Nuclear localization of β-catenin in Sertoli cell tumors and other sex cord–stromal tumors of the testis: an immunohistochemical study of 87 cases

The diagnosis and subclassification of Sertoli cell tumors (SCT) of the testis are often challenging to general surgical pathologists because of the rarity of the tumors. Immunohistochemical study to date has limited diagnostic value. Nuclear localization of β-catenin, which correlated closely with CTNNB1 gene mutation, was recently reported in SCTs. We investigated the utility of β-catenin nuclear localization in diagnosing SCTs and differentiating them from other testicular sex cord–stromal tumors. Immunohistochemical staining for β-catenin was evaluated in 87 cases of testicular sex cord–stromal tumor: 33 SCTs, not otherwise specified (SCT-NOS) (15 with benign and 18 with malignant features), 10 sclerosing SCTs (SSCT), 5 large cell calcifying SCTs (LCCSCT), 6 Sertoli–stromal cell tumors, 10 Leydig cell tumors, 7 juvenile granulosa cell tumors, 4 adult granulosa cell tumors, and 12 sex cord–stromal tumors, unclassified. Twenty-one of 33 (64%) SCT-NOS, 6 of 10 (60%) SSCTs, and 4 of 6 (67%) Sertoli–stromal cell tumors showed strong, diffuse β-catenin nuclear staining. Nuclear β-catenin positivity was more frequent in SCTs-NOS with benign features than in those with malignant features (93% and 39%, respectively, P=0.13) and, in the Sertoli–stromal cell tumors, occurred only in the Sertoli component. All 5 LCCSCTs and all other types of sex cord–stromal tumor were negative for β-catenin nuclear staining. In conclusion, SCT-NOS and SSCT frequently show β-catenin nuclear localization. Positive nuclear staining of β-catenin is specific for SCT-NOS, SSCT, and Sertoli–stromal cell tumor among testicular sex cord–stromal tumors but has limited sensitivity (63%) in this group. The similar reactivity of SCT-NOS and SSCT provides additional support that these 2 variants are not distinct entities

Immunophenotypic Comparison of Testicular Sclerosing Sertoli Cell Tumors and Sertoli Cell Tumors Not Otherwise Specified

Testicular Sertoli cell tumors (SCTs) are rare, and most fall into the category of SCT–not otherwise specified (SCT-NOS). Only a few additional types of SCT are recognized. Sclerosing SCT (S-SCT), originally described in 1991, comprises a small fraction of SCTs and was considered a specific entity until the 2016 revision of the World Health Organization classification of non–germ cell tumors, where it was classified as a morphologic variant of SCT-NOS. In a recent study, differences in expression of PAX2/PAX8, inhibin, androgen receptor, and S100 protein between SCT-NOS and S-SCT were noted in a small number of cases. In this interinstitutional study, we compared the expression of these markers and β-catenin in 11 cases each of SCT-NOS and S-SCT to determine if differences exist that could justify keeping a separate classification of these neoplasms. PAX2/PAX8 cocktail was the only marker that was significantly overexpressed in S-SCT. Expression of androgen receptors was strong in S-SCT and variable in SCT-NOS but did not reach statistical significance. Expression of β-catenin was common in both, whereas inhibin was infrequent. The available material was insufficient for a conclusive evaluation of S100 protein expression. Overall, our results support the inclusion of S-SCT as a morphologic variant of SCT-NOS. Expression of PAX2/PAX8 in S-SCT may reflect an overactive epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition as has been shown in experimental models of acute and chronic seminiferous tubular injury and might be related to the process generating the stroma in these tumors

Primary Teratoma of the Lesser Sac: Lesser Sac Teratoma

Germ cell tumors predominantly involve the gonads but may rarely be found outside of the gonads, primarily in midline structures. We describe the case of a 27-year-old male with an asymptomatic 8 cm teratoma located within the lesser sac of his omentum. This is the fourth case of a teratoma located within the lesser sac of the omentum, which provides the opportunity to make some comparisons. Finally, we discuss some of the etiologic theories behind extragonadal germ cell tumors and how they relate to teratomas in the lesser sac

Juvenile Granulosa Cell Tumors of the Testis: A Clinicopathologic Study of 70 Cases with Emphasis on Its Wide Morphologic Spectrum

The clinical and pathologic features of 70 juvenile granulosa cell tumors (JGCTs) of the testis are presented. The patients were from 30 weeks gestational age to 10 years old; 60 of 67 (90%) whose ages are known to us were 6 months old or younger. Sixty-two underwent gonadectomy, 6 wedge excision, and 2 only biopsy. Twenty-six tumors were left sided and 22 right sided. Six occurred in an undescended testis and 2 in dysgenetic gonads. The most common presentation was a testicular mass (65%), followed by an “enlarging testis” (25%). Six of 14 patients in whom it was measured had “elevated” serum α-fetoprotein (AFP), likely physiologically, and 1 had gynecomastia. The tumors measured 0.5 to 5 cm (mean, 1.7 cm; median, 1.5 cm) and were most commonly well circumscribed and typically yellow-tan; approximately 2/3 had a cystic component, whereas 1/3 were entirely solid. Microscopic examination typically showed a lobular growth, punctuated in 67 cases by variably sized and shaped follicles containing material that was basophilic (21%), eosinophilic (44%), or of both characters (35%); 3 lacked follicles. In nonfollicular areas, the tumor cells typically grew diffusely but occasionally had a corded arrangement (26%) or reticular appearance (29%). The stroma was either fibrous or fibromyxoid; hemorrhage associated with hemosiderin-laden macrophages was focally seen in 16%. The tumor cells were mostly small to medium sized with round to oval nuclei containing inconspicuous nucleoli and moderate to abundant, but occasionally scant, pale to lightly eosinophilic, sometimes vacuolated, cytoplasm; nuclear grooves were infrequent (6%). Focal columnar morphology was seen in 27% of the tumors. Mitoses were plentiful in 37%, and apoptosis was prominent in 46%. Intratubular tumor was seen in 43% and entrapped seminiferous tubules in 70%. Lymphovascular invasion was present in 2 cases, rete testis involvement in 4, and necrosis in 1. Rare features/patterns included: regressed tumor with hyalinization and prominent blood vessels (13%), papillary growth (4%), basaloid morphology (1%), spindle cell predominance (1%), microcystic foci (1%), adult granulosa cell–like (1%) patterns, and hyaline globules (1%). Inhibin (16/18), calretinin (8/9), WT1 (6/7), FOXL2 (12/12), SF-1 (12/12), and SOX9 (6/11) were positive, whereas SALL4 and glypican-3 were consistently negative in the neoplastic granulosa cells. Only 1 of 10 tumors was focally positive for α-fetoprotein. JGCT is a rare neoplasm with a wide morphologic spectrum that also occurs rarely in undescended testes and dysgenetic gonads. The solid and reticular patterns may pose diagnostic challenges, but the lobular appearance and follicular differentiation are characteristic. Immunohistochemical stains may aid in its distinction from other tumors of young male individuals, particularly yolk sac tumor, a neoplasm that peaks at a somewhat later age. Twenty-four patients with follow-up, including 4 of 6 patients treated with wedge resection/biopsy, had no evidence of disease (2 to 348 mo; mean, 83 mo; median, 61 mo). One additional patient was alive at 260 months, but the disease status is unknown. The benign clinical course of all cases of JGCT with follow-up, despite often frequent mitotic activity, supports testis sparing surgery when technically feasible

Pathologic Risk Factors for Higher Clinical Stage in Testicular Seminomas

Introduction Testicular seminomas require accurate staging for effective management. 20% are metastatic at presentation while 80% are clinical stage I, requiring only orchiectomy and surveillance. Tumor size, rete testis invasion, hilar soft tissue invasion, and lymphovascular invasion have been shown to incur a higher risk of metastasis and recurrence in clinical stage I seminomas, with little congruence between studies. Materials and Methods We reviewed 211 cases of testicular seminomas and recorded patient age, tumor size, lymphovascular invasion and rete testis, hilar soft tissue, epididymis, spermatic cord, tunica albuginea, and tunica vaginalis involvement. A univariate and multivariate analysis was performed comparing clinical stage I to advanced clinical stage patients (stages II and III) in reference to these factors. Results We found that tumor size (p=0.02), vascular invasion (p=0.02), and invasion of rete testis stroma (p=0.01), epididymis (p=0.02), spermatic cord (p=0.047), and hilar soft tissue (p=0.04) were predictors of higher clinical stage at the univariate level. However, multivariate analysis showed that only tumor size and vascular invasion remained significant (p=0.008 and 0.032, respectively). A tumor size of 4 cm was the size cutoff found to be significant. Discussion Tumor size and vascular invasion are the strongest predictors of higher clinical stage in testicular seminomas. Our univariate data suggests that rete testis and hilar soft tissue invasion relate to higher clinical stage. However, neither of these factors were found to be independent risk factors at multivariate analysis. Therefore, this study supports tumor upstaging based only upon size and vascular invasion

Detection of TMPRSS2 : ERG fusion gene in circulating prostate cancer cells

Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike 3.0 license (CC BY-NC SA)Aim: To investigate the existence of TMPRSS2:ERG fusion gene in circulating tumor cells (CTC) from prostate cancer patients and its potential in monitoring tumor metastasis. Methods: We analyzed the frequency of TMPRSS2: ERG and TMPRSS2:ETV1 transcripts in 27 prostate cancer biopsies from prostatectomies, and TMPRSS2:ERG transcripts in CTC isolated from 15 patients with advanced androgen independent disease using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was applied to analyze the genomic truncation of ERG, which is the result of TMPRSS2:ERG fusion in 10 of the 15 CTC samples. Results: TMPRSS2: ERG transcripts were found in 44% of our samples, but we did not detect expression of TMPRSS2:ETV1. Using FISH analysis we detected chromosomal rearrangements affecting the ERG gene in 6 of 10 CTC samples, including 1 case with associated TMPRSS2:ERG fusion at the primary site. However, TMPRSS2:ERG transcripts were not detected in any of the 15 CTC samples, including the 10 cases analyzed by FISH. Conclusion: Although further study is required to address the association between TMPRSS2:ERG fusion and prostate cancer metastasis, detection of genomic truncation of the ERG gene by FISH analysis could be useful for monitoring the appearance of CTC and the potential for prostate cancer metastasis.Peer reviewedFinal Published versio

Handling and reporting of orchidectomy specimens with testicular cancer: areas of consensus and variation among 25 experts and 225 European pathologists

The handling and reporting of testicular tumours is difficult due to their rarity. METHODS AND RESULTS: A survey developed by the European Network of Uro-Pathology (ENUP) and sent to its members and experts to assess the evaluation of testicular germ cell tumours. Twenty-five experts and 225 ENUP members replied. Areas of disagreement included immaturity in teratomas, reported by 32% of experts but 68% of ENUP. Although the presence of rete testis invasion was reported widely, the distinction between pagetoid and stromal invasion was made by 96% of experts but only 63% of ENUP. Immunohistochemistry was used in more than 50% of cases by 68% of ENUP and 12% of experts. Staging revealed the greatest areas of disagreement. Invasion of the tunica vaginalis without vascular invasion was interpreted as T1 by 52% of experts and 67% of ENUP, but T2 by the remainder. Tumour invading the hilar adipose tissue adjacent to the epididymis without vascular invasion was interpreted as T1: 40% of experts, 43% of ENUP; T2: 36% of experts, 30% of ENUP; and T3: 24% of experts, 27% of ENUP. CONCLUSIONS: There is remarkable consensus in many areas of testicular pathology. Significant areas of disagreement included staging and reporting of histological types, both of which have the potential to impact on therap

DOG1 immunohistochemical staining of testicular biopsies is a reliable tool for objective assessment of infertility

Testicular biopsy may be a component of the work-up of male infertility. However, no reliable diagnostic tools are available for objective quantitative assessment of spermatogenic cells. It is well known that MAGE-A4 is selectively expressed in spermatogonia and our group has previously demonstrated that DOG1 differentially stains germ cells. Therefore, we performed DOG1 and a double stain cocktail (DOG1 and 57b murine monoclonal anti-MAGE-A4) immunohistochemical stains on 40 testicular infertility biopsies (10 each with active spermatogenesis, Sertoli cell-only, hypospermatogenesis, and maturation arrest), 25 benign seminiferous tubules from radical orchiectomies, and 5 spermatocytic tumors (ST). In biopsies/resections with active spermatogenesis, DOG1 stained spermatocytes and spermatids and was absent in spermatogonia, while MAGE-A4 stained spermatogonia and primary spermatocytes (weak). In hypospermatogenesis, DOG1 highlighted decreased spermatocytes/spermatids and MAGE-A4 highlighted decreased spermatogonia. DOG1 staining confirmed decreased to absent spermatocytes in maturation arrest and MAGE-A4 staining established the presence of preserved spermatogonia in all cases. All STs were negative for DOG1 and positive for MAGE-A4, while all Sertoli cell-only cases were negative for DOG1 and the double stain cocktail. In conclusion, we confirmed that DOG1 is expressed in spermatocytes and spermatids and MAGE-A4 highlights primarily spermatogonia. Usage of these stains facilitates confirmation of maturation arrest, assessment of the percentage of testis involvement in hypospermatogenesis and identification of mixed patterns. Finally, this study supports that the differentiation of STs is more closely related to spermatogonia than the more mature spermatocytes