Comparing anti-tumor and anti-self immunity in a patient with melanoma receiving immune checkpoint blockade.

Background: Tumor regression following immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) is often associated with immune-related adverse events (irAEs), marked by inflammation in non-cancerous tissues. This study was undertaken to investigate the functional relationship between anti-tumor and anti-self immunity, to facilitate irAE management while promoting anti-tumor immunity.

Methods: Multiple biopsies from tumor and inflamed tissues were collected from a patient with melanoma experiencing both tumor regression and irAEs on ICB, who underwent rapid autopsy.

Burn Center Management of Severe Necrotic Cutaneous Polyarteritis Nodosa in a Patient With a History of Thymoma.

Cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa (cPAN) is a rare, necrotizing vasculitis involving the small- and medium-sized vessels of the dermis and subcutaneous tissues. We report a severe case of cPAN in a patient with an atypical presentation of extensive bilateral lower extremity ulcerations with full-thickness necrosis managed at a burn center. A 70-year-old female with a three-month history of necrotizing cPAN to the bilateral lower extremities underwent surgical excision and autografting at an outside hospital.

Characterization of the tumor immune microenvironment in human papillomavirus-positive and -negative head and neck squamous cell carcinomas.

Approximately 15% of advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) respond to anti-PD-(L)1 monotherapies. Tumor PD-L1 expression and human papillomavirus (HPV) status have been proposed as biomarkers to identify patients likely to benefit from these treatments. We aimed to understand the potential immune effects of HPV in HNSCC and to characterize additional potentially targetable immune-regulatory pathways in primary, treatment-naïve tumors.

Multiple Immune-Suppressive Mechanisms in Fibrolamellar Carcinoma.

Fibrolamellar carcinoma (FLC) is a rare type of liver cancer that affects adolescents and young adults. The most effective treatment for FLC is surgical resection, but no standardized systemic therapy exists for patients with recurrent or unresectable FLC. As a first step to understand the immune microenvironment of FLC, we investigated targetable immune-checkpoint pathways, PD-1, PD-L1, B7-H3, IDO-1, and LAG3, in relation to CD8 cytotoxic T-lymphocyte density.

Correction to: 33rd Annual Meeting & Pre-Conference Programs of the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC 2018).

After publication of this supplement [1, 2], it was brought to our attention that due to an error authors were missing in the following abstracts. This has now been included in this correction.

Multidimensional, quantitative assessment of PD-1/PD-L1 expression in patients with Merkel cell carcinoma and association with response to pembrolizumab.

Background: We recently reported a 56% objective response rate in patients with advanced Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) receiving pembrolizumab. However, a biomarker predicting clinical response was not identified.

Methods: Pretreatment FFPE tumor specimens (n = 26) were stained for CD8, PD-L1, and PD-1 by immunohistochemistry/immunofluorescence (IHC/IF), and the density and distribution of positive cells was quantified to determine the associations with anti-PD-1 response.

Anaplastic large cell lymphoma localized to the left breast years after radiotherapy for breast cancer.

Anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) is a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that can involve the skin primarily or secondarily. Our case describes an unusual presentation of eruptive tumors localized to the leftbreast region several years following breast cancer surgery and radiation for carcinoma of the breast. This report highlights the challenges in reachingthe diagnosis of an aggressive systemic lymphoma presenting on the skin.

Association of HIV Status With Local Immune Response to Anal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Implications for Immunotherapy.

Importance: The programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) pathway play an important immunosuppressive role in cancer and chronic viral infection, and have been effectively targeted in cancer therapy. Anal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is associated with both human papillomavirus and HIV infection. To date, patients with HIV have been excluded from most trials of immune checkpoint blocking agents, such as anti-PD-1 and anti-PD-L1, because it was assumed that their antitumor immunity was compromised compared with immunocompetent patients.

Cutaneous side-effects of biologics in immune-mediated disorders: A histopathological perspective.

Advances in understanding molecular mechanisms and targets in immune regulation have led to the widespread use of biologic targeted therapies, and, as such, reformed the course of many disabling diseases. However, with their expanded use, various side-effects, including cutaneous, have emerged. Many times a clear-cut relationship exists between the drug and the clinical manifestations; however, when a biopsy is warranted, various histopathological patterns may be observed and may cause confusion to the dermatopathologist.

Zoledronic Acid-Induced Interface Dermatitis.

Zoledronic acid (ZA) is a bisphosphonate given intravenously, most commonly for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. Increase in usage of ZA because it was FDA-approved has resulted in increasing reports of side effects. For the most part, these are systemic.

Merkel cell carcinoma (primary neuroendocrine carcinoma of skin) mimicking basal cell carcinoma with review of different histopathologic features.

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare but highly aggressive malignancy, which often has typical histopathologic and immunohistochemical (IHC) features. Sometimes the diagnosis is missed because of atypical histological or aberrant IHC findings. A case of MCC that showed irregular lobules of basaloid cells with keratotic areas on the initial shave biopsy is being reported.

Poliosis circumscripta: overview and underlying causes.

Although traditionally known as "white forelock," poliosis circumscripta, defined as a localized patch of white hair in a group of hair follicles, can involve any hairy area on the body including the scalp, eyebrows, and eyelashes. Microscopically, poliosis demonstrates either decreased or absent melanin and/or melanocytes in the hair bulbs of the affected hair follicles. Classically, poliosis is known to occur in the setting of several genetic syndromes including piebaldism, Waardenburg, and tuberous sclerosis.