Serum cytokeratin 19 fragment 21-1 and carcinoembryonic antigen combination assay as a biomarker of tumour progression and treatment response in extramammary Paget disease.

BACKGROUND: Extramammary Paget disease (EMPD) is a rare intraepithelial adenocarcinoma affecting the genitals and axillary regions. As metastasis of these tumours is itself rare, solid disease management strategies have not been established. Serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and cytokeratin 19 fragment 21-1 (CYFRA 21-1) levels have been identified as candidate biomarkers for tumour progression in EMPD. OBJECTIVES: To determine the accuracy of and the correlation between these markers in patients with EMPD. METHODS: Serum CEA and CYFRA 21-1 levels were examined in 30 patients with EMPD treated at Keio University Hospital, and compared against clinical information. Both assays were performed at the time of diagnosis, during the postoperative observation period, and following systemic treatment in those with confirmed metastasis. Serum levels were then correlated with tumour progression status and treatment responses. RESULTS: Normal levels for both assays were observed in all 11 patients with primary localized disease (100%). In patients with metastatic disease the CEA positivity rate was 79% (15 of 19 patients), with a rate of 63% (12 of 19 patients) for CYFRA 21-1. Changes in CEA and CYFRA 21-1 levels were statistically independent; however, using a combined view, elevated levels of either marker improved the positivity rate to 95% (18 of 19 patients). Use of both markers also correlated well with treatment responses. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of CEA and CYFRA 21-1 is useful for predicting metastasis and treatment response in patients with EMPD, especially in those who only have elevation of a single marker. What's already known about this topic? Serum levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and cytokine 19 fragment 21-1 (CYFRA 21-1) have been shown to be elevated in patients with extramammary Paget disease (EMPD). Elevation of serum CEA levels is associated with tumour progression of EMPD. A single small study reported that serum CYFRA 21-1 levels are elevated in patients with EMPD with lymph node metastasis. What does this study add? Serum CEA and CYFRA 21-1 were present in 79% and 63% of 19 cases of metastatic EMPD, respectively. Elevations of CEA and CYFRA 21-1 were statistically independent. CEA and CYFRA 21-1 combination assays were positive in 95% of cases of metastatic EMPD. What is the translational message? Combination assays with CEA and CYFRA 21-1 are useful for monitoring treatment response in patients with metastatic EMPD, particularly in those with elevation of either marker.

Expression of monoacylglycerol lipase as a marker of tumour invasion and progression in malignant melanoma.

BACKGROUND: Accumulating evidence suggests that the lipid lytic enzyme monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) promotes tumour invasion and metastasis through up-regulation of pro-tumorigenic signalling lipids in several tumour cell lines. However, the expression status of MAGL in clinical melanoma tissues and its clinicopathological significance remain unclear. OBJECTIVE: To correlate the tumour expression status of MAGL with the clinicopathological information of patients with malignant melanoma. METHODS: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) array screening was performed, and the results were validated using immunocytochemical analysis of tumour and non-tumour melanocytic cell lines. Immunohistochemical staining for MAGL was performed for 74 melanoma samples, including 48 primary and 26 metastatic tumours, in which the expression of MAGL was determined by evaluating the percentage of MAGL-positive tumour cells and the MAGL staining intensity. Finally, we analysed the association of MAGL expression status with tumour progression, tumour thickness and vascular invasion of the primary lesion. RESULTS: Immunocytochemical analysis revealed that MAGL was expressed in all 12 melanoma cell lines, but not in normal human epidermal melanocytes. In the immunohistochemical analysis, positive staining for MAGL was noted in 32 of 48 (64.5%) primary lesions, 14 of 17 (82.4%) lymph node metastatic lesions and 7 of 9 (77.8%) skin metastatic lesions. Metastatic tumours had a significantly higher staining intensity (P = 0.033 for lymph node, P = 0.010 for skin). In the analysis of primary lesions, higher MAGL expression correlated with greater tumour thickness (P = 0.015) and the presence of vascular invasion (P = 0.017). On further evaluation of MAGL-positive primary lesions, staining intensity of MAGL tended to be higher in deeper areas of the tumour mass. CONCLUSIONS: The expression of MAGL in tumour cells reflects the aggressiveness of melanoma cells and may serve as a marker of tumour progression.

Two cases of atretic cephalocele, and histological evaluation of skin appendages in the surrounding skin.

Atretic cephalocele is a small skin-covered lesion, usually located at or near the mid-line of the scalp. Histologically, it is composed of syncytial cells expressing neurone-specific enolase and epithelial membrane antigen. The syncytial cells form capillary-like structures *(pseudovascular areas) and collagenic fibrosis with densely packed collagen bundles (fibrous areas). Such findings suggest that the atretic cephalocele is a mild form of cephalocele, with its pathogenesis lying in the spectrum of neural tube closure abnormalities. However, few descriptions of abnormalities of the skin overlying and surrounding atretic cephalocele are available. We report two cases of atretic cephalocele that showed hamartomatous change in the surrounding cutaneous appendages. These findings suggest that atretic cephalocele is associated with abnormalities not only of the neural tube, but also of the surrounding skin.

Malignant eccrine spiradenoma: case report and review of the literature, including 15 Japanese cases.

Malignant eccrine spiradenoma (MES) is an extremely rare cutaneous malignant tumour. An 86-year-old man presented at our hospital with an enlarging tumour on the dorsum of the left hand. An excisional biopsy was taken and histological examination showed a solid island of cells of two distinct types: cells with abundant cytoplasm and oval vesicular nuclei, and small round cells with less cytoplasm and hyperchromatic nuclei with a high frequency of mitosis. We diagnosed this tumour as MES. Although we did not perform further treatment because of the patient's age, there was no sign of recurrence or metastasis in the 2 years of follow-up after excisional biopsy. We reviewed cases of malignant eccrine spiradenoma in the English and Japanese literature and found that 'sarcomatous' or 'squamous' change in histopathology was significantly correlated with a poorer prognosis. It is therefore important for treatment planning to evaluate the entire specimen histologically.