A single liver metastasis from pleural biphasic mesothelioma

Virtually any malignancy can metastasize to the liver. Large solitary metastases are rare and can be difficult to distinguish from primary tumors. Malignant mesothelioma is often considered as a locally invasive cancer but tumor dissemination to extra-thoracic sites is possible, and the liver can be involved. Herein, we present a rare case of pleural mesothelioma with a solitary large liver metastasis diagnosed postmortem in a ninety-two-year-old man with 35 years of exposure to asbestos. Results of immunohistochemical staining of the pleural and liver tumor were similar, both positive for low-molecular weight keratins, calretinin, vimentin, and podoplanin, and negative for Claudin-4, TTF1, CEA, BerEP4, CK7, CK19, CK20, BAP1, Hep Par1, p40, and WT1. Fluorescent in-situ hybridization (FISH) for p16/CDKN2A was also performed and a homozygous deletion was detected in both tumors, supporting the diagnosis of mesothelioma. Reporting this case, we would like to point out that extra-thoracic dissemination from pleural mesothelioma, even if exceptional, can occur. In cases where differential diagnoses are challenging, the value of ancillary techniques and a practical approach to diagnostic work-up is of primary importance

Urological melanoma: A comprehensive review of a rare subclass of mucosal melanoma with emphasis on differential diagnosis and therapeutic approaches

Melanoma is reported as the 19th most common cancer worldwide, with estimated age-standardized incidence rates of 2.8–3.1 per 100,000. Although the origin is most frequently cutaneous, mucosal melanoma has been described several times in literature, and despite its rarity (only 1% of all melanomas), increasing attention is being paid to this disease form. Within this subgroup, melanomas of the uropoetic apparatus are a rarity among rarities. Indeed, less than 50 cases of primary melanoma originating from the urinary bladder have been described, and even less originating from the kidney, renal pelvis and urethra. In this work, we present a detailed review of the literature related to this proaches. subclass of mucosal melanoma, delve into the biological landscape of this neoplasm and discuss current approaches, future perspectives and potential therapeutic approaches. Keywords: melanoma; mucosal melanoma; urology

Formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded samples for next generation sequencing: Problems and solutions

Over the years, increasing information has been asked of the pathologist: we have moved from a purely morphological diagnosis to biomolecular and genetic studies, which have made it possible to implement the use of molecular targeted therapies, such as anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) molecules in EGFR-mutated lung cancer, for example. Today, next generation sequencing (NGS) has changed the approach to neoplasms, to the extent that, in a short time, it has gained a place of absolute importance and diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic utility. In this scenario, formaldehyde-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) biological tissue samples are a source of clinical and molecular information. However, problems can arise in the genetic material (DNA and RNA) for use in NGS due to fixation, and work is being devoted to possible strategies to reduce its effects. In this paper, we discuss the applications of FFPE tissue samples in the execution of NGS, we focus on the problems arising with the use of this type of material for nucleic acid extraction and, finally, we consider the most useful strategies to prevent and reduce single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNV) and other fixation artifacts

Supported platinum atoms derived catalysts in the hydrosilylation of unsaturated substrates

Supported Pt systems, prepared by treatment of supports as carbon, graphite and gamma-Al2O3 with mesitylene solvated Pt atoms, are quite good catalysts for the selective hydrosilylation of 1-hexyne and 2-hexyne to vinyl silanes and of isoprene to allyl derivatives. The catalyst can be recycled for several runs, even months, without loss of activity

Silylformylation of chiral 1-alkynes, catalyzed by solvated rhodium atoms

Solvated rhodium atoms, prepared by the metal vapour synthesis technique, promote the silylformylation reaction of variously substituted alkynes R1R2CH(CH2)nC;CH, with catalytic activities comparable with and even higher than more common species such as Rh4(CO)12. Z-Silylalkenals are exclusively formed in high yields (60-95%) indicating syn addition both of CO and of the silane (Me2PhSiH) to the triple bond. The chemoselectivity of the process (silylformylation vs. hydrosilylation) is highly affected by the amount of cata-lyst employed (mmol of Rh species with respect to the alkyne reagent), by the steric requirements of the acetylenic substrates and by the hydrosilane/alkyne molar ratio. When optically active acetylenes are treated in the presence of Me2PhSiH under carbon monoxide pressure, the silylformylation reaction occurs with total retention of stereochemistry of the stereogenic centre, even if it is at the á-position of the unsaturated moiety, to afford enantiomerically enriched â-silylalkenals

Metformin use in pregnancy: efficacy, safety, and potential benefits

No abstract availabl