Publications by authors named "Mirka Jones"

Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate SOX17, a transcription factor from the Sry high-mobility group-related box superfamily, as a diagnostic marker to determine site of origin using both whole-tissue sections and tissue microarrays (TMAs).

Methods: SOX17 immunohistochemistry was performed on gynecologic and nongynecologic tissues (N = 1004) using whole-tissue sections and both internally constructed and commercially available TMAs. SOX17 nuclear reactivity was scored as positive or negative on the whole-tissue sections and using the semiquantitative H score method on TMAs.

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Macromastia is an excessive, rapid, or slow growth of breast tissue in 1 or both breasts. While macromastia represents a benign lesion, it may cause breast, shoulder, back, and neck pain, poor posture, infections, and loss of nipple sensation. The pathogenesis of macromastia or hypertrophy of mammary tissue remains poorly understood.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study explores the efficacy of the Ki67 proliferation marker in breast cancer treatment, highlighting issues with current scoring methods due to variability and time constraints.
  • Researchers used digital image analysis to quantify Ki67 indices in 280 breast cancer specimens as a potential solution for standardization and improved workflow.
  • The results showed strong agreement between digital analysis and manual counts, achieving an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.96, indicating that digital image analysis could enhance Ki67 scoring accuracy.
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Objectives: Our aim was to explore the performance of TRPS1 as an immunohistochemical diagnostic marker; find the optimal conditions for its use in breast carcinomas, especially triple-negative breast cancers (TNBCs); and compare its results in carcinomas of a select few organ sites, with an emphasis on gynecologic tumors.

Methods: Tissue microarrays from breast carcinomas (n = 197), endometrial adenocarcinomas (n = 69), ovarian tumors (n = 250), vulvar squamous cell carcinomas (n = 97), pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (n = 20), and gastric adenocarcinomas (n = 12) were stained with TRPS1 using 2 different conditions (protocol 1: high pH; protocol 2: low pH). Breast carcinomas consisted of hormone receptor (HR)-positive/ERBB2 (formerly HER2 or HER2/neu)-negative (n = 53) samples, HR-positive/ERBB2-positive (n = 6) samples, and TNBCs (n = 138).

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  • Undifferentiated and dedifferentiated endometrial carcinomas (UDEC and DDEC) are rare, aggressive cancers of the uterus characterized by their lack of specific differentiation and associated mutations in SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling genes.
  • The study involved examining 20 cases, including immunohistochemical analysis of protein expression and next-generation sequencing to identify genetic mutations, revealing high tumor mutational burden and significant mutations in several key genes.
  • Findings showed a strong correlation between the presence of ARID1A mutations and the undifferentiated component of DDECs, while most cases demonstrated aggressive features such as advanced stage and lymphovascular invasion, highlighting the need for further research into these cancers.
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Objectives: SOX10 expression helps identify melanocytic lesions. Over time, novel uses have been identified, such as expression in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). We evaluated the usefulness of SOX10 in breast pathology-specifically, identification and subtyping of TNBC and distinction from gynecologic carcinomas, use as a myoepithelial marker, and in the distinction of usual ductal hyperplasia (UDH) from atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH).

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The management of uterine leiomyosarcomas (uLMS) remains challenging. The rate of recurrence and metastasis is high, with 5-yr survival reaching only 40% to 50% in patients with tumor confined to the uterus (FIGO stage I or II). Prolactin receptor (PRLR) and growth hormone-releasing hormone receptor (GHRHR) have been implicated in the carcinogenesis of malignant tumors of the breast, endometrium, ovary, liver, and prostate.

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Uterine carcinosarcomas (UCS) are rare and highly aggressive tumors. Although it is currently accepted that the majority of UCS are metaplastic carcinomas, their aggressive behavior is unparalleled to that of any other high-grade endometrial neoplasms. Therefore, the search for the distinct immunohistochemical and molecular features that could help in the development of new treatment strategies continues.

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Objective: To determine the genomic signatures of human uterine leiomyomas and prevalence of MED12 mutations in human uterine leiomyosarcomas.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Not applicable.

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Objectives: It is clinically important to determine whether adenocarcinoma present in a biopsy or curettage is of endometrial or endocervical origin. When tumors are difficult to distinguish based on routine histologic sections, immunohistochemistry and human papillomavirus (HPV) in situ hybridization may be used.

Materials And Methods: We compare immunohistochemical profile and HPV expression in 76 tumors, including various types of endocervical adenocarcinoma and the most common endometrioid type of endometrial adenocarcinoma using tumor tissue microarray.

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The American Society of Clinical Oncology/College of American Pathologists (ASCO/CAP) guidelines recommend reporting of hormone receptor test results in a semiquantitative manner. This study used 74 resected estrogen receptor (ER)-positive invasive breast cancers to determine reproducibility of semiquantitative scoring of hormone receptors using the H-score method. Four pathologists independently scored each slide.

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Uterine leiomyomas (uterine fibroids) arise from smooth muscle tissue in the majority of women by age 45. It is common for these clonal tumors to develop from multiple locations within the uterus, leading to a variety of symptoms such as pelvic pain, abnormal uterine bleeding, and infertility. We performed whole exome sequencing on genomic DNA from five pairs of leiomyomas and corresponding normal myometrium to determine genetic variations unique to leiomyomas.

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Radiation-related changes including fibrosis, nuclear enlargement, hyperchromasia and cytoplasmic vacuolization may alter the appearance of normal ovarian tissue and ovarian tumors. We describe radiation-related changes in ovarian stromal neoplasm with mixed features of sclerosing stromal tumor and fibrothecoma. The right ovarian mass was discovered in a 38 year-old woman with past history of invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix treated with cone biopsy and brachytherapy.

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Fourteen steroid cell tumors (SCTs) of the ovary were studied by immunohistochemistry including inhibin, calretinin, CD99, Melan A, androgen receptor, and AE1/3. Twelve tumors were primary and 2 were recurrent. The primary tumors included 5 stromal luteomas (SL), 5 SCTs, not otherwise specified, and 2 Leydig cell tumors, 1 of the hilar type and 1 of the nonhilar type.

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Uterine smooth muscle tumors of uncertain malignant potential (STUMPs) are difficult both from the diagnostic and patient management standpoint because they cannot be classified as benign or malignant by conventional histologic criteria. This study's aim was to determine the diagnostic utility of allelic imbalance (AI) analysis in uterine smooth muscle tumors. Using microdissection and genotyping, we tested 5 leiomyomas, 6 STUMPs, and 10 leiomyosarcomas with follow-up for AI across a panel of seven tumor suppressor genes (p16, p21, p53, VHL, XRCC3, RB, and NM-23).

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Mutational changes in a number of genetic foci were studied in 12 serous borderline tumors (SBTs) of the ovary including 2 with a micropapillary pattern. The analysis was focused on chromosomal regions that have not been previously studied in these tumors. The findings were correlated with the morphology and the FIGO stage of the tumors.

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We analyzed 25 ovarian borderline tumors (13 serous and 12 mucinous tumors) by comparative genomic hybridization (CGH). Genomic imbalance was detected in 85% of serous tumors and 75% of mucinous tumors. Different patterns of genomic alterations were identified in serous and mucinous tumors.

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Cystosarcoma phyllodes (CP) of the breast is a rare biphasic tumor composed of benign epithelium and a spindle cell stroma. Biologic behavior of CP cannot be predicted with certainty on the basis of morphologic criteria only. We studied immunohistochemical expression of basic fibroblastic growth factor (bFGF), urokinase, Ki67, p53 protein, and microvessel density in stromal and epithelial components of 14 low-grade CP (LCP) and 9 high-grade CP (HCP).

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