The genus Triaenops has been considered monospecific in its a frican and Middle Eastern range (T. persicus), while three other species have been recognised as endemic to Madagascar (T. menamena, T. ...furculus, and T. auritus), and another to the western Seychelles (T. pauliani). We analysed representative samples of T. persicus from East Africa and the Middle East using both morphological and molecular genetics approaches and compared them with most of the available type material of species of this genus. Morphological comparisons revealed four distinct morphotypes in the set of examined specimens; one in Africa, the others in the Middle East. The Middle Eastern morphotypes differed mainly in size, while the allopatric African form showed differences in skull shape. Two of three Arabian morphotypes occur in sympatry. Cytochrome b gene-based molecular analysis revealed significant divergences (K2P distance 6.4–8.1% in complete cyt b sequence) among most of the morphotypes. Therefore, we propose a split of the current T. persicus rank into three species: T. afer in Africa, and T. persicus and T. parvus sp. nov. in the Middle east. The results of the molecular analysis also indicated relatively close proximity of the Malagasy T. menamena to Arabian T. persicus, suggesting a northern route of colonisation of Madagascar from populations from the Middle east or north-eastern Africa as a plausible alternative to presumed colonisation from east Africa. Due to a considerable genetic distance (21.6–26.2% in 731 bp sequence of cyt b) and substantial morphological differences from the continental forms of Triaenops as well as from Malagasy T. menamena, we propose generic status (Paratriaenops gen. nov.) for the group of Malagasy species, T. furculus, T. auritus, and T. pauliani. We separated the genera Triaenops and Paratriaenops gen. nov. from other hipposiderid bats into Triaenopini trib. nov. recognising their isolated position within the family Hipposideridae Lydekker, 1891.
Penile cancer is a rare disease in demand for new therapeutic options. Frequently used combination chemotherapy with 5 fluorouracil (5-FU) and cisplatin (CDDP) in patients with metastatic penile ...cancer mostly results in the development of acquired drug resistance. Availability of cell culture models with acquired resistance against standard therapy could help to understand molecular mechanisms underlying chemotherapy resistance and to identify candidate treatments for an efficient second line therapy.
We generated a cell line from a humanpapilloma virus (HPV) negative penile squamous cell carcinoma (UKF-PEC-1). This cell line was subject to chronic exposure to chemotherapy with CDDP and / or 5-FU to induce acquired resistance in the newly established chemo-resistant sublines (PEC-1
CDDP
, adapted to 2500 ng/ml CDDP; UKF-PEC-1
5-FU
, adapted to 500 ng/ml 5- FU; UKF-PEC1
CDDP
/
5-FU
, adapted to 2500 ng/ml CDDP and 500 ng/ml 5 -FU). Afterwards cell line pellets were formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded and subject to sequencing as well as testing for homologous recombination deficiency (HRD). Additionally, exemplary immunohistochemical stainings for p53 and gammaH2AX were applied for verification purposes. Finally, UKF-PEC-1
CDDP
, UKF-PEC-1
5-FU
, UKF-PEC1
CDDP
/
5-FU
, and UKF-PEC-3 (an alternative penis cancer cell line) were tested for sensitivity to paclitaxel, docetaxel, olaparib, and rucaparib.
The chemo-resistant sublines differed in their mutational landscapes. UKF-PEC-1
CDDP
was characterized by an increased HRD score, which is supposed to be associated with increased PARP inhibitor and immune checkpoint inhibitor sensitivity in cancer. However, UKF-PEC-1
CDDP
did not display sensitivity to PARP inhibitors.
Penile squamous cell carcinomas are rare tumor entities throughout Europe. Early lymphonodal spread urges for aggressive therapeutic approaches in advanced tumor stages. Therefore, understanding ...tumor biology and its microenvironment and correlation with known survival data is of substantial interest in order to establish treatment strategies adapted to the individual patient. Fifty-five therapy naïve squamous cell carcinomas, age range between 41 and 85 years with known clinicopathological data, were investigated with the use of tissue microarrays (TMA) regarding the tumor-associated immune cell infiltrate density (ICID). Slides were stained with antibodies against CD3, CD8 and CD20. An image analysis software was applied for evaluation. Data were correlated with clinicopathological characteristics and overall survival. There was a significant increase of ICID in squamous cell carcinomas of the penis in relation to tumor adjacent physiological tissue. Higher CD3-positive ICID was significantly associated with lower tumor stage in our cohort. The ICID was not associated with overall survival. Our data sharpens the view on tumor-associated immune cell infiltrate in penile squamous cell carcinomas with an unbiased digital and automated cell count. Further investigations on the immune cell infiltrate and its prognostic and possible therapeutic impact are needed.
Routine human papillomavirus (HPV) testing is performed in cervival cancer and is required for classification of some head and neck cancers. In penile cancer a statement on HPV association of the ...carcinoma is required. In most cases p16 immunohistochemistry as a surrogate marker is applied in this setting. Since differing clinical outcomes for HPV positive and HPV negative tumors are described we await HPV testing to be requested more frequently by clinicians, also in the context of HPV vaccination, where other HPV subtypes are expected to emerge.
Therefore, a cohort of archived, formalin-fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) penile neoplasias was stained for p16 and thereafter tested for HPV infection status via PCR based methods. Additionally to Sanger sequencing, we chose LCD-Array technique (HPV 3.5 LCD-Array Kit, Chipron; LCD-Array) for the detection of HPV in our probes expecting a less time consuming and sensitive HPV test for our probes.
We found that LCD-Array is a sensitive and feasible method for HPV testing in routine diagnostics applicable to FFPE material in our cohort. Our cohort of penile carcinomas and carcinomas in situ was associated with HPV infection in 61% of cases. We detected no significant association between HPV infection status and histomorphological tumor characteristics as well as overall survival.
We showed usability of molecular HPV testing on a cohort of archived penile carcinomas. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study investigating LCD-Array technique on a cohort of penile neoplasias.