Adequacy of endosonography-derived samples from peribronchial or periesophageal intrapulmonary lesions for the molecular profiling of lung cancer.

Introduction And Objectives: Endosonography is increasingly used for the diagnosis of centrally located, bronchoscopically invisible intrapulmonary lesions, but data regarding its utility for molecular profiling are lacking. We aimed to assess the suitability of endosonography samples obtained from intrapulmonary lesions for cancer genotyping and programmed-death ligand 1 (PD-L1) testing.

Methods: A prospectively collected database regarding 99 consecutive patients undergoing endosonography for the diagnosis of an intrapulmonary lesion was retrospectively reviewed.

Concordance, intra- and inter-observer agreements between light microscopy and whole slide imaging for samples acquired by EUS in pancreatic solid lesions.

Background: No study has compared the performance of light microscopy (LM) and whole slide imaging (WSI) for endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) histological acquired tissue samples from pancreatic solid lesions (PSLs). We evaluated the concordance between LM and WSI and the inter- and intra-observer agreements among pathologists on PSLs EUS acquired samples.

Methods: LM and WSI from 60 patients with PSLs were evaluated by five expert pathologists to define: diagnostic classification, presence of a core, number and percentage of lesional cells.

BRAF V600E Status and Stimulated Thyroglobulin at Ablation Time Increase Prognostic Value of American Thyroid Association Classification Systems for Persistent Disease in Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma.

Background: Stimulated thyroglobulin levels measured at the time of remnant ablation (A-hTg) and BRAF mutation had shown prognostic value in predicting persistent disease in differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic role of A-hTg combined with the BRAF status in association with the revised American Thyroid Association (ATA) risk stratification.

Material And Methods: 620 patients treated for a DTC were included in this study with a median follow-up duration of 6.

Microfractures and hydrogel scaffolds in the treatment of osteochondral knee defects: A clinical and histological evaluation.

Background: Osteochondral knee defects (OCD) are often symptomatic, causing pain and functional impairment even in young and active patients. Regenerative surgical options, aiming to stimulate natural cartilage healing, have been recently used as a first line treatment. In this study, a new hydrogel is investigated in its capacity to regenerate the ultra-structural quality of hyaline cartilage when combined with a classical microfracture technique.

Outcome and molecular characteristics of non-invasive encapsulated follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma with oncocytic features.

Purpose: In 2016, non-invasive encapsulated follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma (NI-EFVPTC) was renamed as noninvasive thyroid follicular neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features (NIFTP). However, as the study cohort did not mention tumors with oncocytic features, such lesions are still labeled by some as FVPTC. It is therefore crucial to evaluate the outcome and molecular profile of oncocytic NI-EFVPTC.

Bisphenol A: A notorious player in the mosaic of autoimmunity.

The multifactorial etiology of autoimmune diseases has been studied at large. Genetic risk factors and environmental agents play an integral role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune processes. In recent decades, Bisphenol A (BPA), an exogenous compound found in polycarbonate plastic, has gained attention for its harmful multifocal effects on a diverse subset of systemic pathways, potentially contributing to disease onset and exacerbation.

Retraction Note to: Noninvasive Follicular Thyroid Neoplasm with Papillary-Like Nuclear Features: Historical Context, Diagnosis, and Future Challenges.

This article [1] has been retracted by the authors as it substantially overlaps with the following article [2]. All authors agree to the retraction.

Role of microRNAs in the main molecular pathways of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver malignant neoplasia. HCC is characterized by a poor prognosis. The need to find new molecular markers for its diagnosis and prognosis has led to a progressive increase in the number of scientific studies on this topic.

The role of clinical and molecular factors in low-grade gliomas: what is their impact on survival?

Aim: To evaluate relevance of clinical and molecular factors in adult low-grade gliomas (LGG) and to correlate with survival.

Methods: We reviewed records from adult LGG patients from 1991 to 2015 who received surgery and had sufficient tissue to molecular biomarkers characterization.

Results: 213 consecutive LGG patients were included: 17.

Temozolomide rechallenge in recurrent glioblastoma: when is it useful?

Aim: To identify patients with recurrent glioblastoma after temozolomide (TMZ) concurrent with and adjuvant to radiotherapy who could benefit from TMZ rechallenge at the time of disease progression.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 106 glioblastoma patients who had nonprogressive disease at first magnetic resonance imaging after completion of TMZ concurrent with and adjuvant to radiotherapy, a treatment-free interval (TFI) of at least 8 weeks and received TMZ rechallenge or a nitrosourea at the time of progression.

Results: In patients with TFI ≥5 months, median survival was 17.

The Role of Next-Generation Sequencing in the Cytologic Diagnosis of Pancreatic Lesions.

Context: - Integration of the analysis of genetic markers with endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration and cytologic evaluation has increased the accuracy of the preoperative diagnosis of pancreatic lesions. The application of high-throughput gene panel analysis using next-generation sequencing platforms is now offering a great opportunity for further improvements.

Objective: - To review the application of next-generation sequencing to the preoperative diagnosis of pancreatic lesions.

Prevalence of the single-nucleotide polymorphism rs11554137 (IDH1) in brain tumors of a cohort of Italian patients.

IDH mutational status is required for proper diagnosis according to the WHO criteria revised in 2016. The single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs11554137 (IDH1) at codon 105 of IDH1 has been reported in patients with several tumor types, including those with glioma. The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of IDH1 in a cohort of brain tumors, and its association with clinicopathologic features and IDH1 and IDH2 missense mutations.

Molecular pathology of thyroid tumours of follicular cells: a review of genetic alterations and their clinicopathological relevance.

Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine malignancy. Knowledge of the molecular pathology of thyroid tumours originating from follicular cells has greatly advanced in the past several years. Common molecular alterations, such as BRAF p.

Should subcentimeter non-invasive encapsulated, follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma be included in the noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features category?

Objective: In 2016, non-invasive, well-circumscribed and encapsulated, follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma (NI-EFV PTC) was reclassified as noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features (NIFTP) in order to reduce overtreatment of this indolent tumor. However, the study cohort did not include subcentimeter tumors, i.e.

Long-term survivors of pancreatic adenocarcinoma show low rates of genetic alterations in KRAS, TP53 and SMAD4.

Background: Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the deadliest human malignancies. Although surgery is currently the only effective treatment for PDAC, most patients survive less than 20 months after tumor resection.

Objective: The primary goal was to investigate alterations in KRAS, TP53, SMAD4 and CDKN2A/p16 in tumors from patients with exceptionally long survival after surgery.

Non-canonical IDH1 and IDH2 mutations: a clonal and relevant event in an Italian cohort of gliomas classified according to the 2016 World Health Organization (WHO) criteria.

According to the 2016 World Health Organization (WHO) classification of tumors of the central nervous system, assessment of exon 4 mutations in isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 or 2 genes (IDH1 or IDH2) is an essential step in the characterization of gliomas. The p.R132H mutation is the most frequent alteration in IDH genes, however other non-canonical IDH mutations can be identified.

Relationship among clinical, pathological and bio-molecular features in low-grade epilepsy-associated neuroepithelial tumors.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between molecular markers and clinicopathological features in patients operated on for low-grade epilepsy-associated neuroepithelial tumors. Molecular-genetic signatures are becoming increasingly important in characterizing these lesions, which represent the second most common cause of focal epilepsy in patients undergoing epilepsy surgery. Data from 22 patients operated on for histopathologically confirmed low-grade epilepsy-associated neuroepithelial tumors were retrospectively collected.

The percentage of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR)-mutated neoplastic cells correlates to response to tyrosine kinase inhibitors in lung adenocarcinoma.

Background: Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) molecular analysis is performed to assess the responsiveness to Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKIs) in patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC). The existence of molecular intra-tumoral heterogeneity has been observed in lung cancers. The aim of the present study is to investigate if the percentage of mutated neoplastic cells within the tumor sample might influence the responsiveness to TKIs treatment.

Clival chordomas: considerations after 16 years of endoscopic endonasal surgery.

OBJECTIVE In the past decade, the role of the endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA) has relevantly evolved for skull base tumors. In this study, the authors review their surgical experience with using an EEA in the treatment of clival chordomas, which are deep and infiltrative skull base lesions, and they highlight the advantages and limitations of this ventral approach. METHODS All consecutive cases of chordoma treated with an EEA between 1998 and 2015 at a single institution are included in this study.

Noninvasive Follicular Thyroid Neoplasm with Papillary-Like Nuclear Features: Historical Context, Diagnosis, and Future Challenges.

The encapsulated/well-demarcated non-invasive form of follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma (FVPTC) that occurs annually in 45,000 patients worldwide was thought for 30 years to be a carcinoma. Many studies have now shown almost no recurrence in these non-invasive tumors, even in patients treated by surgery without radioactive iodine therapy. The categorization of the tumor as cancer has led to aggressive forms of treatment, with their side effects, financial costs, and the psychological and social impact of a cancer diagnosis.

Team work and cytopathology molecular diagnosis of solid pancreatic lesions.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is expected to become the second leading cause of cancer-associated death in the next decade or so. It is widely accepted that tumorigenesis is linked to specific alterations in key genes and pancreatic neoplasms are some of the best characterized at the genomic level. Recent whole-exome and whole-genome sequencing analyses confirmed that PDAC is frequently characterized by mutations in a set of four genes among others: KRAS, TP53, CDKN2A/p16, and SMAD4.

Postoperative outcome of body core temperature rhythm and sleep-wake cycle in third ventricle craniopharyngiomas.

OBJECTIVE One of the more serious risks in the treatment of third ventricle craniopharyngiomas is represented by hypothalamic damage. Recently, many papers have reported the expansion of the indications for the endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA) to be used for these tumors as well. The aim of this study was to assess the outcome of sleep-wake cycle and body core temperature (BCT), both depending on hypothalamic control, in patients affected by craniopharyngiomas involving the third ventricle that were surgically treated via an EEA.

The History of the Follicular Variant of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma.

Context: This review provides historical context to recent developments in the classification of the follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma (FVPTC). The evolution of the diagnostic criteria for papillary thyroid carcinoma is described, clarifying the role of molecular analysis and the impact on patient management.

Methods: A PubMed search using the terms "follicular variant" and "papillary thyroid carcinoma" covering the years 1960 to 2016 was performed.