Somatic MAPK Pathway Gene Alterations in Patients with Malignant Struma Ovarii, Cleft Palate and Thyroid Cancer.

Germline variants in the FOXE1 transcription factor have been associated with thyroid ectopy, cleft palate (CP) and thyroid cancer (TC). Here, we aimed to clarify the role of FOXE1 in Portuguese families (F1 and F2) with members diagnosed with malignant struma ovarii (MSO), an ovarian teratoma with ectopic malignant thyroid tissue, papillary TC (PTC) and CP. Two rare germline heterozygous variants in the FOXE1 promoter were identified: F1) c.-522G>C, in the proband (MSO) and her mother (asymptomatic); F2) c.9C>T, in the proband (PTC), her sister and her mother (CP). Functional studies using rat normal thyroid (PCCL3) and human PTC (TPC-1) cells revealed that c.9C>T decreased FOXE1 promoter transcriptional activity in both cell models, while c.-522G>C led to opposing activities in the two models, when compared to the wild type. Immunohistochemistry and RT-qPCR analyses of patients' thyroid tumours revealed lower FOXE1 expression compared to adjacent normal and hyperplastic thyroid tissues. The patient with MSO also harboured a novel germline AXIN1 variant, presenting a loss of heterozygosity in its benign and malignant teratoma tissues and observable ß-catenin cytoplasmic accumulation. The sequencing of the F1 (MSO) and F2 (PTC) probands' tumours unveiled somatic BRAF and HRAS variants, respectively. Germline FOXE1 and AXIN1 variants might have a role in thyroid ectopy and cleft palate, which, together with MAPK pathway activation, may contribute to tumours' malignant transformation.

Low-grade developmental and epilepsy associated brain tumors: a critical update 2020.

Brain tumors represent the second most frequent etiology in patients with focal seizure onset before 18 years of age and submitted to epilepsy surgery. Hence, this category of brain tumors, herein defined as low-grade, developmental, epilepsy-associated brain tumors (LEAT) is different from those frequently encountered in adults as (A): 77% of LEAT occur in the temporal lobe; (B): the vast majority of LEAT are of low malignancy and classified as WHO I°; (C): LEAT are often composed of mixed glial and neuronal cell components and present with variable growth patterns including small cysts or nodules; (D): LEAT do not share common gene driving mutations, such as IDH1 or 1p/19q co-deletions. Characteristic entities comprise the ganglioglioma (GG), the dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor (DNT), the angiocentric glioma (AG), the isomorphic diffuse glioma (IDG) and the papillary glio-neuronal tumor (PGNT), representing 73.2% of 1680 tumors collected in a large German series of 6747 patients submitted to epilepsy surgery. In the realm of exciting discoveries of genetic drivers of brain tumors new genes have been also reported for LEAT. BRAF V600E mutations were linked to GG with CD34 expression, FGFR1 mutations to DNT, MYB alterations to AG and also IDG and PRKCA fusions to PGNT, suggesting the possibility to also develop a genetically driven tumor classification scheme for LEAT. Rare availability of LEAT in a single center is a challenging obstacle, however, to systematically unravel the neurobiological nature and clinical behavior of LEAT. Other challenges in need of clarification include malignant tumor progression of LEAT entities, seizure relapse in patients following bulk tumor resection and the controversial issue of associated focal cortical dysplasia as additional pathomechanism. In order to advance our understanding and promote reliable diagnostic work-up of LEAT, we recommend, therefore, international collaboration to achieve our goals.

Congenital dermoid inclusion cyst over the anterior fontanel in Chinese children.

Congenital dermoid inclusion cyst (CDIC) over the anterior fontanel is a rare and benign tumor. This study reports nine Chinese cases (three females and six males) with CDIC over the anterior fontanel. The clinical manifestations and imaging were analyzed retrospectively. Surgical resection was undertaken in all cases. The diagnosis of CDIC over the anterior fontanel was confirmed by histological examination. The cysts were all noticed soon after birth and enlarged gradually. They were soft, nontender with a sessile base without inflammatory signs and breaking. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed soft tissue mass over the anterior fontanel without intracranial extensions. The histopathological examination displayed stratified squamous epithelium with skin appendages. There were no complications or recurrence after operation during a follow-up for one year. CDIC over the anterior fontanel is a benign tumor. Imaging is recommended preoperatively to aid differential diagnosis. The main management is total excision with good prognosis.

Giant Ocular Lipodermoid Cyst in Encephalocraniocutaneous Lipomatosis: Surgical Treatment and Genetic Analysis.

BACKGROUND Encephalocraniocutaneous lipomatosis is a rare neurocutaneous disorder characterized by cutaneous, ocular, and central nervous system anomalies; its molecular etiology was recently identified. This report describes the surgical treatment and genetic characterization of a giant ocular lipodermoid cyst secondary to encephalocraniocutaneous lipomatosis. CASE REPORT An 11-year-old girl with past medical history of absence seizures presented with a reddish protruding mass in her right eye involving the temporal conjunctiva and the peripheral temporal cornea; eyelid closure was not possible due to mass protrusion. She also presented skin tags at the level of the external canthus and 3 alopecic areas at the level of the scalp compatible with nevus psiloliparus. No family history was reported. A dermoid cyst was suspected and excisional biopsy was performed under general anesthesia. A large conjunctival and lamellar corneoscleral resection was done, followed by a corneal tectonic graft. Molecular analysis was carried out, including PCR and Sanger sequencing on DNA obtained from the mass. After surgery, the patient achieved complete eyelid closure, reduction of ocular surface symptoms, and improved aesthetic appearance. Histological analysis confirmed a lipodermoid cyst; genetic tests confirmed a mosaic activating mutation in FGFR1 (c.1638C>A, p.Asn546Lys). The diagnosis was encephalocraniocutaneous lipomatosis. CONCLUSIONS ECCL is a rare condition; an accurate diagnosis comprising clinical and genetic aspects can facilitate the monitoring of possible complications, improve the multidisciplinary treatment, and provide valuable information for future therapy developments. In this case, the patient's quality of life improved significantly, ocular symptoms disappeared, and a good esthetic appearance was achieved.

Expansion of the phenotypic spectrum and description of molecular findings in a cohort of patients with oculocutaneous mosaic RASopathies.

BACKGROUND: Postzygotic KRAS, HRAS, NRAS, and FGFR1 mutations result in a group of mosaic RASopathies characterized by related developmental anomalies in eye, skin, heart, and brain. These oculocutaneous disorders include oculoectodermal syndrome (OES) encephalo-cranio-cutaneous lipomatosis (ECCL), and Schimmelpenning-Feuerstein-Mims syndrome (SFMS). Here, we report the results of the clinical and molecular characterization of a novel cohort of patients with oculocutaneous mosaic RASopathies. METHODS: Two OES, two ECCL, and two SFMS patients were ascertained in the study. In addition, two subjects with unilateral isolated epibulbar dermoids were also enrolled. Molecular analysis included PCR amplification and Sanger sequencing of KRAS, HRAS, NRAS, and FGFR1 genes in DNA obtained from biopsies (skin/epibulbar dermoids), buccal mucosa, and blood leukocytes. Massive parallel sequencing was employed in two cases with low-level mosaicism. RESULTS: In DNA from biopsies, mosaicism for pathogenic variants, including KRAS p.Ala146Thr in two OES subjects, FGFR1 p.Asn546Lys and KRAS p.Ala146Val in ECCL patients, and KRAS p.Gly12Asp in both SFMS patients, was demonstrated. No mutations were shown in DNA from conjunctival lesions in two subjects with isolated epibubar dermoids. CONCLUSION: Our study allowed the expansion of the clinical spectrum of mosaic RASopathies and supports that mosaicism for recurrent mutations in KRAS and FGFR1 is a commonly involved mechanism in these rare oculocutaneous anomalies.

Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome with Epibulbar Dermoid: An Unusual Association in a Patient with 4p Deletion and Functional Xp Disomy.

Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome (WHS) is a contiguous gene and multiple malformation syndrome that results from a deletion in the 4p16.3 region. We describe here a 6-month-old girl that presented with WHS features but also displayed unusual findings, such as epibulbar dermoid in the left eye, ear tags, and left microtia. Although on G-banding her karyotype appeared to be normal, chromosomal microarray analysis revealed an ∼13-Mb 4p16.3p15.33 deletion and an ∼9-Mb Xp22.33p22.31 duplication, resulting from a balanced maternal t(X;4)(p22.31;p15.33) translocation. The patient presented with functional Xp disomy due to an unbalanced X-autosome translocation, a rare cytogenetic finding in females with unbalanced rearrangements. Sequencing of both chromosome breakpoints detected no gene disruption. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first patient described in the literature with WHS and epibulbar dermoid, a typical characteristic of the oculoauriculovertebral spectrum (OAVS). Our data suggest that possible candidate genes for OAVS may have been deleted along with the WHS critical region.

Giant intra-abdominal mature cystic teratoma (dermoid cyst) in an adult man, with male genitourinary tissue including prostatic and penile elements.

We describe a case of a giant intra-abdominal mature cystic teratoma in a 36-year-old man, which comprised typical features of differentiated teratoma/dermoid cyst but which contained a macroscopic rudimentary penis, with vasoformative erectile tissue-like structures consistent with corpora cavernosa, as well as scrotal-type skin and prostatic tissue. The genitourinary structures were well formed both grossly and microscopically and sharply demarcated from the rest of the neoplasm, which comprised typical differentiated teratoma, without any other macroscopic foci of organoid differentiation or of other histologic differentiation. The plasticity of the cells of differentiated teratoma, which enables it to undergo multidirectional differentiation, is well recognized, but the factors determining this distinct path of differentiation remain to be established.

Specific mosaic KRAS mutations affecting codon 146 cause oculoectodermal syndrome and encephalocraniocutaneous lipomatosis.

Oculoectodermal syndrome (OES) and encephalocraniocutaneous lipomatosis (ECCL) are rare disorders that share many common features, such as epibulbar dermoids, aplasia cutis congenita, pigmentary changes following Blaschko lines, bony tumor-like lesions, and others. About 20 cases with OES and more than 50 patients with ECCL have been reported. Both diseases were proposed to represent mosaic disorders, but only very recently whole-genome sequencing has led to the identification of somatic KRAS mutations, p.Leu19Phe and p.Gly13Asp, in affected tissue from two individuals with OES. Here we report the results of molecular genetic studies in three patients with OES and one with ECCL. In all four cases, Sanger sequencing of the KRAS gene in DNA from lesional tissue detected mutations affecting codon 146 (p.Ala146Val, p.Ala146Thr) at variable levels of mosaicism. Our findings thus corroborate the evidence of OES being a mosaic RASopathy and confirm the common etiology of OES and ECCL. KRAS codon 146 mutations, as well as the previously reported OES-associated alterations, are known oncogenic KRAS mutations with distinct functional consequences. Considering the phenotype and genotype spectrum of mosaic RASopathies, these findings suggest that the wide phenotypic variability does not only depend on the tissue distribution but also on the specific genotype.

Síndrome de Goldenhar: a propósito de un caso / Goldenhar syndrome. A report of a new case

El síndrome de Goldenhar forma parte del espectro de anomalías del primer y segundo arco branquial. Constituye una entidad congénita poco frecuente, caracterizada por la asociación de anomalías oculares, auriculares, mandibulares y vertebrales, y cuya etiología permanece aún desconocida. A continuación describimos el caso de un recién nacido que presenta hallazgos clínicos compatibles, que incluyen la asociación de lipodermoide conjuntival unilateral, apéndices preauriculares, hipoplasia hemifacial e hipoplasia de pabellones auriculares. Así mismo, se hace una breve revisión basada en el conjunto de los casos que hasta el presente han aparecido en la literatura científica (AU)

Goldenharsyndrome is part of the spectrumof anomalies of thefirst and secondbranchial arch. It is ararecongenitalentity characterizedby the association ofeye, headphones, mandibularandvertebral abnormalities, and whoseetiology remainsunknown. Here we describe the case of a newborn who has compatible clinical findings, including the association of unilateral conjunctival lipodermoid, preauricular tags, hemifacial hypoplasia and hypoplastic ears. Likewise, a brief review based on all the cases that have so far appeared in the literature is made (AU)

Oculoectodermal syndrome is a mosaic RASopathy associated with KRAS alterations.

Oculoectodermal syndrome (OES) is a rare disease characterized by a combination of congenital scalp lesions and ocular dermoids, with additional manifestations including non-ossifying fibromas and giant cell granulomas of the jaw occurring during the first decade of life. To identify the genetic etiology of OES, we conducted whole-genome sequencing of several tissues in an affected individual. Comparison of DNA from a non-ossifying fibroma to blood-derived DNA allowed identification of a somatic missense alteration in KRAS NM_033360.3(KRAS):c.38G>A, resulting in p.Gly13Asp. This alteration was also observed in the patient's other affected tissues including the skin and muscle. Targeted sequencing in a second, unrelated OES patient identified an NM_033360.3(KRAS):c.57G>C, p.Leu19Phe alteration. Allelic frequencies fell below 40% in all tissues examined in both patients, suggesting that OES is a mosaic RAS-related disorder, or RASopathy. The characteristic findings in OES, including scalp lesions, ocular dermoids, and benign tumors, are found in other mosaic and germline RASopathies. This discovery also broadens our understanding of the spectrum of phenotypes resulting from KRAS alterations. Future research into disease progression with regard to malignancy risk and investigation of RAS-targeted therapies in OES is warranted. KRAS sequencing is clinically available and may also now improve OES diagnostic criteria.

KRAS mutation in adenocarcinoma of the gastrointestinal type arising from a mature cystic teratoma of the ovary.

Mature cystic teratomas (MCT) in the ovary rarely undergo malignant transformation. Moreover, adenocarcinoma of the gastrointestinal type is much rarer. We present two cases of perimenopausal female pateints with mature cystic teratoma of single ovary, while local adenocarcinoma arising in the MCT. The malignancies showed immunohistochemical features of intestinal differentiation, such as strong positivity for CDX-2, villin and CK-20, and negativity for CK-7. Furthermore, the mutation analysis of molecular alteration revealed a KRAS gene mutation in the intestinal adenocarcinoma part, extending into benign intestinal-type epithelium linings. Yet the mutation was not present in the epidermal component of the teratoma. We present these as two unique cases of mucinous adenocarcinoma of the intestinal type arising from mature cystic teratoma. Moreover, we also submit that this KRAS mutation might contribute to identify malignant transformation of a MCT and suggest possible effect on targeted treatment decisions for anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) therapy in metastasized patients.

PTCH1 gene polymorphisms in ovarian tumors: potential protective role of c.3944T allele.

In this study we investigated the types and role of different genetic changes of PTCH1 gene in three different types of ovarian tumors: carcinomas, fibromas and dermoids. LOH of the PTCH1 region was detected in 27.3% ovarian carcinoma samples, 18.18% ovarian fibroma samples and 55.56% ovarian dermoid samples. No point mutations were detected in any of the three types of ovarian tumors. SNP c.3944C>T showed significant differences between ovarian carcinoma and control samples with the minor T allele being significantly higher in controls compared to ovarian carcinomas. Interestingly, a new polymorphism c.-1184G>A was found only in tumor samples and further analyses should be performed in order to elucidate its potential role in ovarian tumors.

The Hedgehog signaling pathway in ovarian teratoma is stimulated by Sonic Hedgehog which induces internalization of Patched.

The Hedgehog-Gli (Hh-Gli) signaling pathway was examined in ovarian dermoids, which show characteristics of both tumors and developmental malformations. Dermoids are classified as mature teratomas that present differentiation into various tissues, mostly epidermal elements such as glands, multilayered epithelium, hair follicles and occasionally bone and cartilage. Their development is attributed to aberrant meiosis of germinal cells within the ovary. We showed activation of the Hh-Gli signaling in ovarian dermoid primary cultures. Cyclopamine treatment slows down cell proliferation, while the Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) protein stimulates cell proliferation and induces internalization of the Patched (Ptch) protein, which accumulates in the form of granules in the cytoplasm, colocalized with the Shh protein. Cyclopamine treatment decreases Gli1 localization in the nucleus compared to non-treated cells. Based on our observations, the mechanism of Hedgehog activation in the ovarian dermoids could be the ligand-dependent autocrine pathway, which can also be stimulated by paracrine signals.

Structural and biophysical insights into the ligand-free Pitx2 homeodomain and a ring dermoid of the cornea inducing homeodomain mutant.

The homeodomain-containing transcription factor Pitx2 (pituitary homeobox protein 2) is present in many developing embryonic tissues, including the heart. Its homeodomain is responsible for the recognition and binding to target DNA sequences and thus constitutes a major functional unit in the Pitx2 protein. Nuclear magnetic resonance techniques were employed to determine the solution structure of the native Pitx2 homeodomain and a R24H mutant that causes autosomal dominantly inherited ring dermoid of the cornea syndrome. The structures reveal that both isoforms possess the canonical homeodomain fold. However, the R24H mutation results in a 2-fold increase in DNA binding affinity and a 5 °C decrease in thermal stability, while changing the dynamic environment of the homeodomain only locally. When introduced into full-length Pitx2c, the mutation results in an only 25% loss of transactivation activity. Our data correlate well with clinical observations suggesting a milder deficiency for the R24H mutation compared to those of other Pitx2 homeodomain mutations.

Familial cystic teratomas: four case reports and review of the literature.

Mature cystic teratomas (MCTs) are some of the most common ovarian neoplasms in women of reproductive age. However, familial teratomas are exceedingly rare. We present 4 cases of dermoid cysts seen in a mother and her 3 daughters with left MCTs. None of the patients had symptoms at the time of diagnosis, but all of them were diagnosed in their twenties during an annual gynecologic examination. In this report, we elaborate on MCTs familial incidence, genetic linkage, theories of pathogenesis, diagnosis, complications, and surgical management. To our knowledge, after extensive review of the literature, there have been only 2 cases, in addition to the present case, of unilateral MCTs across generations reported.

Mutations of the KIT gene and loss of heterozygosity of the PTEN region in a primary malignant melanoma arising from a mature cystic teratoma of the ovary.

A tumor suppressor gene at 10q23.3, designated PTEN, encoding a dual-specificity phosphatase with lipid and protein phosphatase activity, has been shown to play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of a variety of human cancers. A frequent loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at 10q is found in melanoma; however, little is known about the role of PTEN in the pathogenesis of a primary malignant melanoma derived from ovarian mature cystic teratoma, which is an extremely rare melanoma. This study examined the genetic alterations involved in the mitogen-activated protein kinase and phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase pathways in an ovarian malignant melanoma. A LOH analysis revealed hemizygous deletion around and in the PTEN gene not only in the ovarian melanoma but also in a mature cystic teratoma. Another case of ovarian mature cystic teratomas in the absence of melanoma also showed allelic loss of the PTEN region. To date, mutations of BRAF, NRAS, and KIT genes have been reported in malignant melanomas. In the present study, D816H and K558E mutations of the KIT gene were revealed in the melanoma arising from a mature cystic teratoma, but not in a mature cystic teratoma. No mutations of the BRAF and NRAS genes were found in the melanoma. These results indicate that LOH of the PTEN region is one of the molecular alterations of an ovarian mature cystic teratoma and a KIT mutation is an additional promotional event associated with the oncogenesis of a melanoma arising from an ovarian mature cystic teratoma.