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Background and Aim: It remains unclear whether immunotherapy, which is not generally considered for microsatellite stable (MSS) colorectal cancer (CRC), can be used to effectively treat select CRC patients. We investigated the feasibility of obesity‐associated MSS CRC patients for immunotherapy based on genomic alterations. Methods: We evaluated differences in genomic alteration types and immune signatures between obese and non‐obese patients with MSS CRC. We performed genomic analyses using 434 CRC patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Patients with MSS CRC were stratified into subgroups based on their BMI and numbers of nonsynonymous single nucleotide variants (nsSNVs) and frameshift insertions and deletions (fs INDELs) using machine learning. Results: The obese subgroup showed higher incidences of single nucleotide variants (SNV) and insertions and deletions (INDELs) in comparison with healthy weight patients with MSS CRC. The subgroup, who had higher numbers of nsSNVs and fs INDLEs, exhibited increased immune signatures, increased number of SNV‐derived neoantigens, and had up‐regulated two immune checkpoint genes in comparison with healthy weight patients with MSS CRC, reflecting interactions between the cancer genome and immune system. Conclusions: This study suggests that immunotherapy may be suitable for some obesity‐associated CRC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim The aim of the present study was to prospectively evaluate the incidence of occult perihepatic lymph node metastasis. Patients and Methods Perihepatic lymph nodes were dissected in 39 patients undergoing resection for colon cancer liver metastasis. Results The complication rates of the two groups were not significantly different ( P = 0.094). No mortality was associated with lymphadenectomy. The average rate of perihepatic lymph node retrieval was seven lymph nodes per patient. The perihepatic lymph node metastasis rate was 5.1 per cent. Conclusions The radiologically-negative perihepatic lymph node metastasis rate was found to be 5.1 per cent among colorectal cancer patient undergoing liver resection. Due to the high risk of intra-abdominal bleeding, this should not be done routinely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 39-year-old woman presented with low back pain lasting for several weeks. Abdominopelvic computed tomography showed an ovarian cystic mass with an enhancing solid portion, fat and internal calcification. A right salpingo-oophorectomy was performed. A 9.7 cm round multiseptated cystic mass showed pathology of mature cystic teratoma and contained a solid portion, measuring 4.2 cm, composed mainly of carcinoid cells arranged in a trabecular-insular configuration admixed with surrounding thyroid follicles containing colloid. Juxtaposed were several nests of columnar cells interspersed with goblet cells and extracellular mucin pools. In the cyst wall of the teratoma, the lining of pseudostratified columnar cells was occasionally mixed with goblet cells transforming to the carcinoid portion. Immunohistochemically, both mucinous and strumal carcinoids were positive for polyclonal carcinoembryonic antigen, caudal type homeobox 2, cytokeratin (CK)7, CK20, synaptophysin, CD56 and focally positive for chromogranin. Thyroid follicles were positive for thyroid transcription factor-1 and thyroglobulin. After gastrointestinal and respiratory tract evaluation, no evidence of primary tumor, including omentum, was observed. The mass was diagnosed as a mixed strumal and mucinous type carcinoid associated with a mature cystic teratoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The differentiation of malignant mesotheliomas and benign mesothelial proliferations is crucial in determining patient care and prognosis. But, this distinction can be extremely difficult, particularly in small biopsies. Recently, insulin-like growth factor II mRNA-binding protein 3 ( IMP3) and glucose transporter 1 ( GLUT-1) have been reported as specific and sensitive markers in the distinction of mesotheliomas from benign mesothelial proliferations. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the utility of IMP3, GLUT-1, and epithelial membrane antigen ( EMA) immunohistochemistry for distinguishing mesotheliomas from benign mesothelial proliferations. Immunoexpression of IMP3, GLUT-1, and EMA was evaluated in 88 malignant mesotheliomas, 35 adenomatoid tumors, and 20 benign lung tissues with reactive mesothelial cells. The sensitivity for IMP3, GLUT-1, and EMA was 37%, 21%, and 41%, respectively. The specificity for IMP3, GLUT-1, and EMA was 100%. When IMP3, GLUT1, and EMA combined, the sensitivity was 66% for IMP3/ EMA staining, 53% for GLUT-1/ EMA staining, and 45% for IMP3/ GLUT-1. Use of IMP3 and EMA together is more helpful to distinguish malignant mesotheliomas from benign mesothelial proliferations than the use of IMP3 or EMA alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to compare human epidermal growth factor 2 ( HER2) status in primary colorectal cancer and paired liver or lung metastasis. Gene amplification of HER2 has been intensively evaluated in contemporary oncology, especially in breast and stomach cancer. The knowledge of HER2 status in primary and metastatic sites may be of potential value for therapeutic decision making in metastatic colon cancer. The HER2 status was assessed by fluorescence in situ hybridization ( FISH) and immunohistochemistry ( IHC) in 94 colorectal cancer with corresponding liver or lung metastases. HER2 amplification was present in 19 of the 188 (10.1%) of both primary and metastases combined. Four (4.6%) patients showed HER2 amplification in the metastasis and 10 (10.6%) patients showed HER2 amplification in the primary tumor. In 14 cases (14.8%), the HER2 status of the primary lesions was different from that of the associated metastases. The presence of HER2 overexpression in KRAS mutant colon cancer was found in 5.3%. No relationship was found between HER2 expression and KRAS status ( P = 0.486). The evidence of HER2 positive metastatic lesion and primary colorectal cancer suggest that HER2 assessment might be considered in selected cases when this may help change the therapeutic decision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MicroRNA (miRNA) has a critical effect on tumorigenesis through post-transcriptional modification and is considered to be potential biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and treatment monitoring. We evaluated the expression pattern of three selected miRNAs (miR-21, miR-155, and let-7a) to evaluate their potential roles by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction using formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissues of 63 surgically resected pulmonary neuroendocrine (NE) tumors (19 typical carcinoids (TCs), 6 atypical carcinoids (ACs), 19 large cell NE carcinomas (LCNECs), and 19 small cell lung carcinomas (SCLCs). Control amplification for U6 small nuclear RNA (U6) was performed in all samples. Normalized Ct values were calculated (CtExperimental miRNA-CtU6) for each case and recorded. The expression levels of miR-21 and miR-155 were significantly higher in high-grade NE carcinomas (LCNECs and SCLCs) than in carcinoid tumors (TCs and ACs) (each P < 0.001). The expression level of miR-21 in carcinoid tumors with lymph node metastasis was significantly higher than in carcinoid tumors without lymph node metastasis ( P= 0.010). To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first to examine the expression patterns of miR-21 and miR-155 as an adjunctive diagnostic tool or clinically relevant biomarkers for pulmonary NE tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ha S Y, Lee C H, Chang H K, Chang S, Kwon K Y, Lee E H, Roh M S & Seo B (2012) Histopathology 60, 731-739 Differential expression of forkhead box M1 and its downstream cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors p27 kip1 and p21 waf1/cip1 in the diagnosis of pulmonary neuroendocrine tumours Aims: Pulmonary neuroendocrine (NE) tumours represent a spectrum of phenotypically distinct entities with different biological behaviours. Difficulties in classifying these tumours are frequently encountered in clinical practice. Forkhead box M1 (FoxM1) is essential for the development of various cancers and is a proliferation-specific transcription factor that regulates transcription of cell cycle genes, including cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors p27kip1 and p21waf1/cip1. This study was performed to determine the utility of FoxM1, p27kip1 and p21waf1/cip1 as immunomarkers for subtyping pulmonary NE tumours. Methods and results: FoxM1, p27kip1 and p21waf1/cip1 expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in 60 pulmonary NE tumours [19 typical carcinoids (TCs), six atypical carcinoids (ACs), 17 large cell neuroendocrine carcinomas (LCNECs) and 18 small cell lung cancers (SCLCs)]. The frequencies of FoxM1 and p21waf1/cip1 expression were significantly different between TCs and ACs (each P = 0.009), and those of FoxM1 and p27kip1 expression were significantly different between LCNECs and SCLCs ( P = 0.012 and P = 0.002, respectively). The combined FoxM1(−)/p21waf1/cip1(−) and FoxM1(+)/p27kip1(high) phenotypes had the best diagnostic accuracy for distinguishing TCs from ACs, and SCLCs from LCNECs, respectively. Conclusions: FoxM1, p27kip1 and p21waf1/cip1 showed distinct immunoreactivity according to histological subtype, which may be of value as an ancillary test in the differential diagnosis of pulmonary NE tumours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

J Oral Pathol Med (2010) 39: 533–539 Objective: Membranous (M) cell of the human palatine tonsil is an antigen entry site for mucosal infection, but its location is obscure in histological sections. Recently, a microarray analysis has demonstrated that clusterin, annexin A5, CD44, MMP14, and β-tubulin are candidate genes of M cell marker in mice. Among these genes, we here describe class II β-tubulin as a new marker for human tonsillar M cells and follicular dendritic cells (FDCs), and present its usefulness for diagnosis of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphomas (AILTs). Materials and methods: Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting for class II β-tubulin were performed using 81 cases of lymphoid, gastrointestinal and thyroid tissues, and an FDC cell line, respectively. Double immunostaining with clusterin and class II β-tubulin were carried out. Results: Class II β-tubulin localized the M cells and FDCs in the palatine tonsils (10/10, 100%) and adenoids (10/10, 100%). It was colocalized with clusterin in the palatine tonsils. However, class II β-tubulin staining did not identify intestinal M cells in the intestines. Immunoblot analysis revealed that class II β-tubulin expression was upregulated in HK cells, a normal FDC cell line. Class II β-tubulin immunostaining highlighted hyperplastic FDC meshworks in all AILTs (14/14, 100%). Conclusion: Class II β-tubulin is a specific histochemical marker for human tonsillar M cells and FDCs. Thus, class II β-tubulin immunostaining may be useful to identify tonsillar M cells and to diagnose FDC proliferative lesions such as AILT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assessed the knowledge and perception of human biological materials (HBM) and biorepositories among three study groups in South Korea. The relationship between the knowledge and the perception among different groups was also examined by using factor and regression analyses. In a self-reporting survey of 440 respondents, the expert group was found more likely to be knowledgeable and positively perceived than the others. Four factors emerged: Sale and Consent, Flexible Use, Self-Confidence, and Korean Bioethics and Biosafety Action restriction perception. The results indicate that those who are well aware of the existence of biobanks were more positively inclined to receive the Sale and Consent perception. As a result of the need for high quality HBMs and the use of appropriate sampling procedures for every aspect of the collection and use process, the biorepository community should pay attention to ethical, legal, and policy issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]