Prognosis of ALK-rearranged non-small-cell lung cancer patients carrying TP53 mutations.

Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the primary cause of cancer-related death. Gene rearrangements involving the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) tyrosine kinase identify a clinical and molecular subset of NSCLC patients, who benefit from the monotherapy with ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Nonetheless, responsiveness to TKIs and prognosis of these patients are influenced by several factors, including resistance mechanisms and mutations affecting genes involved in key molecular pathways of cancer cells.

Case Report: Analysis of Plasma Extracellular Vesicles in a Triple Negative Spindle-Cell Metaplastic Breast Cancer Patient.

Metaplastic breast cancer (MpBC) is a rare tumor representing 1% of all breast malignancies. The prognosis of this histologic subtype is actually poor and there are no current clear-cut therapeutic guidelines. Hence, despite its uniqueness, its aggressive prognostic profile strongly encourages further studies to identify new markers and therapeutic targets.

The Expression of Programmed Death Ligand 1 and Vimentin in Resected Non-Metastatic Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: Interplay and Prognostic Effects.

Programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) is an immune checkpoint with a role in cancer-related immune evasion. It is a target for cancer immunotherapy and its expression is detected for the use of some immune checkpoint inhibitors in advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients (NSCLC). Vimentin is a key component of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition phenotype.

Case Report: Analysis of Circulating Tumor Cells in a Triple Negative Spindle-Cell Metaplastic Breast Cancer Patient.

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are a rare population of cells found in the bloodstream and represent key players in the metastatic cascade. Their analysis has proved to provide further core information concerning the tumor. Herein, we aim at investigating CTCs isolated from a 32-year-old patient diagnosed with triple negative spindle-shaped metaplastic breast cancer (MpBC), a rare tumor poorly responsive to therapies and with a dismal prognosis.

The Interplay Between Programmed Death Ligand 1 and Vimentin in Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer.

Background: Current therapy for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) frequently includes immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as pembrolizumab, and programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) positivity is mandatory for its use in this setting. Vimentin plays a role in carcinogenesis through the activation of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process. Its prognostic impact in NSCLC has been investigated in numerous studies but little data are available on its relation with PD-L1 expression.

Spotlight on PSMA as a new theranostic biomarker for bladder cancer.

Bladder cancer (BCa) patients are diagnosed by cytology and cystoscopy. However, these diagnostic tests bear some limitations. We sought for reliable biomarkers to better determine BCa extension.

An initiative to assess the quality of Tanzanian cervical cancer specimens for HPV and telomerase detection.

The aim of our study was to assess the quality of Tanzanian cervical cancer specimens, evaluating telomerase alterations and human papilloma virus (HPV) infection in relation to histopathological characteristics since these biomarkers are not routinely analyzed. Thirty-two Tanzanian women with invasive cervical cancer were included in the study. Histopathological classification and all the analyses on tissue, including TERT immunohistochemistry, were performed at IRST IRCCS (Meldola, Italy).

Primary epithelioid angiosarcoma of the thyroid: A case report.

Angiosarcoma of the thyroid is a rare and aggressive primary malignant tumour of the thyroid. We report the case of a 69-year-old woman who presented with a red and sore skin area at the right-anterior region of the neck. Ultrasound examination and computed tomography scan showed a non-homogeneous mass in the right thyroid lobe.

Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes (TILs) and Risk of a Second Breast Event After a Ductal Carcinoma .

Women with a diagnosis of ductal carcinoma (DCIS) have a high risk of developing a second breast event (SBE). The immune system might play a role in trying to prevent a SBE. Patients diagnosed with DCIS were identified in the population-based cancer registry of Area Vasta Romagna from 1997 to 2010.

Cell-Free DNA Variant Sequencing Using CTC-Depleted Blood for Comprehensive Liquid Biopsy Testing in Metastatic Breast Cancer.

Keup and colleagues provide liquid biopsy preliminary results by sequencing variants in circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and cell-free deoxyribonucleic acid (cfDNA) "all from one tube" format, in order to use the same blood sample under the same isolation conditions of both analytes to reach an unbiased comparability and consistency. We appreciated the attempt of the authors to improve technical procedures in liquid biopsy research area, but we wanted to raise several issues related to cfDNA detection, reporting our research experience. This is a feasibility study as the authors analyzed only one sample from a small case series at an advanced line of treatment.

The impact of progesterone receptor expression on prognosis of patients with rapidly proliferating, hormone receptor-positive early breast cancer: a analysis of the IBIS 3 trial.

Background: In the Italian Breast Cancer Intergroup Studies (IBIS) 3 phase III trial, we compared cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil (CMF) alone to sequential epirubicin/CMF regimens in patients with rapidly proliferating early breast cancer (RPEBC). We performed a analysis in the subgroup of patients with hormone-receptor-positive RPEBC on the prognostic role of progesterone receptor (PgR) status.

Methods: RPEBC was defined by thymidine labeling index (TLI) >3% or grade 3 or S-phase >10% or Ki67 >20%.

Impressive clinical response to anti-PD-1 therapy in epithelioid mesothelioma with high clonal PD-L1 expression and EML4-ALK rearrangement.

Objectives: Treatment options for malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) are limited but some studies on immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in MPM have reported antitumor activity. Very little is known about immune-related predictive factors.

Materials And Methods: Here we report the case of a 45-year-old woman presenting with dyspnea and evidence of pleural effusion.

Identification of a novel large EPCAM-MSH2 duplication, concurrently with LOHs in chromosome 20 and X, in a family with Lynch syndrome.

Background: Lynch syndrome (LS) is associated with germline mutations in one of the mismatch repair genes or EPCAM. The majority of the causative alterations are point mutations. Large genomic rearrangements represent only 5-20%.

Evaluation of Androgen Receptor in Relation to Estrogen Receptor (AR/ER) and Progesterone Receptor (AR/PgR): A New Must in Breast Cancer?

Steroid nuclear receptors are known to be involved in the regulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition process with important roles in invasion and metastasis initiation. Androgen receptor (AR) has been extensively studied, but its role in relation to breast cancer patient prognosis remains to be clarified. AR/ER ratio has been reported to be an unfavorable prognostic marker in early primary breast cancer, but its role in the patients with advanced disease has to be cleared.

Preoperative charcoal suspension tattoo for the detection of differentiated thyroid cancer recurrence.

Recurrent differentiated thyroid carcinoma can easily be detected by means of ultrasound (US) and thyroglobulin, and often requires further surgical intervention. Revision surgery is often a technical challenge with significant risk of complications, considering the altered anatomy, with a possibility of leaving behind residual neoplasm. Preoperative US-guided tattooing localization has been introduced to reduce and prevent these potential problems during revision surgery.

Programmed death ligand 1 expression in early stage, resectable non-small cell lung cancer.

Introduction: For several years non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has been considered non-immunogenic. Recent advances in antitumor immunity brought to the discovery of checkpoints that modulate immune response against cancer. One of them is programmed death receptor 1 (PD-1) and its ligand (PD-L1).

Frequency of actionable alterations in epidermal growth factor receptor wild type non-small cell lung cancer: experience of the Wide Catchment Area of Romagna (AVR).

Background: Molecular diagnostics for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has become the standard of care for personalized treatment. Epidermal growth factor receptor () mutation and translocation represent the two most important alterations in first-line treatment decision-making. However, other potentially targetable alterations are also present.

Are fine-needle aspiration biopsy-derived cell blocks a useful surrogate for tissue samples in breast cancer?

Aims: The diagnosis of breast cancer (BC) is based on clinical examination in combination with imaging, and confirmed by pathological assessment of core needle biopsy or fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB). The biological profile of the lesion is needed to define the prognosis and establish therapy. Given the importance of an early and minimally invasive diagnosis, we aimed to verify whether the biological features detected in FNAB-derived cytological material reflect the biological characteristics of surgical samples.

Androgen Receptor Expression in Breast Cancer: What Differences Between Primary Tumor and Metastases?

Genomic studies have shown that the androgen receptor (AR) pathway plays an important role in some breast cancer subtypes. However few data are present on the concordance between AR expression in primary tumors and metastases. We investigated AR expression by using immunohistochemistry (IHC) in 164 primary tumors and 83 metastases, to explore its distribution in the different tumor subtypes and its concordance between the two sample types and according to sampling time.

Are There Differences in Androgen Receptor Expression in Invasive Breast Cancer in African (Tanzanian) Population in Comparison With the Caucasian (Italian) Population?

Purpose: Androgen receptor (AR) has been shown to have prognostic implication on breast cancer (BC). Data on the biological features of African BCs are poor. We decided for the first time to compare AR expression of Tanzanian and Italian BC patients.

Androgen receptor in advanced breast cancer: is it useful to predict the efficacy of anti-estrogen therapy?

Background: Androgen receptor (AR) is widely expressed in breast cancer (BC) but its role in estrogen receptor (ER)-positive tumors is still controversial. The AR/ER ratio has been reported to impact prognosis and response to antiestrogen endocrine therapy (ET).

Methods: We assessed whether AR in primary tumors and/or matched metastases is a predictor of efficacy of first-line ET in advanced BC.