Background: Presently, few options are available for refractory colorectal cancer (CRC). O6-methy... more Background: Presently, few options are available for refractory colorectal cancer (CRC). O6-methyl-guanine-DNA-methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter methylation is a frequent and early event in CRC tumourigenesis. This epigenetic silencing is a predictor of response to the alkylating drug temozolomide in glioblastoma. Preclinical evidences and some case reports showed temozolomide activity in CRC with MGMT silencing, but the available data from clinical trials are inconsistent. Methods: This was a multicentre, phase 2 trial, planned according to a two-stage Simon's optimal design to investigate activity and safety of temozolomide in refractory CRC harbouring MGMT promoter methylation. The primary end point was overall response rate (ORR). Patients who failed two or more prior treatments received temozolomide at a dose of 150-200 mg m À 2 per day on days 1-5 every 28 days. Results: From July 2012 to June 2016, 225 patients were screened, 80 showed MGMT promoter methylation and 41 were enrolled. Overall response rate was 10% and disease control rate was 32%. Median progression-free survival and overall survival were 1.9 and 5.1 months, respectively. Conclusions: Temozolomide showed a modest activity in this heavily pretreated population and the study did not meet its primary end point. The role of temozolomide in CRC remains still controversial and further research is warranted.
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
When one is dealing with pediatric thyroid lesions, fine-needle aspiration is the first diagnosti... more When one is dealing with pediatric thyroid lesions, fine-needle aspiration is the first diagnostic tool for the correct characterization of these nodules. Despite the apparent infrequency of thyroid cancers in children, recent data from the National Cancer Institute prove that the incidence has been increasing, especially in adolescents. With the same data, a higher prevalence of well-differentiated cancers can be estimated, with 90% diagnosed as papillary thyroid cancer. Nonetheless, some publications have demonstrated that some specific malignant variants are more frequent in children and have a more aggressive behavior that justifies the increased number of surgical procedures. For this reason, the American Thyroid Association recommends the performance of neck ultrasonography and fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) for the evaluation of pediatric thyroid nodules. Accordingly, as reported in adult thyroid series, several authors have documented the high sensitivity and diagnostic accuracy of FNAC in pediatric series; they have also shared the same problematic issues encountered in adult populations, mostly in the diagnosis of indeterminate lesions. To provide precise clinical and/or surgical management, the correct cytological identification of specific malignant histotypes/entities should be mandatory because lymph nodes, distant metastases, and extrathyroidal infiltration are more frequent within specific histotypes. A perusal of the literature shows that their identification has not been extensively studied and investigated in cytological samples. This review focuses on the analysis of data from the literature on the evaluation of malignancies and specific morphological features in pediatric thyroid lesions.
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
Purpose: The Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) is present in the malignant Hodgkin/Reed–Sternberg (HRS) ce... more Purpose: The Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) is present in the malignant Hodgkin/Reed–Sternberg (HRS) cells of 20% to 40% cases of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) in Western countries. We were interested in the detection and quantification of cell-free plasma EBV-DNA as an indicator of biological and clinical characteristics in EBV-associated HL.Experimental Design: EBV was detected in peripheral blood compartments (whole blood, plasma, and mononuclear cells) at diagnosis by real-time PCR for the EBNA (EB nuclear antigen) region (n = 93) and in HRS cells by in situ hybridization for EBV-encoded small RNAs (EBER; n = 63). These data were correlated to histological and clinical characteristics, EBV serology, circulating cell-free DNA, and interleukin (IL)-6 levels.Results: Detection of EBV-DNA in plasma had a high specificity (90%), but a relatively low sensitivity (65%) to predict for EBV association. The viral load was higher in patients with advanced stage disease, older age in the presence of B-sy...
In January 2022, our institution launched a comprehensive cancer genome profiling program on 10 c... more In January 2022, our institution launched a comprehensive cancer genome profiling program on 10 cancer types using a non-IVD solution named the TruSight Oncology 500 Assay provided by Illumina®. The assay analyzes both DNA and RNA, identifying Single-Nucleotide Variants (SNV)s and Insertion–Deletion (InDel) in 523 genes, as well as known and unknown fusions and splicing variants in 55 genes and Copy Number Alterations (CNVs), Mutational Tumor Burden (MTB) and Microsatellite Instability (MSI). According to the current European IVD Directive 98/79/EC, an internal validation was performed before running the test. A dedicated open-source bioinformatics pipeline was developed for data postprocessing, panel assessment and embedding in high-performance computing framework using the container technology to ensure scalability and reproducibility. Our protocols, applied to 71 DNA and 64 RNA samples, showed full agreement between the TruSight Oncology 500 assay and standard approaches, with on...
Predictive factors for response to regorafenib in recurrent glioblastoma, IDH-wildtype, are scarc... more Predictive factors for response to regorafenib in recurrent glioblastoma, IDH-wildtype, are scarcely recognized. The objective of this study was to identify molecular predictive factors for response to regorafenib using a clinically available platform. We analyzed a prospective cohort of 30 patients harboring recurrent glioblastoma, IDH-wildtype, and treated with regorafenib. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) analysis was performed on DNA extracted from paraffin-embedded tissues using a clinically available platform. Moreover, MGMT methylation and EGFRvIII expression analyses were performed. Six-month progression-free survival (PFS) was 30% and median overall survival (OS) was 7.5 months, in line with literature data. NGS analysis revealed a mutation in the EGFR pathway in 18% of cases and a mutation in the mitogen-activated protein-kinase (MAPK) pathway in 18% of cases. In the remaining cases, no mutations were detected. Patients carrying MAPK pathway mutation had a poor response to...
If KRAS mutation status of primary colorectal tumor is representative of corresponding colorectal... more If KRAS mutation status of primary colorectal tumor is representative of corresponding colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) mutational pattern, is controversial. Several studies have reported different rates of KRAS discordance, ranging from 4 to 32%. Aim of this study is to assess the incidence of discordance and its impact on overall survival (OS) in a homogenous group of patients. KRAS mutation status was evaluated in 107 patients resected for both primary colorectal tumor and corresponding CRLM at the same institution, between 2007 and 2018. Discordance rate was 15.9%. Its incidence varied according to the time interval between the two mutation analyses (p = 0.025; Pearson correlation = 0.2) and it was significantly higher during the first 6 months from the time of primary tumor evaluation. On multivariable analysis, type of discordance (wild-type in primary tumor, mutation in CRLM) was the strongest predictor of poor OS (p < 0.001). At multivariable logistic regression analysi...
The prognostic role of epidermal growth factor receptor variant III (EGFRvIII), a constitutively ... more The prognostic role of epidermal growth factor receptor variant III (EGFRvIII), a constitutively activated oncogenic receptor, in glioblastoma is controversial. We performed a prospective study enrolling 355 patients operated on for de novo glioblastoma at a large academic center. The molecular profile, including EGFRvIII status, MGMT promoter methylation, and VEGF expression, was assessed. Standard parameters (age, clinical status and extent of surgical resection) were confirmed to hold prognostic value. MGMT promoter methylation portended a slightly improved survival. In the whole series, confirming previous results, EGFRvIII was not associated with worsened prognosis. Interestingly, female sex was associated with a better outcome. Such findings are of interest for the design of future trials.
BackgroundMutational analysis contributes to the diagnosis and prognosis of thyroid nodules analy... more BackgroundMutational analysis contributes to the diagnosis and prognosis of thyroid nodules analyzed with fine‐needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). Although several advanced molecular tests based on multiple molecular markers are available for clinical use and have increased their impact on clinical management of patients, they are not widely available. Among them is BRAF V600E, one of the most studied mutations. Other genetic alterations, such as TERT promoter mutations, may coexist in thyroid carcinomas. Previous studies have demonstrated that this duet might be involved in the aggressiveness of thyroid cancer, although its prognostic value related to mortality remains undefined. The detection of such genetic alterations in thyroid liquid‐based cytology (LBC) thus may assist with patient management.MethodsFrom January 2013 to June 2014, 356 thyroid FNAC samples were processed by LBC, including 174 surgical follow‐up samples. BRAF V600E and TERT mutation analyses were performed on bo...
Alterations in the transcriptional factor c-MYC could be involved in the anti-EGFR resistance in ... more Alterations in the transcriptional factor c-MYC could be involved in the anti-EGFR resistance in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). The c-MYC expression was evaluated in 121 RAS and BRAF wild-type mCRC before treatment with anti-EGFR+Folfiri therapy and in 33 subsequent metastases collected during target therapy (TT) or in TT resistance phase. We analyzed the expression and the functional role of some c-MYC linked miRNAs (miR-31-3p, miR-143 and miR-145) in our patient group and in two CRC cell lines, also performing a c-MYC target PCR array. Patients with higher c-MYC expression (HME) showed a significant lower PFS and OS when compared to those with low c-MYC expression (LME). HME pattern was significantly more frequent in the metastases after TT and significantly associated to anti-EGFR molecular resistance alterations. We also found a significant correlation between the expression of the above-mentioned c-MYC linked miRNAs, c-MYC level and anti-EGFR resistance. Moreover, express...
INTRODUCTION Failure of clinical trials with targeted therapies in glioblastoma (GBM) is probably... more INTRODUCTION Failure of clinical trials with targeted therapies in glioblastoma (GBM) is probably due to the enrollment of molecularly unselected patients. In preliminary studies, we prospectively selected recurrent GBM patients on the basis of molecular pattern and administered targeted therapy accordingly. This tailored approach gave encouraging results in term of low recurrence rate (RR) and high 6-month progression free survival (PFS-6). Here, we present the long-term results of our work. METHODS On recurrent tumor samples of 34 adult patients, we assessed the expression of VEGF and PTEN through immunohistochemistry and of EGFRvIII through RT-PCR. Patients with VEGF overexpression were treated with bevacizumab (10 mg/Kg i.v. every 2 weeks in 6-week cycles). Patients with EGFRvIII expression and normal PTEN expression added erlotinib (150 mg/day orally). Patients with loss of PTEN expression, irrespective of EGFRvIII status, added sirolimus (1–10 mg/day orally). RESULTS Sixteen p...
2678 The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is present in the malignant Hodgkin/Reed-Sternberg (HRS) cells ... more 2678 The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is present in the malignant Hodgkin/Reed-Sternberg (HRS) cells of 20–40% cases of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) in western countries. Detection and quantitation of cell-free plasma EBV-DNA has been proposed as a biomarker in EBV-associated malignancies, including HL. We analyzed the presence of EBV in HRS cells, peripheral blood compartments, and correlated these data to EBV serology, other circulating biomarkers and clinical characteristics. In a single institution cohort of 93 HL patients, EBV-DNA was quantitated using real-time PCR for the EBNA region in whole blood (WB, n=69), plasma (PL, n=75) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MNC, n=74). Cell-free DNA levels were determined using a real-time PCR for the globin gene (n=84), cytokine concentrations were measured in 85 patients. EBV status of HRS cells was studied using in-situ hybridization with EBER. EBV-DNA was positive in 32% WB, 21% PL and 20% MNC at HL diagnosis, with concordant WB and PL res...
Seminomas are the most frequent kind of testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs), accounting for 50% o... more Seminomas are the most frequent kind of testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs), accounting for 50% of tumor diagnosis in young men, whereas non-seminomas account for 40% and mixed forms for 10% of cases. It is currently supposed that TGCTs evolve from a pre-invasive stage of carcinoma in situ (CIS). Octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (OCT4) is essential for self-renewal of stem cells. It is considered as a major regulator of cell pluripotency. Prior studies have shown that seminoma expresses OCT4. Transcription factor Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) has moreover associated with embryonic stem cell maintenance. Finally, we previously demonstrated the expression of PTTG1 in CIS and seminomas. In this pilot study, we compared the combined expression of PTTG1 with KLF4 and OCT4 in seminoma, in order to validate our hypotesis that PTTG1 marks a specific population of stem cells in neoplastic tissue, strictly related with tumor. Formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded testicular tissues by 5 patients who underwent an orchidectomy for seminoma have been collected and immunofluorescence analysis was performed using antibody rabbit monoclonal PTTG-1 and mouse monoclonal OCT4 or mouse monoclonal KLF4 antibody. In seminoma we observed that tumor cells strongly express OCT-4 in all seminomas and in the intratubular areas of seminoma. Expression of KLF-4 was observed in many tumor cells. PTTG1 marks some specific OCT4-and KLF4positive tumor cells, mainly localized at the periphery of the neoplasm. In the intertubular infiltration areas nests of cells expressing both OCT4/KLF4 and PTTG1 have been observed. This is the first identification of a cell population in seminoma characterized for being OCT4, KLF4, and PTTG1 positive cells in seminoma, associated with cancer invasiveness. Further investigation is needed to elucidate if a functional abrogation of PTTG1 might be used in order to offer new therapeutic approaches in the clinical workout of seminoma.
e15034Background: Despite the outstanding success of EGFR inhibitors in the treatment of metastat... more e15034Background: Despite the outstanding success of EGFR inhibitors in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (CC), targeted therapy (TT) leads inevitably to acquired resistance stemming from various molecular mechanisms such as activation of compensatory kinases. Alterations in the transcriptional factor c-Myc, a downstream effector of several kinase pathways, could be also involved in the TT resistance of CC. Methods: The expression of c-Myc (Abcam, Milan, Italy) was assessed in 99 naive CC samples, wild type for KRAS, NRAS and BRAF, and in 35 subsequent metastases collected during TT treatment with anti-EGFR+Folfiri therapy or in TT resistance phase. In the same cohort, we also analyzed the expression of miRNA143 and miRNA145, using real-time assay, and performed a c-Myc Targets PCR Array (Qiagen, Milan, Italy). Results were correlated with clinical and pathological features. Results: Patients with lower c-Myc nuclear expression (LME) showed a significant higher time to progression (TTP) respec...
Background: Succinate dehydrogenase (SDH)-deficient gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) const... more Background: Succinate dehydrogenase (SDH)-deficient gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) constitute a small KIT/ PDGFRA-WT GIST subgroup featuring DNA methylation which, although pervasive, appears nevertheless not randomly distributed. Although often indolent, these tumors are mostly chemorefractory in aggressive cases. Promoter methylation-induced O 6-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) inactivation improves the efficacy of alkylating agents in gliomas, colorectal cancer and diffuse large B cell lymphoma. MGMT methylation has been found in some GISTs, without determining SDH status. Thirty-six GISTs were enrolled in past sarcoma trials testing alkylating agents, with negative results. Nevertheless, a possible effect on MGMT-methylated GISTs could have escaped detection, since tested GISTs were neither selected by genotype nor investigated for SDH; MGMT was studied in two cases only, revealing baseline activity; these trials were performed prior to the adoption of Choi criteria, the most sensitive for detecting GIST responses to therapy. Under these circumstances, we investigated whether MGMT methylation is preferentially found in SDH-deficient cases (identified by SDHB immunohistochemistry) by analyzing 48 pathogenetically heterogeneous GISTs by methylation-specific PCR, as a premise for possible investigations on the use of alkylating drugs in these tumors. Results: Nine GISTs of our series were SDH-deficient, revealing significantly enriched in MGMT-methylated cases (6/9-67%-, vs. 6/39-15%-of SDH-proficient GISTs; p = 0.004). The pathogenetically heterogeneous KIT/ PDGFRA-WT GISTs were also significantly MGMT-methylated (11/24-46%-, vs. 1/24-4%-of KIT/PDGFRA-mutant cases, p = 0.002). Conclusions: A subset of KIT/PDGFRA-WT GISTs, including their largest pathogenetically characterized subgroup (i.e., SDH-deficient ones), is preferentially MGMT-methylated. This finding could foster a reappraisal of alkylating agents for treating malignant cases occurring among these overall chemorefractory tumors.
Accumulating evidence reveals the heterogeneous features of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST... more Accumulating evidence reveals the heterogeneous features of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs), primarily distinguished by their various molecular triggers defining well characterized subgroups. The identification of the pathogenetic group a given GIST belongs to, in combination with the currently adopted GIST prognosticators, is pivotal for the correct management of GIST patients. Epidemiological, anatomical and morphological features are more or less strictly associated with the various possible GIST molecular pathogenesis; therefore, they can concur to addressing molecular analysis or even influence the identification of GIST subsets by themselves. This is particularly true in a cost/benefit perspective aimed at cutting the expenses of pathology labs. Under these circumstances, a correct classical pathological analysis still appears a fundamental step to achieve an optimal GIST characterization. We herein report a gastric epithelioid PDGFRA-mutant GIST displaying the multinodular/plexiform architecture distinctive of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH)-deficient GISTs. Immunohistochemistry and molecular analysis led to the correct tumor characterization. The reported case constitutes a valuable contribution to GIST pathology in that it demonstrates that multinodular/plexiform architecture is not restricted to SDH-deficient GISTs, but can be found also in PDGFRA-mutant ones; this is an event to be aware of, given the predilection for gastric location and epithelioid morphology shared by these two GIST subgroups, only the latter of which includes imatinib-sensitive cases.
Background: Presently, few options are available for refractory colorectal cancer (CRC). O6-methy... more Background: Presently, few options are available for refractory colorectal cancer (CRC). O6-methyl-guanine-DNA-methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter methylation is a frequent and early event in CRC tumourigenesis. This epigenetic silencing is a predictor of response to the alkylating drug temozolomide in glioblastoma. Preclinical evidences and some case reports showed temozolomide activity in CRC with MGMT silencing, but the available data from clinical trials are inconsistent. Methods: This was a multicentre, phase 2 trial, planned according to a two-stage Simon's optimal design to investigate activity and safety of temozolomide in refractory CRC harbouring MGMT promoter methylation. The primary end point was overall response rate (ORR). Patients who failed two or more prior treatments received temozolomide at a dose of 150-200 mg m À 2 per day on days 1-5 every 28 days. Results: From July 2012 to June 2016, 225 patients were screened, 80 showed MGMT promoter methylation and 41 were enrolled. Overall response rate was 10% and disease control rate was 32%. Median progression-free survival and overall survival were 1.9 and 5.1 months, respectively. Conclusions: Temozolomide showed a modest activity in this heavily pretreated population and the study did not meet its primary end point. The role of temozolomide in CRC remains still controversial and further research is warranted.
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
When one is dealing with pediatric thyroid lesions, fine-needle aspiration is the first diagnosti... more When one is dealing with pediatric thyroid lesions, fine-needle aspiration is the first diagnostic tool for the correct characterization of these nodules. Despite the apparent infrequency of thyroid cancers in children, recent data from the National Cancer Institute prove that the incidence has been increasing, especially in adolescents. With the same data, a higher prevalence of well-differentiated cancers can be estimated, with 90% diagnosed as papillary thyroid cancer. Nonetheless, some publications have demonstrated that some specific malignant variants are more frequent in children and have a more aggressive behavior that justifies the increased number of surgical procedures. For this reason, the American Thyroid Association recommends the performance of neck ultrasonography and fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) for the evaluation of pediatric thyroid nodules. Accordingly, as reported in adult thyroid series, several authors have documented the high sensitivity and diagnostic accuracy of FNAC in pediatric series; they have also shared the same problematic issues encountered in adult populations, mostly in the diagnosis of indeterminate lesions. To provide precise clinical and/or surgical management, the correct cytological identification of specific malignant histotypes/entities should be mandatory because lymph nodes, distant metastases, and extrathyroidal infiltration are more frequent within specific histotypes. A perusal of the literature shows that their identification has not been extensively studied and investigated in cytological samples. This review focuses on the analysis of data from the literature on the evaluation of malignancies and specific morphological features in pediatric thyroid lesions.
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
Purpose: The Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) is present in the malignant Hodgkin/Reed–Sternberg (HRS) ce... more Purpose: The Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) is present in the malignant Hodgkin/Reed–Sternberg (HRS) cells of 20% to 40% cases of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) in Western countries. We were interested in the detection and quantification of cell-free plasma EBV-DNA as an indicator of biological and clinical characteristics in EBV-associated HL.Experimental Design: EBV was detected in peripheral blood compartments (whole blood, plasma, and mononuclear cells) at diagnosis by real-time PCR for the EBNA (EB nuclear antigen) region (n = 93) and in HRS cells by in situ hybridization for EBV-encoded small RNAs (EBER; n = 63). These data were correlated to histological and clinical characteristics, EBV serology, circulating cell-free DNA, and interleukin (IL)-6 levels.Results: Detection of EBV-DNA in plasma had a high specificity (90%), but a relatively low sensitivity (65%) to predict for EBV association. The viral load was higher in patients with advanced stage disease, older age in the presence of B-sy...
In January 2022, our institution launched a comprehensive cancer genome profiling program on 10 c... more In January 2022, our institution launched a comprehensive cancer genome profiling program on 10 cancer types using a non-IVD solution named the TruSight Oncology 500 Assay provided by Illumina®. The assay analyzes both DNA and RNA, identifying Single-Nucleotide Variants (SNV)s and Insertion–Deletion (InDel) in 523 genes, as well as known and unknown fusions and splicing variants in 55 genes and Copy Number Alterations (CNVs), Mutational Tumor Burden (MTB) and Microsatellite Instability (MSI). According to the current European IVD Directive 98/79/EC, an internal validation was performed before running the test. A dedicated open-source bioinformatics pipeline was developed for data postprocessing, panel assessment and embedding in high-performance computing framework using the container technology to ensure scalability and reproducibility. Our protocols, applied to 71 DNA and 64 RNA samples, showed full agreement between the TruSight Oncology 500 assay and standard approaches, with on...
Predictive factors for response to regorafenib in recurrent glioblastoma, IDH-wildtype, are scarc... more Predictive factors for response to regorafenib in recurrent glioblastoma, IDH-wildtype, are scarcely recognized. The objective of this study was to identify molecular predictive factors for response to regorafenib using a clinically available platform. We analyzed a prospective cohort of 30 patients harboring recurrent glioblastoma, IDH-wildtype, and treated with regorafenib. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) analysis was performed on DNA extracted from paraffin-embedded tissues using a clinically available platform. Moreover, MGMT methylation and EGFRvIII expression analyses were performed. Six-month progression-free survival (PFS) was 30% and median overall survival (OS) was 7.5 months, in line with literature data. NGS analysis revealed a mutation in the EGFR pathway in 18% of cases and a mutation in the mitogen-activated protein-kinase (MAPK) pathway in 18% of cases. In the remaining cases, no mutations were detected. Patients carrying MAPK pathway mutation had a poor response to...
If KRAS mutation status of primary colorectal tumor is representative of corresponding colorectal... more If KRAS mutation status of primary colorectal tumor is representative of corresponding colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) mutational pattern, is controversial. Several studies have reported different rates of KRAS discordance, ranging from 4 to 32%. Aim of this study is to assess the incidence of discordance and its impact on overall survival (OS) in a homogenous group of patients. KRAS mutation status was evaluated in 107 patients resected for both primary colorectal tumor and corresponding CRLM at the same institution, between 2007 and 2018. Discordance rate was 15.9%. Its incidence varied according to the time interval between the two mutation analyses (p = 0.025; Pearson correlation = 0.2) and it was significantly higher during the first 6 months from the time of primary tumor evaluation. On multivariable analysis, type of discordance (wild-type in primary tumor, mutation in CRLM) was the strongest predictor of poor OS (p < 0.001). At multivariable logistic regression analysi...
The prognostic role of epidermal growth factor receptor variant III (EGFRvIII), a constitutively ... more The prognostic role of epidermal growth factor receptor variant III (EGFRvIII), a constitutively activated oncogenic receptor, in glioblastoma is controversial. We performed a prospective study enrolling 355 patients operated on for de novo glioblastoma at a large academic center. The molecular profile, including EGFRvIII status, MGMT promoter methylation, and VEGF expression, was assessed. Standard parameters (age, clinical status and extent of surgical resection) were confirmed to hold prognostic value. MGMT promoter methylation portended a slightly improved survival. In the whole series, confirming previous results, EGFRvIII was not associated with worsened prognosis. Interestingly, female sex was associated with a better outcome. Such findings are of interest for the design of future trials.
BackgroundMutational analysis contributes to the diagnosis and prognosis of thyroid nodules analy... more BackgroundMutational analysis contributes to the diagnosis and prognosis of thyroid nodules analyzed with fine‐needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). Although several advanced molecular tests based on multiple molecular markers are available for clinical use and have increased their impact on clinical management of patients, they are not widely available. Among them is BRAF V600E, one of the most studied mutations. Other genetic alterations, such as TERT promoter mutations, may coexist in thyroid carcinomas. Previous studies have demonstrated that this duet might be involved in the aggressiveness of thyroid cancer, although its prognostic value related to mortality remains undefined. The detection of such genetic alterations in thyroid liquid‐based cytology (LBC) thus may assist with patient management.MethodsFrom January 2013 to June 2014, 356 thyroid FNAC samples were processed by LBC, including 174 surgical follow‐up samples. BRAF V600E and TERT mutation analyses were performed on bo...
Alterations in the transcriptional factor c-MYC could be involved in the anti-EGFR resistance in ... more Alterations in the transcriptional factor c-MYC could be involved in the anti-EGFR resistance in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). The c-MYC expression was evaluated in 121 RAS and BRAF wild-type mCRC before treatment with anti-EGFR+Folfiri therapy and in 33 subsequent metastases collected during target therapy (TT) or in TT resistance phase. We analyzed the expression and the functional role of some c-MYC linked miRNAs (miR-31-3p, miR-143 and miR-145) in our patient group and in two CRC cell lines, also performing a c-MYC target PCR array. Patients with higher c-MYC expression (HME) showed a significant lower PFS and OS when compared to those with low c-MYC expression (LME). HME pattern was significantly more frequent in the metastases after TT and significantly associated to anti-EGFR molecular resistance alterations. We also found a significant correlation between the expression of the above-mentioned c-MYC linked miRNAs, c-MYC level and anti-EGFR resistance. Moreover, express...
INTRODUCTION Failure of clinical trials with targeted therapies in glioblastoma (GBM) is probably... more INTRODUCTION Failure of clinical trials with targeted therapies in glioblastoma (GBM) is probably due to the enrollment of molecularly unselected patients. In preliminary studies, we prospectively selected recurrent GBM patients on the basis of molecular pattern and administered targeted therapy accordingly. This tailored approach gave encouraging results in term of low recurrence rate (RR) and high 6-month progression free survival (PFS-6). Here, we present the long-term results of our work. METHODS On recurrent tumor samples of 34 adult patients, we assessed the expression of VEGF and PTEN through immunohistochemistry and of EGFRvIII through RT-PCR. Patients with VEGF overexpression were treated with bevacizumab (10 mg/Kg i.v. every 2 weeks in 6-week cycles). Patients with EGFRvIII expression and normal PTEN expression added erlotinib (150 mg/day orally). Patients with loss of PTEN expression, irrespective of EGFRvIII status, added sirolimus (1–10 mg/day orally). RESULTS Sixteen p...
2678 The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is present in the malignant Hodgkin/Reed-Sternberg (HRS) cells ... more 2678 The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is present in the malignant Hodgkin/Reed-Sternberg (HRS) cells of 20–40% cases of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) in western countries. Detection and quantitation of cell-free plasma EBV-DNA has been proposed as a biomarker in EBV-associated malignancies, including HL. We analyzed the presence of EBV in HRS cells, peripheral blood compartments, and correlated these data to EBV serology, other circulating biomarkers and clinical characteristics. In a single institution cohort of 93 HL patients, EBV-DNA was quantitated using real-time PCR for the EBNA region in whole blood (WB, n=69), plasma (PL, n=75) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MNC, n=74). Cell-free DNA levels were determined using a real-time PCR for the globin gene (n=84), cytokine concentrations were measured in 85 patients. EBV status of HRS cells was studied using in-situ hybridization with EBER. EBV-DNA was positive in 32% WB, 21% PL and 20% MNC at HL diagnosis, with concordant WB and PL res...
Seminomas are the most frequent kind of testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs), accounting for 50% o... more Seminomas are the most frequent kind of testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs), accounting for 50% of tumor diagnosis in young men, whereas non-seminomas account for 40% and mixed forms for 10% of cases. It is currently supposed that TGCTs evolve from a pre-invasive stage of carcinoma in situ (CIS). Octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (OCT4) is essential for self-renewal of stem cells. It is considered as a major regulator of cell pluripotency. Prior studies have shown that seminoma expresses OCT4. Transcription factor Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) has moreover associated with embryonic stem cell maintenance. Finally, we previously demonstrated the expression of PTTG1 in CIS and seminomas. In this pilot study, we compared the combined expression of PTTG1 with KLF4 and OCT4 in seminoma, in order to validate our hypotesis that PTTG1 marks a specific population of stem cells in neoplastic tissue, strictly related with tumor. Formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded testicular tissues by 5 patients who underwent an orchidectomy for seminoma have been collected and immunofluorescence analysis was performed using antibody rabbit monoclonal PTTG-1 and mouse monoclonal OCT4 or mouse monoclonal KLF4 antibody. In seminoma we observed that tumor cells strongly express OCT-4 in all seminomas and in the intratubular areas of seminoma. Expression of KLF-4 was observed in many tumor cells. PTTG1 marks some specific OCT4-and KLF4positive tumor cells, mainly localized at the periphery of the neoplasm. In the intertubular infiltration areas nests of cells expressing both OCT4/KLF4 and PTTG1 have been observed. This is the first identification of a cell population in seminoma characterized for being OCT4, KLF4, and PTTG1 positive cells in seminoma, associated with cancer invasiveness. Further investigation is needed to elucidate if a functional abrogation of PTTG1 might be used in order to offer new therapeutic approaches in the clinical workout of seminoma.
e15034Background: Despite the outstanding success of EGFR inhibitors in the treatment of metastat... more e15034Background: Despite the outstanding success of EGFR inhibitors in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (CC), targeted therapy (TT) leads inevitably to acquired resistance stemming from various molecular mechanisms such as activation of compensatory kinases. Alterations in the transcriptional factor c-Myc, a downstream effector of several kinase pathways, could be also involved in the TT resistance of CC. Methods: The expression of c-Myc (Abcam, Milan, Italy) was assessed in 99 naive CC samples, wild type for KRAS, NRAS and BRAF, and in 35 subsequent metastases collected during TT treatment with anti-EGFR+Folfiri therapy or in TT resistance phase. In the same cohort, we also analyzed the expression of miRNA143 and miRNA145, using real-time assay, and performed a c-Myc Targets PCR Array (Qiagen, Milan, Italy). Results were correlated with clinical and pathological features. Results: Patients with lower c-Myc nuclear expression (LME) showed a significant higher time to progression (TTP) respec...
Background: Succinate dehydrogenase (SDH)-deficient gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) const... more Background: Succinate dehydrogenase (SDH)-deficient gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) constitute a small KIT/ PDGFRA-WT GIST subgroup featuring DNA methylation which, although pervasive, appears nevertheless not randomly distributed. Although often indolent, these tumors are mostly chemorefractory in aggressive cases. Promoter methylation-induced O 6-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) inactivation improves the efficacy of alkylating agents in gliomas, colorectal cancer and diffuse large B cell lymphoma. MGMT methylation has been found in some GISTs, without determining SDH status. Thirty-six GISTs were enrolled in past sarcoma trials testing alkylating agents, with negative results. Nevertheless, a possible effect on MGMT-methylated GISTs could have escaped detection, since tested GISTs were neither selected by genotype nor investigated for SDH; MGMT was studied in two cases only, revealing baseline activity; these trials were performed prior to the adoption of Choi criteria, the most sensitive for detecting GIST responses to therapy. Under these circumstances, we investigated whether MGMT methylation is preferentially found in SDH-deficient cases (identified by SDHB immunohistochemistry) by analyzing 48 pathogenetically heterogeneous GISTs by methylation-specific PCR, as a premise for possible investigations on the use of alkylating drugs in these tumors. Results: Nine GISTs of our series were SDH-deficient, revealing significantly enriched in MGMT-methylated cases (6/9-67%-, vs. 6/39-15%-of SDH-proficient GISTs; p = 0.004). The pathogenetically heterogeneous KIT/ PDGFRA-WT GISTs were also significantly MGMT-methylated (11/24-46%-, vs. 1/24-4%-of KIT/PDGFRA-mutant cases, p = 0.002). Conclusions: A subset of KIT/PDGFRA-WT GISTs, including their largest pathogenetically characterized subgroup (i.e., SDH-deficient ones), is preferentially MGMT-methylated. This finding could foster a reappraisal of alkylating agents for treating malignant cases occurring among these overall chemorefractory tumors.
Accumulating evidence reveals the heterogeneous features of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST... more Accumulating evidence reveals the heterogeneous features of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs), primarily distinguished by their various molecular triggers defining well characterized subgroups. The identification of the pathogenetic group a given GIST belongs to, in combination with the currently adopted GIST prognosticators, is pivotal for the correct management of GIST patients. Epidemiological, anatomical and morphological features are more or less strictly associated with the various possible GIST molecular pathogenesis; therefore, they can concur to addressing molecular analysis or even influence the identification of GIST subsets by themselves. This is particularly true in a cost/benefit perspective aimed at cutting the expenses of pathology labs. Under these circumstances, a correct classical pathological analysis still appears a fundamental step to achieve an optimal GIST characterization. We herein report a gastric epithelioid PDGFRA-mutant GIST displaying the multinodular/plexiform architecture distinctive of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH)-deficient GISTs. Immunohistochemistry and molecular analysis led to the correct tumor characterization. The reported case constitutes a valuable contribution to GIST pathology in that it demonstrates that multinodular/plexiform architecture is not restricted to SDH-deficient GISTs, but can be found also in PDGFRA-mutant ones; this is an event to be aware of, given the predilection for gastric location and epithelioid morphology shared by these two GIST subgroups, only the latter of which includes imatinib-sensitive cases.
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