Evaluation of PRAME immunohistochemistry in cutaneous vascular neoplasms reveals frequent expression in primary and post-irradiation cutaneous angiosarcomas.

Background: Preferentially expressed antigen in melanoma (PRAME) has been extensively studied in cutaneous melanocytic tumors and has proven valuable as a diagnostic adjunct in routine dermatopathology practice. However, its expression in cutaneous vascular neoplasms, particularly angiosarcomas (AS), remains largely unexplored.

Methods: To further explore PRAME expression in cutaneous AS, 18 cases of post-irradiation and 13 cases of primary cutaneous AS were evaluated for PRAME.

Primary Cutaneous Epithelioid Mesenchymal Tumor With a Novel ATP2B4::GLI1 Gene Fusion.

GLI1 gene alterations (rearrangement or amplification) have been found in several bone and soft tissue tumors including pericytic tumors, gastric plexiform fibromyxoma, gastroblastoma, and a various group of epithelioid tumors with regional recurrence or distant metastasis. In this article, we describe a case of primary cutaneous epithelioid mesenchymal tumor harboring hitherto not reported ATP2B4::GLI1 gene fusion. A 42-year-old man presented with a growing firm lesion on the left postauricular scalp.

The Impact of Clinical and Pathological Features on Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasm Recurrence After Surgical Resection: Long-Term Follow-Up Analysis.

Objective: This study aimed to identify risk factors for recurrence after pancreatic resection for intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN).

Summary Background Data: Long-term follow-up data on recurrence after surgical resection for IPMN are currently lacking. Previous studies have presented mixed results on the role of margin status in risk of recurrence after surgical resection.

Minimal main pancreatic duct dilatation in small branch duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms associated with high-grade dysplasia or invasive carcinoma.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of high-grade dysplasia (HGD) or invasive carcinoma in patients with small branch duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (BD-IPMNs).

Methods: 923 patients who underwent surgical resection for an IPMN were identified. Sendai-negative patients were identified as those without history of pancreatitis or jaundice, main pancreatic duct size (MPD) <5 mm, cyst size <3 cm, no mural nodules, negative cyst fluid cytology for adenocarcinoma, or serum carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) <37 U/L.

Follicular cholecystitis: clinicopathologic associations.

Follicular cholecystitis (FC) is a relatively rare entity with uncertain causal associations. In this study, we aimed to explore different clinicopathologic associations of FC, and to better characterize the entity. A retrospective review of archival hematoxylin and eosin slides and pertinent clinical information was undertaken for all cholecystectomy cases with a rendered diagnosis of "follicular cholecystitis," from 1991 to 2017.

Main Duct Dilatation Is the Best Predictor of High-grade Dysplasia or Invasion in Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms of the Pancreas.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to determine preoperative factors that are predictive of malignancy in patients undergoing pancreatic resection for intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN).

Summary Background Data: IPMN of the pancreas may be precursor lesions to pancreatic cancer (PC) and represent a target for early diagnosis or prevention. While there has been much effort to define preoperative risk factors for malignant pathology, guidelines are ever-changing and controversy remains surrounding which patients would benefit most from resection.

Genetic Analysis of Small Well-differentiated Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors Identifies Subgroups With Differing Risks of Liver Metastases.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the key molecular alterations in small primary pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PanNETs) associated with the development of liver metastases.

Background: Well-differentiated PanNETs with small size are typically indolent; however, a limited subset metastasize to the liver.

Methods: A total of 87 small primary PanNETs (<3 cm), including 32 metastatic cases and 55 nonmetastatic cases after a 5-year follow-up, were immunolabeled for DAXX/ATRX and analyzed for alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) by Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization.

Immunolabeling of Cleared Human Pancreata Provides Insights into Three-Dimensional Pancreatic Anatomy and Pathology.

Visualizing pathologies in three dimensions can provide unique insights into the biology of human diseases. A rapid and easy-to-implement dibenzyl ether-based technique was used to clear thick sections of surgically resected human pancreatic parenchyma. Protocols were applicable to both fresh and formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue.

Colorectal Liver Metastases: Does the Future of Precision Medicine Lie in Genetic Testing?

Colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) present an important clinical challenge in both surgical and medical oncology. Despite improvements in management, survival among patients undergoing resection of CRLM is still very variable and there is a paucity of clinical trial data and reliable biomarkers that could guide prognostic forecasts, treatment selection, and follow-up. Fortunately, recent advances in molecular biology and tumor sequencing have identified a number of critical genetic loci and proliferation markers that may hold the key to understanding the biologic behavior of CRLM; specifically, mutations of KRAS, BRAF, TP53, PIK3CA, APC, expression of Ki-67, and the presence of microsatellite instability appear to have a decisive impact on prognosis and response to treatment in patients with CRLM.

Postoperative complications after resection of borderline resectable and locally advanced pancreatic cancer: The impact of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with conventional radiation or stereotactic body radiation therapy.

Background: The impact of neoadjuvant stereotactic body radiation therapy on postoperative complications for patients with borderline resectable or locally advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma remains unclear. Limited studies have compared neoadjuvant stereotactic body radiation therapy versus conventional chemoradiation therapy. A retrospective study was performed to determine if perioperative complications were different among patients with borderline resectable or locally advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma receiving neoadjuvant stereotactic body radiation therapy or chemoradiation therapy.

Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasm of the Pancreas in Young Patients: Tumor Biology, Clinical Features, and Survival Outcomes.

Aim: The aim of this paper is to describe the characteristics of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) of the pancreas in young patients.

Methods: We evaluated 1693 patients from the Pancreatic Surgery Consortium who underwent resection for IPMN and classified them as younger or older than 50 years of age at the time of surgery. We assessed the relationship of age with clinical, radiological, pathological, and prognostic features.

Preoperative bevacizumab and volumetric recovery after resection of colorectal liver metastases.

Background And Objectives: While preoperative treatment is frequently administered to CRLM patients, the impact of chemotherapy, with or without bevacizumab, on liver regeneration remains controversial.

Methods: The early and late regeneration indexes were defined as the relative increase in liver volume (RLV) within 2 and 9 months from surgery. Regeneration rates of the preoperative treatment groups were compared.

Multi-institutional Validation Study of Pancreatic Cyst Fluid Protein Analysis for Prediction of High-risk Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms of the Pancreas.

Objective: Preliminary work by our group suggested that proteins within the pancreatic cyst fluid (CF) may discriminate degree of IPMN dysplasia. We sought to externally validate these markers and determine whether their inclusion in a preoperative clinical nomogram could increase diagnostic accuracy.

Summary Background Data: IPMN is the most common radiographically identifiable precursor to pancreatic cancer; however, the timing and frequency of its malignant progression are unknown, and there are currently no reliable preoperative tests that can determine the grade of dysplasia in IPMN.

Neoadjuvant therapy prior to surgical resection for previously explored pancreatic cancer patients is associated with improved survival.

Background: Patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) are frequently referred to tertiary centers after unsuccessful attempted resections at other institutions. The outcome of these patients who are ultimately resected is not well understood.

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of patients with PDAC who underwent re-exploration between 1995 and 2013 at a single high volume tertiary care institution.

Duodenal Involvement is an Independent Prognostic Factor for Patients with Surgically Resected Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma.

Background: The current staging system for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) includes information about size and local extension of the primary tumor (T stage). The value of incorporating any local tumor extension into pancreatic staging systems has been questioned because it often is difficult to evaluate tumor extension to the peri-pancreatic soft tissues and because most carcinomas of the head of the pancreas infiltrate the intra-pancreatic common bile duct. This study sought to evaluate the prognostic implications of having PDAC with local tumor extension.

Patterns, Timing, and Predictors of Recurrence Following Pancreatectomy for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma.

Objective: To describe accurately the pattern, timing, and predictors of disease recurrence after a potentially curative resection for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

Summary Background Data: After surgery for PDAC, most patients will develop disease recurrence. Understanding the patterns and timing of disease failure can help guide improvements in therapy.

Genetic analyses of isolated high-grade pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HG-PanIN) reveal paucity of alterations in TP53 and SMAD4.

High-grade pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HG-PanIN) is the major precursor of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and is an ideal target for early detection. To characterize pure HG-PanIN, we analysed 23 isolated HG-PanIN lesions occurring in the absence of PDAC. Whole-exome sequencing of five of these HG-PanIN lesions revealed a median of 33 somatic mutations per lesion, with a total of 318 mutated genes.

Development and Validation of a Multi-institutional Preoperative Nomogram for Predicting Grade of Dysplasia in Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms (IPMNs) of the Pancreas: A Report from The Pancreatic Surgery Consortium.

Objective: Previous nomogram models for patients undergoing resection of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) have been relatively small single-institutional series. Our objective was to improve upon these studies by developing and independently validating a new model using a large multiinstitutional dataset.

Summary Background Data: IPMNs represent the most common radiographically identifiable precursor lesions of pancreatic cancer.

Adequacy of voided urine specimens prepared by ThinPrep and evaluated using The Paris System for Reporting Urinary Cytology.

Introduction: The Paris System for Reporting Urinary Cytology (TPS) currently includes a volume recommendation for voided urine specimens of 30 mL based on observations of performance with BD SurePath preparation system. Given that many labs use the Hologic ThinPrep methods for voided urines, an analysis of data acquired with this system is undertaken in this study.

Materials And Methods: We identified a total of 744 voided urine specimens.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Pathological Characteristics of Resected Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma.

Background: Prospective studies have identified obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as a risk factor for increased overall cancer incidence and mortality. The potential role of OSA in the risk or progression of specific cancers is not well known. We hypothesized that pathological differences in pancreatic cancers from OSA cases compared to non-OSA cases would implicate OSA in pancreatic cancer progression.

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte Ratio is a Predictive Marker for Invasive Malignancy in Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms of the Pancreas.

Objective: To evaluate the correlation between neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) values, and the presence of invasive carcinoma in patients with intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN).

Background: NLR and (PLR) are inflammatory markers that have been associated with overall survival in patients with invasive malignancies, including pancreatic cancer.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 272 patients who underwent surgical resection for histologically confirmed IPMN from January 1997 to July 2015.

Targeted DNA Sequencing Reveals Patterns of Local Progression in the Pancreatic Remnant Following Resection of Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasm (IPMN) of the Pancreas.

Objective: The aim of this study was to characterize patterns of local progression following resection for pancreatic intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN) using targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS).

Background: Progression of neoplastic disease in the remnant pancreas following resection of IPMN may include development of a new IPMN or ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, it is not clear whether this progression represents recurrence of the same neoplasm or an independent second neoplasm.