Study of Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition in Atypical Fibroxanthoma and Undifferentiated Pleomorphic Sarcoma to Discern an Epithelial Origin.

Atypical fibroxanthoma (AFX) is considered a fibroblastic or myofibroblastic neoplasm probably corresponding to a superficial variant of undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS). However, an epithelial origin has also been postulated. An immunohistochemical study of the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) phenomenon was performed in a series of 19 AFX and 4 UPS to discern an epithelial origin.

Expansion of the NKG2C+ natural killer-cell subset is associated with high-risk carotid atherosclerotic plaques in seropositive patients for human cytomegalovirus.

Objective: Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), a pathogen involved in the development and progression of atherosclerosis, promotes in some individuals a marked reconfiguration of the natural killer (NK)-cell compartment whose hallmark is a persistent expansion of a peripheral blood NK-cell subset expressing the CD94/NKG2C NK receptor. We aimed to evaluate whether the HCMV-associated NK-cell compartment reconfiguration is related to carotid atherosclerotic plaque (CAP) instability.

Approach And Results: NK receptor expression (ie, LILRB1, NKG2A, NKG2C, and killer immunoglobulin-like receptors [KIR]) by peripheral NK and T cells was evaluated in 40 patients with HCMV+ with CAP, including nonatherosclerotic strokes (n=15) and healthy subjects (n=11) as controls.

Epithelial to mesenchymal transition markers are associated with an increased metastatic risk in primary cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas but are attenuated in lymph node metastases.

Background: Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is the second most common malignancy in humans and approximately 5% metastasize, usually to regional lymph nodes. Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a process involving loss of intercellular adhesion, acquisition of a mesenchymal phenotype and enhanced migratory potential; epithelial markers, such as E-cadherin, are down-regulated and mesenchymal proteins (Vimentin), increased.

Objective: To investigate the expression of EMT markers in metastatic SCC (MSCC) and their corresponding metastases, and to correlate them with clinico-pathological factors associated with an increased risk of metastasis.

Evaluation of MYC status in oral lichen planus in patients with progression to oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Malignant transformation of oral lichen planus (OLP) to oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is controversial. C-MYC is a proto-oncogene involved in various solid tumours, including OSCC.

Objectives: To determine MYC status using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) in OLP lesions from 10 patients with progression to OSCC (group I) and to compare this with OLP lesions from patients without progression to OSCC (group II).

D2-40 immunohistochemical overexpression in cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas: a marker of metastatic risk.

Background: Approximately 4% of cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (cSCCs) develop lymphatic metastases. The value of lymphatic endothelial markers to enhance the detection of lymphatic tumor invasion in cSCC has not been assessed previously.

Objective: We sought to evaluate the use of the antibody D2-40, a podoplanin immunohistochemical marker, to identify tumor lymph vessel invasion in cSCC and to assess its expression in tumor cells.