Histologic Differentiation (histologic + differentiation)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Distribution within Medical Sciences


Selected Abstracts


In-Transit Metastasis From Primary Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Organ Transplant Recipients and Nonimmunosuppressed Patients: Clinical Characteristics, Management, and Outcome in a Series of 21 Patients

DERMATOLOGIC SURGERY, Issue 4p2 2004
John A. Carucci MD
Background. In-transit metastases from cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) may occur in organ transplant recipients and may indicate aggressive disease and poor prognosis. Objective. The objective of this study was to describe in-transit metastases from cutaneous SCC and to identify factors associated with this phenomenon in a series of 21 patients. We also attempted to evaluate outcome with respect to status as an organ transplant recipient or nonorgan transplant recipient. Methods. A multicenter case series of patients was reviewed; factors included clinical presentation, management, and outcome. Results. Twenty-one patients, 15 organ transplant recipients, and 6 nontransplant recipients with in-transit metastases were reviewed. In-transit metastases presented most commonly as discrete, dermal papules distinct from but in the vicinity of the primary tumor site. Histologic differentiation was variable. At a mean follow up of 24 months, 33% the transplant patients had no evidence of disease compared with 80% of nontransplant patients. Thirty-three percent were dead from disease and 33% were alive with nodal or distant metastases. In contrast, 80% of nonimmunosuppressed patients had no evidence of disease and none had died at mean follow-up of 24 months. Conclusion. In-transit metastasis from cutaneous SCC is a unique presentation of metastatic SCC, more commonly described in organ transplant recipients, and is associated with poor prognosis in that group. This description represents the largest experience with in-transit metastases from cutaneous SCC in the literature. [source]


Genetic alterations in early-stage pulmonary large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma

CANCER, Issue 6 2004
Kenzo Hiroshima M.D.
Abstract BACKGROUND Small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) and pulmonary large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) are high-grade malignant neuroendocrine tumors. Histologic differentiation between SCLC and LCNEC is difficult in some cases and to the authors' knowledge, genetic alterations associated with LCNEC have not been identified. Therefore, the authors studied genetic alterations found in LCNEC and compared them with those of SCLC and classic large cell carcinoma (CLCC). METHODS Twenty-two patients with UICC TNM Stage I LCNEC, 12 patients with Stage I CLCC, and 11 patients with SCLC with limited disease were studied. All tumors were resected completely. Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of the tumor cells was detected using fluorescent primers. Methylation status of the p16 gene and expression of the p53 protein, retinoblastoma protein, and p16 protein were evaluated immunohistochemically. RESULTS LOH at TP53 and 13q14 was observed in most patients. The prevalence of LOH at D3S1295, D3S1234, and D5S407 was significantly higher in patients with LCNEC and SCLC than in patients with CLCC. The prevalence of LOH at D5S422 was higher in patients with CLCC and in patients with SCLC than in patients with LCNEC. Expression of the p16 protein was observed more frequently in SCLC than in CLCC or LCNEC. Hypermethylation of the p16 gene was observed more frequently in LCNEC than in SCLC. Patients with allelic losses at D3S1234 and D10S1686 had poorer prognoses compared with patients without allelic losses at these sites. CONCLUSIONS Genetic alterations of LCNEC were akin to those of SCLC. However, allelic losses at 5q and abnormalities in the p16 gene may differentiate LCNEC from SCLC. Cancer 2004. © 2004 American Cancer Society. [source]


Diameter of Involved Nerves Predicts Outcomes in Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma with Perineural Invasion: An Investigator-Blinded Retrospective Cohort Study

DERMATOLOGIC SURGERY, Issue 12 2009
AMY S. ROSS MD
BACKGROUND Perineural invasion (PNI) has been associated with poor prognosis in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC), but it is unclear how different degrees of nerve involvement affect prognosis. OBJECTIVE To determine whether the diameter of nerves invaded by CSCC affects outcomes of recurrence, metastasis, and disease-specific and overall survival. METHODS A retrospective cohort study was conducted of patients with CSCC with PNI. Dermatopathologists blinded to subject outcomes determined the diameter of the largest involved nerve. RESULTS Data were obtainable for 48 patients. Small-caliber nerve invasion (SCNI) of nerves less than 0.1 mm in diameter was associated with significantly lower risks of all outcomes of interest. Disease-specific death was 0% in subjects with SCNI, versus 32% in those with large-caliber nerve invasion (LCNI) (p=.003). Other factors associated with significantly worse survival were recurrent or poorly differentiated tumors or tumor diameter of 2 cm or greater or depth of 1 cm or greater. On multivariate analysis, only tumor diameter and age predicted survival. CONCLUSIONS The individual prognostic significance of factors associated with poor survival remains uncertain. Small-caliber nerve invasion may not adversely affect outcomes. Defining PNI as tumor cells within the nerve sheath and routine recording of diameter of involved nerves, tumor depth, and histologic differentiation on pathology reports will facilitate further study. [source]


Evaluation of the American Joint Committee on Cancer Staging System for Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Proposal of a New Staging System

DERMATOLOGIC SURGERY, Issue 11 2005
Scott M. Dinehart MD
Purpose. To identify and propose corrections for deficiencies in the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) system for staging cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC). Materials and Methods. Prognostic factors for CSCC were identified by retrospective analysis of the published literature. Limitations and deficiencies in the current AJCC staging system for CSCC were then determined using these prognostic factors. Results. Size, histologic differentiation, location, previous treatment, depth of invasion, tumor thickness, histologic subtype, perineural spread, and scar etiology are the most powerful tumor prognostic indicators in patients with localized disease. The most important prognostic factors for patients with nodal metastases are the location, number, and size of the positive lymph nodes. Proposed changes for the T classification include increased stratification of tumor size, identification of patients with perineural invasion, and the addition of tumor thickness or depth of invasion. The N classification has been expanded to include the number and size of nodal metastases. Conclusion. The current AJCC staging system for carcinoma of the skin has deficiencies that limit its use for CSCC. The proposed TMN staging system for CSCC more accurately reflects the prognosis and natural history of CSCC. SCOTT M. DINEHART, MD, AND STEVEN PETERSON, MD, HAVE INDICATED NO SIGNIFICANT INTEREST WITH COMMERCIAL SUPPORTERS. [source]


Distant metastases after definitive radiotherapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

HEAD & NECK: JOURNAL FOR THE SCIENCES & SPECIALTIES OF THE HEAD AND NECK, Issue 8 2003
Majid O. F. Al-Othman MD
Abstract Purpose. To analyze parameters that influence the risk of distant metastases after definitive radiotherapy. Methods. Between 1983 and 1997, 873 patients were treated with definitive radiotherapy and had follow-up for 2 years or more. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate risk factors that might influence the risk of distant metastases. Results. The 5-year distant metastasis-free survival rate was 86%. Univariate analyses revealed that the risk of distant metastases was significantly influenced by gender (p = .0092), primary site (p = .0023), T stage (p < .0001), N stage (p < .0001), overall stage (p < .0001), level of nodal metastases in the neck (p < .0001), histologic differentiation (p = .0096), control above the clavicles (p < .0001), and time to locoregional recurrence (p < .0001). Multivariate analysis of freedom from distant metastases revealed that gender (p = .0390), T stage (p < .0001), N stage (p = .0060), nodal level (p < .0001), and locoregional control (p < .0001) significantly influenced this end point. Multivariate analysis revealed that gender (p = .0049), T stage (p < .0001), N stage (p < .0001), and locoregional control (p < .0001) significantly influenced cause-specific survival. Conclusions. The risk of distant metastases after definitive radiotherapy is 14% at 5 years and is significantly influenced by gender, T stage, N stage, nodal level, and locoregional control. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 25: 629,633, 2003 [source]


GRP78 expression correlates with histologic differentiation and favorable prognosis in neuroblastic tumors

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 6 2005
Wen-Ming Hsu
Abstract Glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), an endoplasmic reticulum protein, is essential for the differentiation of neuroblastoma cells and is selectively induced when the cells are undergoing apoptosis. These findings suggest that GRP78 may affect the tumor behavior of neuroblastoma. Our study evaluates the association of clinicopathologic factors and patient survival with the expression of GRP78 in patients with neuroblastoma. GRP78 expression in 68 neuroblastic tumors was investigated semiquantitatively by immunohistochemistry. GRP78 mRNA and protein levels in 7 tumor tissues were also quantified by real-time PCR and Western blot respectively and correlated well with the immunohistochemical results. Forty (58.8%) of the 68 neuroblastic tumors showed positive GRP78 expression. The percentage of positive GRP78 immunostaining increased as the tumor histology became differentiated (p = 0.001). Furthermore, positive GRP78 expression strongly correlated with early clinical stages (P = 0.002) but inversely correlated with MYCN amplification (p = 0.001). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that patients with positive GRP78 expression did have better survival than those with negative expression (5-year survival rate, 72.9% and 23.4% respectively, p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis further showed that GRP78 expression was an independent prognostic factor. Moreover, GRP78 expression predicted better survival in patients with either undifferentiated or differentiated histologies. GRP78 expression still had significant prognostic value when the analysis was restricted to tumors of advanced stages or without MYCN amplification. Thus, GRP78 can serve as a novel independent favorable prognostic factor for patients with neuroblastoma. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Non-pustular palmoplantar psoriasis: is histologic differentiation from eczematous dermatitis possible?

JOURNAL OF CUTANEOUS PATHOLOGY, Issue 2 2008
Ovgu Aydin
Both palmoplantar psoriasis and eczematous dermatitis of this skin area share similar histologic features. The punch biopsies from 17 patients with psoriasis and 25 with eczematous dermatitis were evaluated, blind to the clinical diagnosis. Vertically situated multiple foci of parakeratosis, alternating with orthokeratosis, were the only statistically significant feature in the differential diagnosis of palmoplantar psoriasis [76.5% (13/17), p = 0.005]. In contrast, multiple foci of parakeratosis [70.6% (12/17)], loss of granular layer at least in focal areas [41.2% (7/17)], presence of neutrophils at the summits of parakeratosis [4% (1/17)], presence of neutrophils and/or plasma in the parakeratotoic foci [94.1% (16/17) and 11.8% (2/17)], psoriasiform epidermal hyperplasia [88.2% (15/17)], spongiosis restricted to the lower parts of the epidermis [47.1% (8/17)], dyskeratotic cells [82.4% (14/17)], thinning of suprapapillary plate [58.8% (10/17)], edema of the papillary dermis [29.4% (5/17)], presence of tortous and dilated capillaries in the papillary dermis [52.9% (9/17) and 76.5% (13/17)] and extravasated erythrocytes [29.4% (5/17)] were found to be more common in palmoplantar psoriasis compared with eczematous dermatitis; but none of them was statistically significant. Interestingly, spongiotic vesicles were seen in most of the patients with psoriasis [76.5% (13/17)]. In conclusion, according to our findings, many features of palmoplantar psoriasis overlapped with those of eczematous dermatitis. However, detection of multiple parakeratotic foci, placed vertically, alternating with orthohyperkeratosis, could be considered in favor of palmoplantar psoriasis. [source]


Cluster analysis of immunohistochemical markers in leiomyosarcoma delineates specific anatomic and gender subgroups

CANCER, Issue 18 2009
Jason C. Carvalho MD
Abstract BACKGROUND: Leiomyosarcoma (LMS) can be categorized into uterine, retroperitoneal, nonretroperitoneal soft tissue, cutaneous, visceral, and osseous anatomic subtypes. The differential expression of smooth muscle markers, estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and Wilms tumor-1 protein (WT1) by anatomic subtype and gender was explored. METHODS: A total of 78 LMS comprised of 30 uterine and 48 nonuterine tumors were studied. Nonuterine tumors were comprised of 17 soft tissue, 16 retroperitoneal, 7 cutaneous, 5 visceral, and 3 osseous subtypes. Immunohistochemical staining intensity on tissue microarray slides was scored as 0, 1+, or 2+, and cluster analysis was performed on the data. RESULTS: Smooth muscle actin was the most sensitive antibody (95%), followed by muscle-specific actin (91%), calponin (88%), desmin (73%), caldesmon (66%), and myosin (64%). Caldesmon and myosin were usually coexpressed, and were highest in retroperitoneal tumors (94%). There was no discernable correlation noted between histologic differentiation and smooth muscle marker expression. ER was much more common in women, with the highest frequencies noted in female retroperitoneal (86%) and uterine (63%) tumors. Nuclear WT1 was expressed in 11% of all tumors, and was limited to ER-positive uterine and female retroperitoneal tumors. Cluster analysis segregated 4 groups, most notably 1 driven by ER and PR, with the vast majority being uterine and female retroperitoneal tumors. CONCLUSIONS: Smooth muscle markers demonstrated variable sensitivities in LMS, with a tendency for anatomic subtypes to segregate based on expression patterns of these markers. ER defined a subgroup of uterine and female retroperitoneal tumors, and WT1 was limited to such tumors, suggesting a common line of differentiation as well as potential therapeutic targets. Cancer 2009. © 2009 American Cancer Society. [source]


Expression of UDP-N-acetyl-,-D-galactosamine,polypeptide galNAc N-acetylgalactosaminyl transferase-3 in relation to differentiation and prognosis in patients with colorectal carcinoma

CANCER, Issue 7 2002
Kazunori Shibao M.D., Ph.D.
Abstract BACKGROUND Tumor development usually is accompanied by alterations of O-glycosylation. Initial glycosylation of mucin-type, O-linked proteins is catalyzed by one of the UDP-GalNAc,polypeptide N-acetyl-galactosaminyl transferases, such as GalNAc-T3, which is expressed in adenocarcinoma cells. The authors investigated whether such expression influenced tumor differentiation or prognosis in patients with colorectal carcinoma. METHODS The expression of GalNAc-T3 was evaluated immunohistochemically in 106 paraffin embedded samples from surgically resected colorectal carcinomas and was related to patient and tumor characteristics. Western blot analysis was performed on seven samples of frozen tissue. RESULTS Strong tumor expression of GalNAc-T3 predicted 5-year survival in patients with colorectal carcinoma (67.2% vs. 43.6% for weak expression; P = 0.017). GalNAc-T3 expression was not associated with age, gender, tumor size, tumor location, or disease stage but was related to histologic differentiation (P = 0.049) and depth of invasion (P = 0.031). Univariate analysis showed that strong GalNAc-T3 expression significantly enhanced the likelihood of survival. Multivariate Cox survival analysis identified enzyme expression as an independent prognostic factor that was second only to TNM stage. CONCLUSIONS GalNAc-T3 expression is a novel and useful indicator of tumor differentiation, disease aggressiveness, and prognosis in patients with colorectal carcinoma. Cancer 2002;94:1939,46. © 2002 American Cancer Society. DOI 10.1002/cncr.10423 [source]