Rituximab-induced autoimmune hepatitis: A case study and literature review.

Rituximab is a monoclonal antibody to CD20, often used to treat B-cell lymphomas and various autoimmune diseases. While there is extensive literature on rituximab-induced liver injury related to hepatitis B reactivation, there have been no reports to date of autoimmune-type idiopathic drug-induced liver injury from this drug. We present a case of necro-inflammatory hepatitis with autoimmune features in a 40-year-old female after receiving a second dose of rituximab for mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma, with a review of the literature.

Is the Pathologic Response of T3 Rectal Cancer to High-Dose-Rate Endorectal Brachytherapy Comparable to External Beam Radiotherapy?

Background: Endorectal brachytherapy is an attractive option in the neoadjuvant setting for locally advanced rectal cancer, but it is not considered standard of care.

Objective: This study aimed to compare pathologic outcomes of patients with clinical T3 rectal cancer who underwent high-dose-rate endorectal brachytherapy with those who underwent conventional external beam radiotherapy.

Design: This study is a retrospective chart review.

Do clinical criteria reflect pathologic complete response in rectal cancer following neoadjuvant therapy?

Background: Clinical complete response (cCR) in rectal cancer is being evaluated as a tool to identify patients who would not require surgery in the curative management of rectal cancer. Our study reviews mucosal changes after neoadjuvant therapy for rectal cancer in patients treated at our center.

Methods: Pathology reports were retrieved for patients treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy (CRT) or high-dose rate brachytherapy (HDRBT).

A homozygous PMS2 founder mutation with an attenuated constitutional mismatch repair deficiency phenotype.

Background: Inherited mutations in DNA mismatch repair genes predispose to different cancer syndromes depending on whether they are mono-allelic or bi-allelic. This supports a causal relationship between expression level in the germline and phenotype variation. As a model to study this relationship, our study aimed to define the pathogenic characteristics of a recurrent homozygous coding variant in PMS2 displaying an attenuated phenotype identified by clinical genetic testing in seven Inuit families from Northern Quebec.

Next-generation biobanking of metastases to enable multidimensional molecular profiling in personalized medicine.

Great advances in analytical technology coupled with accelerated new drug development and growing understanding of biological challenges, such as tumor heterogeneity, have required a change in the focus for biobanking. Most current banks contain samples of primary tumors, but linking molecular signatures to therapeutic questions requires serial biopsies in the setting of metastatic disease, next-generation of biobanking. Furthermore, an integration of multidimensional analysis of various molecular components, that is, RNA, DNA, methylome, microRNAome and post-translational modifications of the proteome, is necessary for a comprehensive view of a tumor's biology.

Cytomegalovirus complicating inflammatory bowel disease: a 10-year experience in a community-based, university-affiliated hospital.

There is an ongoing debate regarding the signifcance of cytomegalovirus (CMV) in colonic biopsies and the effect of antiviral therapy in patients with infammatory bowel disease (IBD). In order to evaluate the possible impact of CMV disease on IBD patients, we reviewed charts of patients admitted through the emergency department with diagnoses of IBD and CMV over a 10-year period (January 2000 to November 2009). Laboratory test results and pharmacology databases were scrutinized, and pathology slides were re-evaluated when possible.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor with autonomic nerve differentiation and coexistent mantle cell lymphoma involving the appendix.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) and mantle cell lymphoma involving the appendix are rare as individual disease entities. Their coexistence has not been previously reported in the literature. We describe a 65-year old female who presented with extensive ileocecal mantle cell lymphoma, which extended to the appendix.

High frequency of exon deletions and putative founder effects in French Canadian Lynch syndrome families.

Lynch syndrome is one of the most common autosomal dominantly inherited cancer syndromes. Mutations in MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, and PMS2 account for greater than 98% of reported mutations in Lynch syndrome families. It has been reported that large genomic deletions in MLH1 and MSH2 are a frequent cause of Lynch syndrome in certain populations.

Autistic enterocolitis: fact or fiction?

Autism spectrum disorder refers to syndromes of varying severity, typified by impaired social interactions, communicative delays and restricted, repetitive behaviours and interests. The prevalence of autism spectrum disorders has been on the rise, while the etiology remains unclear and most likely multifactorial. There have been several reports of a link between autism and chronic gastrointestinal symptoms.

Somatic mosaicism of androgen receptor CAG repeats in colorectal carcinoma epithelial cells from men.

Background: The X-linked human androgen receptor gene (AR) contains an exonic polymorphic trinucleotide CAG. The length of this encoded CAG tract inversely affects AR transcriptional activity. Colorectal carcinoma is known to express the androgen receptor, but data on somatic CAG repeat lengths variations in malignant and normal epithelial cells are still sporadic.

Polymeric immunoglobulin receptor-negative tumors represent a more aggressive type of adenocarcinomas of distal esophagus and gastroesophageal junction.

Context: Polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (PIgR) expression has been found in gastric mucosa and gastric cancers, but it is not known whether PIgR expression is related to background intestinal metaplasia nor the patterns of PIgR expression in tumors arising in the distal esophagus and gastroesophageal (GE) junction.

Objectives: To identify clinicopathologic features of tumors associated with PIgR expression and to determine whether PIgR expression is associated with intestinal differentiation of tumors and intestinal metaplasia in background mucosa in 3 groups of upper gastrointestinal adenocarcinomas. These groups are (1) gastric adenocarcinomas, (2) adenocarcinomas of the distal esophagus and GE junction with background intestinal metaplasia, and (3) adenocarcinomas of the distal esophagus and GE junction without background intestinal metaplasia.

Underexpression of mineralocorticoid receptor in colorectal carcinomas and association with VEGFR-2 overexpression.

Background: The human mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) is a steroid receptor widely expressed in colorectal mucosa. A significant role for the MR in the reduction of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) mRNA levels has been demonstrated in vitro. To evaluate a potential contribution of MR to colorectal carcinoma progression, we analyzed the expression of MR in relation to VEGFR-2.

Performance of the revised Bethesda guidelines for identification of colorectal carcinomas with a high level of microsatellite instability.

Context: Criteria for microsatellite instability (MSI) testing to rule out hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer were recently revised and include parameters such as age and specific histologic features that can be identified by the pathologist, triggering reflex MSI testing.

Objective: To review the performance of the revised Bethesda guidelines to identify MSI-positive colorectal cancers.

Design: Seventy-five patients with colorectal cancer were included; 68 patients younger than 50 years and 7 patients between 50 and 60 years were selected based on histopathologic criteria.

Age-associated changes in alpha-methyl CoA racemase (AMACR) expression in nonneoplastic prostatic tissues.

Alpha-methyl CoA racemase (AMACR) is overexpressed in several human cancers, most notably colon and prostate. AMACR expression in the prostate has been investigated primarily in patients, in an older age group, treated for prostatic carcinoma and benign prostatic hypertrophy. No studies have assessed the age distribution of AMACR expression in normal men.

Molecular markers in Helicobacter pylori-associated gastric carcinogenesis.

Helicobacter pylori infection is a known risk factor of gastric carcino-genesis. This article presents early molecular alterations associated with H. pylori chronic gastritis and advances in the molecular characterization of preneoplastic intestinal metaplasia (IM) and premalignant gastric mucosal lesions.

Microsatellite instability and DNA mismatch repair deficiency testing in hereditary and sporadic gastrointestinal cancers.

The reference cancers associated with DNA mismatch repair (MMR)deficiency are the adenocarcinomas of patients with hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer, also known as Lynch syndrome. Sporadic gastrointestinal (GI) carcinomas, most commonly colorectal and gastric carcinomas, may also be associated with deficiencies of DNA mismatch repair. Deficiency in cellular MMR leads to wide-spread mutagenesis and neoplastic development and progression.

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma, giant cell type, of the breast mimicking metaplastic carcinoma. A case report.

Background: We report a case of malignant fibrous histiocytoma, giant cell type (MFHGC), of the breast. A review of the literature failed to reveal cytology-based reports on this entity. The cytologic similarity of breast MFHGC on fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) to other malignant breast neoplasms, including carcinoma with osteoclastlike giant cells, metaplastic carcinoma and breast sarcomas, as well as benign reactive processes, makes the recognition of this tumor challenging.