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Summary The aim of the current study was to test whether the grade group assessed in the index tumor nodule predicts biochemical recurrence after surgery. The study cohort series included 144 consecutive patients treated by laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. The following parameters were evaluated in each case: type of radical prostatectomy (with/without lymphadenectomy), pT and pN status, histologic type of prostate carcinoma (acinar versus mixed histology), surgical margin resection status, perineural invasion, lymphovascular invasion, biochemical recurrence status, presence of tertiary Gleason 5 pattern, and grade group that was assessed both in overall prostate cancer and in index (dominant) tumor nodule. Twenty patients (13.9%) experienced postoperative biochemical recurrence at a mean follow-up time of 12.2 months. The univariate survival analysis selected type of radical prostatectomy, histological subtype, lymphovascular invasion, American Joint Committee on Cancer pT and pN classification, tertiary Gleason 5 pattern, preoperative serum prostate specific antigen level, and the grade group assessed in both the overall prostate and index tumor nodule as significant for biochemical recurrence-free survival. Type of radical prostatectomy (P = .020), histological subtype (P = .002), lymphovascular invasion (P = .023), tertiary Gleason pattern 5 (P = .016), and grade group classification in index tumor nodule (P ≤ .0001) were selected as independent predictors of biochemical recurrence-free survival. In conclusion, our results validate grade group in the index tumor nodule as an independent predictor of biochemical recurrence-free survival, thus emphasizing the value of reporting grade group in index tumor nodule. The main limitation of our study is the relatively low number of cases in the current series, suggesting the need of large confirmatory studies.

In this report, we present the clinicopathologic features of 13 cases of the invasive micropapillary variant of urothelial carcinoma. This is a rare and aggressive variant of bladder cancer recognized by the current World Health Organization classification of urologic tumors. The micropapillary component varied from 50% to 100% of the tumor specimen; in 10 cases, the micropapillary component composed greater than 70% of the tumor, with 5 cases showing pure micropapillary carcinoma. The architectural pattern of the tumor varied from solid expansile nests with slender papillae within tissue retraction spaces to pseudoglandular growth with prominent ring-like structures (2 cases, 15%) and invasive micropapillary carcinoma with squamous differentiation (2 cases, 15%); a streaking solid architectural pattern of micropapillary carcinoma was additionally present in 2 cases (15%). At histology, the individual tumor cells had abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm and nuclei with prominent nucleoli and irregular distribution of chromatin, and frequent mitotic figures. Most neoplastic cells had nuclei of low to intermediate nuclear grade with occasional nuclear pleomorphism. Eight mixed cases had concurrent conventional high-grade urothelial carcinoma with squamous or glandular differentiation in 3 and 1 case(s), respectively. All patients had advanced-stage cancer (>pT2), and 8 (62%) had lymph node metastasis. Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated that both micropapillary and associated conventional urothelial carcinomas were positive for MUC1 and 2, cytokeratin 7, PTEN, p53, and Ki-67. Her2Neu, uroplakin, cytokeratin 20, 34betaE12, CA125, and p16 were positive in 4, 10, 8, 7, 3, and 3 cases, respectively. MUC5A, MUC6, and CDX2 were negative in all micropapillary cases. Follow-up information was available in all cases (range, 2-21 months; mean, 10 months). Eleven of patients died of disease from 2 to 14 months, and 2 patients were alive with disease at 14 and 21 months. Univariate statistical analysis showed survival differences between invasive micropapillary and conventional urothelial carcinomas (P < .0001). In summary, invasive micropapillary variant of urothelial carcinoma is an aggressive variant associated with poor prognosis that presents at an advanced clinical stage. The immunophenotype of invasive micropapillary carcinoma supports urothelial origin; the immunoreactivity to Her2Neu and PTEN might be relevant in terms of future targeting therapy. The morphologic diversity of micropapillary carcinoma may represent a diagnostic pitfall in limited samples, where its distinction from conventional urothelial carcinoma is critical for its clinical management.

Summary In this report, we summarized the clinicopathologic features of 5 cases of lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the prostate, a rare variant of prostate cancer characterized by a malignant epithelial component densely infiltrated by lymphoid cells. In all 5 patients, there were obstructive symptoms and elevated prostate-specific antigen; one patient had also hematuria. Their ages ranged from 69 to 82 years (mean age, 76 years). The initial diagnosis of lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the prostate was made on transurethral resection in 3 cases and radical prostatectomy in 2 others. In one case the diagnosis of lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma admixed with conventional acinar adenocarcinoma was an unexpected finding at time of transurethral resection for benign prostatic hyperplasia. Three patients had clinical stage T3 tumors and another had stage T4 disease; stage T1b was present in the remaining case. Microscopically, all tumors contained lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma, which comprised 10% to 90% of the entire tumor. All cases were associated with adenocarcinoma, either as the sole pattern in 5 cases or with an additional ductal component in 3 cases. One case had additional features of adenosquamous carcinoma. The lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma component was characterized by indistinct cytoplasmic borders and a syncytial growth pattern. The stroma was densely infiltrated by lymphoid cells admixed with some plasma cells and neutrophils; one case had a prominent infiltration of eosinophils. Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated that lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma was positive for prostate-specific antigen, prostate acid phosphatase, α-methylacyl coenzyme A racemase, and epithelial membrane antigen; several cytokeratins (AE1/AE3, 7, 8, and 20 [rare cells]) were also immunoreactive. The mean Ki-67 labeling index was 53% (range, 40%-70%), and the p53 expression in all cases was low (10%-20%). The lymphoid component was mainly composed of T with a minor subset of B cells, admixed with some dendritic cells and histiocytes as seen by S100 and CD68 immunoreactivity. Latent membrane protein 1 immunostaining and in situ hybridization for Epstein-Barr virus were negative in all 5 lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma cases. DNA ploidy of lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma tumors gave DNA histograms with aneuploid peaks. DNA ploidy of the concurrent adenocarcinoma gave DNA aneuploid peaks except in one DNA diploid case. Four patients died of disease from 8 to 26 months; one patient was lost to follow-up. In summary, lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the prostate arise in aggressive prostate cancers at advanced clinical stage. Morphologic recognition and distinction from other prostatic lesions and tumors with prominent lymphoid stroma is critical for its clinical management.

In this report, we present the clinicopathologic features of 11 cases of the plasmacytoid variant of urothelial carcinoma. This is a rare variant of bladder cancer recognized by the current World Health Organization classification of urologic tumors. The plasmacytoid component varied from 30% to 100% of the tumor specimen; in 8 cases, the plasmacytoid component comprised greater than 50% of the tumor with 2 cases showing pure plasmacytoid carcinoma. The architectural pattern of the tumor varied from solid expansile nests with noncohesive cells to mixed solid and alveolar growth; a streaking discohesive architecture was additionally present in 2 cases (18%). At histology, the individual tumor cells had an eccentrically placed nucleus and abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm reminiscent of plasma cells. Most neoplastic cells had nuclei of low to intermediate nuclear grade with occasional nuclear pleomorphism. Seven of 9 mixed cases had concurrent conventional high-grade urothelial carcinoma, and the remaining 2 cases presented features of nested or micropapillary urothelial carcinoma. Small intracytoplasmic vacuoles were variably present in all cases. All patients had advanced stage cancer (>pT3), and 8 (73%) had lymph node metastasis. Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated that both plasmacytoid and associated conventional urothelial carcinoma were positive for cytokeratins 7, 20, and AE1/AE3 and epithelial membrane antigen; CD138 was positive in 3 cases. Follow-up information was available in all cases (range, 2-16 months; mean, 7 months). Nine of the patients died of disease from 2 to 11 months, and 2 patients were alive with disease at 8 and 16 months. In summary, plasmacytoid variant of urothelial carcinoma is an aggressive variant associated with poor prognosis that presents at an advanced clinical stage. In limited samples, it may be misdiagnosed as chronic cystitis or plasmacytoma, a pitfall further compounded by CD138 expression in some cases. Morphological distinction from other malignant neoplasms with plasmacytoid phenotype is critical for its clinical management.

In this report, we present the clinicopathologic features of 8 cases of the pleomorphic giant cell variant of urothelial carcinoma. This is a rare variant of bladder cancer recognized by the current World Health Organization classification of urologic tumors. The pleomorphic giant cell component varied from 20% to 100% of the tumor specimen; in 2 cases, the pleomorphic giant cell component composed greater than 50% of the tumor with 1 case showing pure pleomorphic giant cell carcinoma. The architectural pattern of the tumor varied from infiltrating pleomorphic tumor with bizarre giant cells to solid expansile nests with discohesive growth pattern; a hypocellular desmoplastic stromal response was present in 2 cases (25%) with single cells in sclerotic stroma. At histology, giant, bizarre, anaplastic cells with frequent typical or atypical mitotic figures were present in all cases. Seven mixed cases had concurrent conventional high-grade urothelial carcinoma; 2 cases presented features of micropapillary or lymphoepithelioma-like urothelial carcinoma. Variable size intracytoplasmic vacuoles were present in 2 cases. All patients had advanced-stage cancer (>/=pT3), and 6 (75%) had lymph node metastases. Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated that both pleomorphic giant cell and associated conventional urothelial carcinoma were positive for cytokeratins 7, CAM 5.2 and AE1/AE3, and epithelial membrane antigen; P63, thrombomodulin, and uroplakin III were positive in 6, 3, and 2 cases, respectively. Follow-up information was available in all cases (range, 6-74 months; mean, 20 months). Five of the patients died of disease from 6 to 17 months, and 2 patients were alive with metastases at 11 and 19 months. One patient had no evidence of disease at 74 months. In summary, pleomorphic giant cell is an aggressive variant of urothelial carcinoma associated with poor prognosis that presents at an advanced clinical stage. In limited samples, it may be misdiagnosed as secondary carcinoma or sarcoma, a pitfall of paramount importance for its clinical management.