Follicular lymphoma (FL) is one of the most common B-cell malignancies worldwide. While the diagnosis of conventional cases is straightforward, rare clinical–pathological variants may be challenging ...due to their misleading morphology, aberrant phenotype and/or atypical presentation. To add to the spectrum of unusual FLs, we report on a rare disease pattern characterized by (i) inguinal presentation, (ii) massive necrosis, (iii) Hodgkin/Reed–Sternberg (HRS)-like cells, and (iv) adjacent areas of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma evolution. All cases occurred in elderly patients (median age at diagnosis: 69.5 years), disclosed a low stage at diagnosis (Ann Arbor stage IA-IIA), and had deceiving clinical features. Despite the alarming histology, excellent responses to conventional therapies were reported in all patients. In conclusion, necrotizing FL of the inguinal region is a rare neoplasm characterized by peculiar clinical and histological features. This lymphoma should always be considered in the differential diagnosis of massively necrotic inguinal lesions.
The unsatisfactory cure rate of relapsing ALK-positive Anaplastic Large-Cell Lymphoma (ALCL) of childhood calls for the identification of new prognostic markers. Here, the small RNA landscape of ...pediatric ALK-positive ALCL was defined by RNA sequencing. Overall, 121 miRNAs were significantly dysregulated in ALCL compared to non-neoplastic lymph nodes. The most up-regulated miRNA was miR-21-5p, whereas miR-19a-3p and miR-214-5p were reduced in ALCL. Characterization of miRNA expression in cases that relapsed after first line therapy disclosed a significant association between miR-214-5p down-regulation and aggressive non-common histology. Our results suggest that miR-214-5p level may help to refine the prognostic stratification of pediatric ALK-positive ALCL.
Chronic gastro-duodenal reflux in the esophagus is a major risk for intestinal metaplasia and Barrett's adenocarcinoma. A role for chronic use of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) in the increased ...incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma in Western countries has been previously suggested. The aim of this work was to study the effect of chronic administration of omeprazole (a proton pump inhibitor) per os in a model of reflux induced esophageal carcinogenesis. One week after esophago-gastro-jejunostomy, 115 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized to receive 10 mg/Kg per day of omeprazole or placebo, 5 days per week. The esophago-gastric specimens were collected 28 ± 2 weeks after randomization and analyzed in a blinded fashion. Mortality and esophageal metaplasia rates did not differ between the two groups (p = 0.99 for mortality, p = 0.36 for intestinal metaplasia and p = 0.66 for multi-layered epithelium). Gastric pancreatic acinar cell metaplasia (PACM) was more frequently observed in PPI-treated rats (p = 0.003). Severe ulcer lesions significantly prevailed in the placebo group (p = 0.03). Locally invasive esophageal epithelial neoplasia were observed in 23/39 PPI-treated versus 14/42 placebo-animals (p = 0.03). In conclusion, chronic omeprazole treatment improved the healing of esophageal ulcerative lesions. Locally invasive neoplastic lesions and PACM prevailed among PPI-treated animals. However, neither an effect on the overall mortality nor on the incidence of pre-neoplastic lesions was observed in this work.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The identification of prognostic factors for aggressive B-cell lymphomas still represents an unmet clinical need. We used forward phase protein arrays (FFPA) to identify proteins associated with ...overall survival (OS) from diagnostic formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded material of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients (
= 47). Univariate Cox regression analysis identified numerous proteins, including immune check-point molecules (PDCD1, PDCD2 and PD1L2) and BCL2 to be significantly associated with OS. However, only ETV6 and PIM2 proteins persisted following multivariate Cox analysis. Independent validation studies by immunohistochemistry and analysis of public gene expression profiles of DLBCL confirmed a prognostic role for high ETV6 and ETV6/PIM2 ratios in DLBCL.
is a recurrently mutated/deleted gene in DLBCL for which its function in this disease entity is currently unknown. We find that ETV6 is upregulated during oncogenic transformation of germinal center B-cells and that it regulates DLBCL survival, as its acute loss results in marked apoptosis. Fluctuations in survivin (BIRC5) expression levels were associated with this phenomenon. Furthermore, an inverse correlation between ETV6 and BIRC5 expression levels was found and correlated with a response to the BIRC5 inhibitor, YM155. In conclusion, we present evidence for an oncogenic function of ETV6 in DLBCL.
Cutaneous syncytial myoepithelioma (CSM) is a very rare tumor belonging to the spectrum of skin myoepithelial lesions. CSM usually affects the upper extremities of young to middle aged patients and ...is characterized by peculiar morphological and immunohistochemical features.
Unlike classic myoepithelioma, CSM is composed by a densely packed proliferation of spindled to histiocytoid cells, which are variably positive for EMA, S100, SMA, and frequently negative for cytokeratins and GFAP. The peculiar histopathology and the extreme rarity of such lesion (less than 40 cases reported in the literature) can make the diagnosis of CSM a true challenge.
In the present case, we report the clinico-pathological features of a primary CSM occurring in a 38 year-old Caucasian man. The differential diagnoses of such lesion are also briefly discussed.
Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) are highly aggressive soft-tissue sarcomas, characterized by complex karyotypes. The molecular bases of such malignancy are poorly understood and ...efficient targeted molecular therapies are currently lacking. Here we describe a novel zebrafish model of MPNSTs, represented by the transgenic mutant line Tg(-8.5nkx2.2a:GFP)ia2. ia2 homozygous animals displayed embryonic lethality by 72 hpf, while the heterozygotes develop visible tumor masses with high frequency in adulthood. Histological and immunohistochemical examination revealed aggressive tumors with either mesenchymal or epithelial features. The former (54% of the cases) arose either in the abdominal cavity, or as intrathecal/intraspinal lesions and is composed of cytokeratin-negative spindle cells with fascicular/storiform growth pattern consistent with zebrafish MPNSTs. The second histotype was composed by polygonal or elongated cells, immunohistochemically positive for the pan-cytokeratin AE1/AE3. The overall histologic and immunohistochemical features were consistent with a malignant epithelial neoplasm of possible gastrointestinal/pancreatic origin. With an integrated approach, based on microsatellite (VNTR) and STS markers, we showed that ia2 insertion, in Tg(-8.5nkx2.2a:GFP)ia2 embryos, is associated with a deletion of 15.2 Mb in the telomeric portion of chromosome 1. Interestingly, among ia2 deleted genes we identified the presence of the 40S ribosomal protein S6 gene that may be one of the possible drivers for the MPNSTs in ia2 mutants. Thanks to the peculiar features of zebrafish as animal model of human cancer (cellular and genomic similarity, transparency and prolificacy) and the GFP tag, the Tg(-8.5nkx2.2a:GFP)ia2 line provides a manageable tool to study in vivo with high frequency MPNST biology and genetics, and to identify, in concert with the existing zebrafish MPNST models, conserved relevant mechanisms in zebrafish and human cancer development.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The translocation t(8;9)(p22;p24) results in the production of a chimeric PCM1‐JAK2 fusion protein leading to the constitutive activation of the Janus Kinase 2 that renders this disease potentially ...sensitive to ruxolitinib. Here, we report an interesting case of PCM1‐JAK2 myeloproliferative neoplasm evolving in myeloid sarcoma and B precursor ALL.
The identification of a specific molecular marker offered the possibility to monitor the depth of remission after transplant and to start an early preemptive therapy with ruxolitinib as soon as any evidence of disease reappraisal was documented.
Mastocytosis is a rare disease in which heightened amounts of mast cells accumulate in the skin, bone marrow, and other visceral organs. Upon activation, mast cells release a wide variety of ...preformed or newly synthesized mediators which can induce allergic symptoms and inflammatory reactions. Mastocytosis is diagnosed by biopsy and can be divided into cutaneous and systemic mastocytosis (SM). The first one affects the skin and is relatively benign, whilst SM, which involves bone marrow and other organs, may be aggressive and associate with both myelodisplastic and myeloproliferative diseases. Here we present a case of SM associated with essential thrombocythemia and complicated by severe osteoporosis, successfully treated with hydroxyurea, low-dose aspirin and zolendronic acid.