Erbb2 up-regulation of ADAM12 expression accelerates skin cancer progression.

Solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation can cause severe damage to the skin and is the primary cause of most skin cancer. UV radiation causes DNA damage leading to mutations and also activates the Erbb2/HER2 receptor through indirect mechanisms involving reactive oxygen species. We hypothesized that Erbb2 activation accelerates the malignant progression of UV-induced skin cancer.

The epidermal growth factor receptor increases cytokine production and cutaneous inflammation in response to ultraviolet irradiation.

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is activated in cutaneous keratinocytes upon ultraviolet (UV) exposure and has been implicated in ultraviolet-(UV-)induced inflammation and skin tumorigenesis. Egfr mutant mice and EGFR inhibitors were used to investigate the hypothesis that EGFR activation augments inflammation following UV irradiation. Topical treatment of mouse skin with the EGFR inhibitor AG1478 before UV exposure suppressed UV-induced erythema, edema, mast cell infiltration, and neutrophil infiltration.

Plasmablastic transformation of low-grade CD5+ B-cell lymphoproliferative disorder with MYC gene rearrangements.

Plasmablastic transformation of low-grade B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders is rarely reported, particularly in cases with clonal evolution. Moreover, the relationship of these 2 morphologically and immunophenotypically distinctive neoplasms remains elusive. Here, we report 2 exceptional cases of plasmablastic transformation with apparently direct transformation from their preceding low-grade B-cell lymphoproliferative disorder.

Accelerated elimination of ultraviolet-induced DNA damage through apoptosis in CDC25A-deficient skin.

Cell division cycle 25A (CDC25A) is a dual-specificity phosphatase that removes inhibitory phosphates from cyclin-dependent kinases, allowing cell-cycle progression. Activation of cell-cycle checkpoints following DNA damage results in the degradation of CDC25A, leading to cell-cycle arrest. Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, which causes most skin cancer, results in both DNA damage and CDC25A degradation.

Assessment of HER2 gene status in breast carcinomas with polysomy of chromosome 17.

Background: The current study was performed to determine the impact of polysomy 17 on the interpretation of HER2 testing of invasive breast carcinomas using fluorescent in situ hybridization methods. Current American Society of Clinical Oncology/College of American Pathologists guidelines define HER2-positive tumors as those with >6 HER2 genes per nucleus or those with HER2/CEP17 (chromosome 17) ratio >2.2.

Cervical and endometrial metastases of appendiceal goblet cell carcinoid.

Appendiceal goblet cell carcinoid (GCC) is a rare tumor with histologic features of both adenocarcinoma and neuroendocrine tumor (carcinoid). Clinically, it behaves more aggressively than classic appendiceal carcinoid and commonly presents with peritoneal carcinomatosis. We report 2 cases of appendiceal GCC, one with uterine cervical involvement and the other with endometrial involvement as the initial presentations.

Melanoma in-situ arising in seborrheic keratosis: a case report.

Background: Seborrheic keratosis is a very common benign skin tumor in man. Melanoma is rare but is the most dreaded of all malignant skin tumors. A melanoma arising in a seborrheic keratosis is distinctly rare.

Perianal squamous cell carcinoma in-situ: a report of two human papilloma virus-negative cases.

We are reporting two cases of perianal squamous cell carcinoma in-situ, negative for high-risk (HR) and low-risk (LR) human papilloma viruses. A brief review of anal and perianal squamous cell carcinoma and the role of HPV are presented.

A giant cystic pheochromocytoma of the adrenal gland.

Adrenal pheochromocytomas are rare catecholamine-secreting tumors that originate from chromaffin cells in the adrenal medulla, and giant pheochromocytomas with cystic changes are particularly rare. We report a case of a 46-year-old man who presented with episodic hypertension and headache. Radiographic studies showed an 18-cm cystic mass in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen; further workups, which included light microscopy, immunohistochemical, and electron microscopic analysis, revealed a pheochromocytoma of the left adrenal gland.

Fibroepithelioma of Pinkus with pleomorphic epithelial giant cells.

Fibroepithelioma of Pinkus is a rare, indolent variant of basal cell carcinoma (BCC). The presence of pleomorphic giant cells in such a tumor is extremely rare and to our knowledge, only one such case has been previously reported in the literature. We report another case occurring as a pedunculated, gluteal lesion in an 82-year-old man.

Long survival following bacterial meningitis-associated brain destruction.

This report describes the brain autopsy of a boy who at age 4(1/2) years experienced an episode of fulminant Haemophilus influenzae type b bacterial meningitis, resulting in massive brain destruction and the clinical signs of brain death. However, medical intervention maintained him for an additional two decades. Subsequent autopsy revealed a calcified intracranial spherical structure weighing 750 g and consisting of a calcified shell containing grumous material and cystic spaces with no recognizable neural elements grossly or microscopically.

Mechanisms of SEPA 0009-induced tumorigenesis in v-rasHa transgenic Tg.AC mice.

Genetically engineered mouse models with altered oncogene or tumor suppressor gene activity have been utilized recently for carcinogen identification. The v-rasHa transgenic Tg.AC mouse, with its enhanced susceptibility to skin tumorigenesis, is thought to be well suited for examining the carcinogenicity of topically applied agents.

EGFR enhances early healing after cutaneous incisional wounding.

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has been implicated in the regulation of wound healing. In order to directly evaluate the role of endogenous EGFR in cutaneous incisional wound healing, we examined EGFR null- and wild-type skin after injury. By 5 d after wounding, re-epithelialization was complete in all EGFR wild-type wounds, but in only 40% of EGFR null wounds.