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Ductal adenocarcinoma is a variant of prostatic adenocarcinoma, originating from the epithelial lining of the primary and secondary ducts of the prostate. We report a 63-year-old male with prostatic ductal adenocarcinoma, presenting as urinary retention and a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level of 11.71 ng/mL and biopsy-proven prostate cancer (Gleason score 3 + 3). MRI showed 2 hemorrhagic, multilocular cysts projecting into the bladder side from the prostatic inner gland and between the prostate and the right seminal vesicle. The prostate inner gland showed high signal intensity on the T2-weighted image and included tiny hyperintense spots on the fat-suppression T1-weighted image. In the part of the border of the hemorrhagic, multilocular cyst, a solid portion showing slight low intensity on T1-weigthed imaging and markedly restricted diffusion was observed, suggesting prostate cancer. He underwent total prostatectomy, and ductal adenocarcinoma (Gleason score 4 + 4) in the prostate inner gland and multilocular cysts was pathologically diagnosed. After the operation, his PSA level gradually increased, and MRI 8 months after the operation showed a vesical multilocular cyst, suggesting local recurrence. After he underwent radiation therapy and hormonal therapy, PSA level decreased, and no re-recurrence was observed during 8 years. We suggest its inclusion in the differential diagnosis of cases of prostatic ductal adenocarcinoma’s multiloculated cystic formation around the prostate and the bladder.

Introduction: Despite a considerable benefit of adding immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) to platinum-based chemotherapy for patients with extensive-stage SCLC (ES-SCLC), a durable response to ICIs occurs in only a small minority of such patients. Methods: A total of 135 patients with ES-SCLC treated with chemotherapy either alone (chemo-cohort, n = 71) or together with an ICI (ICI combo-cohort, n = 64) was included in this retrospective study. Tumors were classified pathologically as inflamed or noninflamed on the basis of programmed death-ligand 1 expression and CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte density. Immune-related gene expression profiling was performed, and predicted neoantigen load was determined by whole-exome sequencing. Results: Among patients in the ICI combo-cohort, median progression-free survival was 10.8 and 5.1 months for those with inflamed (n = 7) or noninflamed (n = 56) tumors, respectively (log-rank test p = 0.002; hazard ratio of 0.26). Among the 89 patients with immune-related gene expression profiling data available, inflamed tumors had a higher T cell-inflamed GEP score than did noninflamed tumors (−0.18 versus −0.58, p < 0.001). The 12-month progression-free survival rate was 16.1% and 0% for patients in the ICI combo-cohort harboring tumors with a high (n = 26) or low (n = 18) frameshift neoantigen load, respectively. A high-frameshift neoantigen load was associated with up-regulation of gene signatures related to antigen presentation and costimulatory signaling. A durable clinical benefit of ICI therapy was observed only in patients with inflamed tumors and a high-frameshift neoantigen load. Conclusions: Expression of programmed death-ligand 1, CD8+ T cell infiltration, and a high-frameshift neoantigen load are associated with clinical benefit of ICI therapy in ES-SCLC. Clinical trial registration: UMIN000041056

Primary angiosarcomas of the kidney are very rare but highly aggressive tumors showing poor prognosis. We present a case of primary renal angiosarcoma occurring in a 60-year-old man with left flank pain. CT images depicted a huge exophytic mass (14 cm in diameter) in the left kidney, exhibiting central extensive hemorrhage or necrosis without contrast enhancement. The mass showed centripetal peripheral nodular enhancement on dynamic contrast-enhanced CT images. We suggest its inclusion in the differential diagnosis of cases of hemorrhagic renal tumors with prominent vasculature.

Treatment-related neuroendocrine-differentiated prostate cancer (NEPC) is a rare tumor entity that transdifferentiates from adenocarcinoma as an adaptive response to androgen receptor pathway inhibition. We report a 79-year-old male with treatment-related NEPC, presenting as rectal bleeding after hormonal therapy. MRI showed a 51 × 52 × 65 mm tumor occupying almost the whole prostate gland and invading the seminal vesicle and rectum as moderately heterogeneous hypointensity on T2-weighted image, restricted diffusion on apparent diffusion coefficient map and diffusion-weighted imaging, and heterogeneous enhancement on Gd-enhanced T1-weighted image. FDG-PET/CT showed strong FDG uptake of the prostate tumor, and somatostatin receptor scintigraphy (SRS) showed mild uptake of the prostate tumor. The surgically resected specimen revealed NEPC. If prostate cancer worsens despite conventional therapy, treatment-related NEPC should be considered, and the benefit of imaging examinations including prostate MRI, FDG-PET/CT, and SRS is in localizing lesions with neuroendocrine differentiation.

We here report 2 cases of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) observed two times on 11C-choline positron emission tomography computed tomography (PET/CT), which was useful to discriminate viable progressive osteoblastic bone metastasis from benign osteoblastic change induced by the treatment effect and to determine the viability of bone metastases, regardless of whether sclerosis was present or not. Because one case demonstrated disappearance of abnormal 11C-choline uptake of osteoblastic metastatic lesions after abiraterone therapy and no new lesions at other sites, suggesting nonviable bone metastases, we can assume a complete metabolic response. Because the other case demonstrated a decrease in the existing, abnormal 11C-choline uptake of osteoblastic metastatic lesions, but multiple new appearances of osteoblastic and nonosteoblastic lesions with abnormal 11C-choline uptake after radium-223 therapy suggesting multiple viable bone metastases, we can assume progressive metabolic disease. 11C-choline PET/CT could help in assessing the treatment response of bone metastases in patients with metastatic CRPC.

Pulmonary tumor thrombotic microangiopathy (PTTM) is characterized by tumor cell microemboli with occlusive fibrointimal remodeling in small pulmonary vessels. Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) has been implicated in the development of PTTM, and fibroblast growth factor (FGF) promotes PDGF signaling via PDGF receptor β. We here describe a cancer patient who presented with dyspnea of uncertain etiology and whose condition worsened rapidly. A 68-year-old man with hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (cT4aN2bM0, stage IVA) was treated with surgery followed by radiation. Two years later, a lung metastatic lesion was surgically removed on the basis of suspected primary lung cancer. The patient was thereafter monitored without chemotherapy. Two months later, he had third-degree burns and received conservative therapy including debridement and application of trafermin (FGF2) spray. Two weeks later, he was hospitalized with complaints of fever and dyspnea. Pneumonia and pulmonary embolism were ruled out by chest computed tomography with pulmonary arterio­graphy, whereas intravascular lymphoma was excluded by laboratory testing. Malignant cells were detected in his peripheral blood on hospital day 8, and their number increased gradually thereafter. His respiratory symptoms worsened, and the patient died on hospital day 10. We concluded that the cause of death was PTTM, with the clinical course suggesting a possible relation to trafermin. This suggestion was supported by the detection of FGF receptor 2 overexpression in the primary tumor by immunostaining.

We report a 65-year-old male with histopathologically proven prostate cancer and multiple pelvic node metastases using a robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy procedure plus extended pelvic lymph node dissection. Positron emission tomography (PET) scan findings demonstrated a moderate accumulation of 11C-choline in a metastatic left obturator node sized 8 × 8 mm, though only a faint uptake of fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) was noted. 11C-choline PET/computed tomography (CT) may be useful for the diagnosis of a tiny metastatic lymph node not demonstrated by CT, magnetic resonance imaging, or FDG-PET/CT and to determine the need for an extended pelvic lymph node dissection.

Purpose: This study aimed to examine MRI features and staging of neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) of the endometrium and evaluate survival. Methods: Clinical data, pathological, and preoperative pelvic MRI findings in 22 patients with histologically surgery-proven endometrial NEC were retrospectively reviewed. Tumors were pure NEC (n = 10) or mixed histotype (n = 12), with 13 large and nine small cell type. Results: International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging was I, II, III, and IV in 6, 2, 12, and 2 patients, respectively. In 13 (76.4%) of 17 patients with pathological deep myometrial invasion, MRI showed abnormal diffusely infiltrative high T2 signal intensity throughout the myometrium with loss of normal uterine architecture. All tumors had restricted diffusion (apparent diffusion coefficient map low signal intensity, diffusion weighted imaging high signal intensity). Accuracy of T staging by MRI for all cases was 81.8%, with reference to pathology staging, while patient-based sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for detecting metastatic pelvic lymph nodes was 60.0%, 100%, and 77.8%, respectively. Two intrapelvic peritoneal dissemination cases were detected by MRI. During follow-up (mean 30.4, range 3.3-138.4 months), 16 patients (72.7%) experienced recurrence and 12 (54.5%) died of disease. Two-year disease-free and overall survival rates for FIGO I, II, III, and IV were 66.7% and 83.3%, 50% and 100%, 10% and 33.3%, and 0% and 0%, respectively. Conclusion: Abnormal diffusely infiltrative high T2 signal intensity throughout the myometrium with normal uterine architecture loss and obvious restricted diffusion throughout the tumor are suggestive features of endometrial NEC. Pelvic MRI is reliable for intrapelvic staging of affected patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a 65-year-old male with histopathologically proven prostate cancer and multiple pelvic node metastases using a robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy procedure plus extended pelvic lymph node dissection. Positron emission tomography (PET) scan findings demonstrated a moderate accumulation of 11C-choline in a metastatic left obturator node sized 8 x 8 mm, though only a faint uptake of fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) was noted. 11C-choline PET/computed tomography (CT) may be useful for the diagnosis of a tiny metastatic lymph node not demonstrated by CT, magnetic resonance imaging, or FDG-PET/CT and to determine the need for an extended pelvic lymph node dissection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The excited-state dynamics of pentacene derivatives with stable radical substituents were evaluated in detail through transient absorption measurements. The derivatives showed ultrafast formation of triplet excited state(s) in the pentacene moiety from a photoexcited singlet state through the contributions of enhanced intersystem crossing and singlet fission. Detailed kinetic analyses for the transient absorption data were conducted to quantify the excited-state characteristics of the derivatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]