Metaplastic carcinoma with extensive dendritic cell differentiation: a previously unrecognised type of triple-negative breast cancer

The case of a metaplastic carcinoma of the breast exhibiting dendritic cell differentiation is described. The clinico-pathologic and immunohistochemical features are reported, together with the differential diagnosis

Adenolipoma della trachea. Descrizione di un caso trattato mediante resezione-anastomosi tracheale.

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The miR-196b miRNA inhibits the GATA6 intestinal transcription factor and is upregulated in colon cancer patients

Objective: To explore the possible misexpression of the microRNA miR-196b in colorectal cancer (CRC) and its role in controlling the expression of GATA6, a putative target gene crucial to intestinal cell homeostasis and tumorigenesis. Design: The expression of miR-196b was analysed by qRT-PCR in surgical resection samples from a cohort of sporadic colon cancer patients. Manipulations of miR-196b expression were performed to demonstrate its inhibition of GATA6 protein levels. Results: We found that miR-196b is significantly upregulated in pre-treatment surgical resection samples from a cohort of sporadic colon cancer patients. The upregulation of miR-196b correlates with less severe clinicopathological characteristics, such as early tumor stage and absence of lymph node metastases. We show that in CRC cells, miR-196b targets the mRNA of GATA6, a transcription factor involved in the homeostasis and differentiation of intestinal epithelial cells, and a positive regulator of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. We moreover found that the increase of miR-196b correlates with a reduced GATA6 protein expression in colon cancer patients. Conclusion: Our results establish miR-196b as a post-transcriptional inhibitor of GATA6 in CRC cells, implicating miR-196b function in gene regulatory pathways crucial to intestinal cell homeostasis and tumorigenesis. Our results furthermore suggest a role of miR-196b expression in CRC, as an antagonist of GATA6 function in tumor cells, thus providing the basis for a potential targeting strategy for the treatment of CRC

Durable remission in a patient with leptomeningeal relapse of a MYC/BCL6-positive double-hit DLBCL treated with lenalidomide monotherapy

Secondary central nervous system involvement is an uncommon event that typically occurs early in the natural history of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and presents as leptomeningeal dissemination in two-thirds of cases. The prognosis of this event is dismal, and treatment options are meagre. Although major validated risk factors for central nervous system dissemination are clinical, concomitant MYC/BCL2 rearrangements as well as MYC/BCL2 protein expression have been recently associated with an increased risk of this complication. Here we present the first case, to our knowledge, of a MYC/BCL6-positive double-hit diffuse large B-cell lymphoma relapsing in the leptomeninges that achieved an outstanding durable remission with single-agent lenalidomide following salvage chemotherapy

The utility of the 3D imaging software in the macroscopic rendering of complex gynecologic specimens

A new generation of three dimensional (3D) imaging software for the anatomical rendering of the human body, and related surgical pathologies, is postulated. Its practical application is underlined

Cancer stem-neuroendocrine cells in an atypical carcinoid case report.

Lung neuroendocrine cells tumor (NET) classification and diagnosis, particularly for typical and atypical carcinoids, are complicated by a variable natural history and nonspecific symptoms. Mechanisms for the development and progression of well-differentiated lung NETs are still unclear. An accurate and timely diagnosis can ensure the implementation of appropriate treatment and impact on prognosis. One of the main unclear point is the definition of these cells’ composition. In fact, it is known that carcinoids are mainly constituted by neuroendocrine cells. Aim of our report is to show for the first time the presence of a high percentage of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in an atypical carcinoid. The ALDEFLUOR assay was used to identify and sort ALDHhigh and ALDHlow human lung cancer cells following tissue digestion. SOX2 was additionally determined by immunohistochemistry. All specimens contained the 53.10% of ALDHhigh cells among all viable lung cancer cells, which indicates that more than half of the entire tumor cell population was composed by CSCs. As expected also in immunohistochemistry, about a half of the nuclei of the cells were positive for SOX2. We strongly support the hypothesis of the presence of cancer stem-neuroendocrine cells (CSCs-NETs) as subpopulation in these types of tumors

"Is this case of a very rare disease work-related?" A review of reported cases of Pacinian neuroma.

Objective In response to a request for a medicolegal opinion from an orthopaedic technician with pacinian neuroma of the hand, we conducted a systematic review of reported cases designed to assess whether this rare disease could be considered to be work-related.Methods We used Medline, Embase, Google Scholar, Google, and a manual search to identify reports of histologically confirmed pacinian neuroma of the hand manifesting after 15 years of age. Cases with available information (from article/authors) on personal history were considered eligible. We tabulated information on age/gender; localization and histopathologic features; signs/symptoms; history of local trauma; occupation, sports/hobbies or other physical exposures; right- or left-handedness; and outcome.Results We found 44 eligible cases (including the present referral). Of these, 21 (48%) followed a trauma [<6 months from onset/presentation (N=7); 0.5\u20132 years from onset (N=6); 652 years from onset (N=7); and timing unknown (N=1)] involving the same anatomic site. Three of these 21 traumas definitely occurred at work, and a further 2 cases occurred at the site of definite work-related repetitive microtrauma.Conclusions The results reinforce the concept that pacinian neuroma of the hand can follow local trauma or repetitive microtrauma. Implicated traumas were either recent or remote, and they sometimes occurred while performing manual tasks at work. We concluded that the referred case could plausibly be considered work-related

Cancer stem cells and macrophages: molecular connections and future perspectives against cancer.

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been considered the key drivers of cancer initiation and progression due to their unlimited self-renewal capacity and their ability to induce tumor formation. Macrophages, particularly tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), establish a tumor microenvironment to protect and induce CSCs development and dissemination. Many studies in the past decade have been performed to understand the molecular mediators of CSCs and TAMs, and several studies have elucidated the complex crosstalk that occurs between these two cell types. The aim of this review is to define the complex crosstalk between these two cell types and to highlight potential future anti-cancer strategies

Expression of nuclear survivin in normal skin and squamous cell carcinoma: a possible role in tumor invasion

Background: Survivin is detected in few adult normal cells and it is highly expressed in cancer. Nuclear survivin facilitates cell cycle entry, while the mitochondrial pool protects cells from apoptosis. Survivin is overexpressed in keratinocyte stem cells (KSC) and protects them from apoptosis. Methods: As KSC are at the origin of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), we evaluated survivin expression in normal and cancerous skin in vivo by immunohistochemistry and western blotting. HaCaT cells overexpressing survivin and wound-healing assay are used. Anova and Student-T tests are used for statistical analysis. Results: Survivin is localized both in the cytoplasm and in the nucleus of normal adult and young keratinocytes. Nuclear survivin is detected in one every 10/11 basal keratinocytes. When present in suprabasal cells, nuclear survivin is co-expressed with K10, but not with K15 or p75-neurotrophin-receptor (p75NTR), a transit amplifying cell marker. Nuclear, but not cytoplasmic survivin expression dramatically increases in actinic keratosis and in SCC in situ, as compared to normal epidermis, and it is highest in poorly differentiated SCC. In SCC tumors, nuclear survivin-positive cells are mainly K10/p75NTR-negative and K15-positive. In poorly differentiated tumors, survivin mostly localizes in the deep infiltrating areas. When overexpressed in keratinocytes, survivin increases cell migration. Conclusion: High survivin expression and the subcellular localization of survivin correlate with keratinocyte differentiation and are associated with undifferentiated and more invasive SCC phenotype