Erickson, Lori A.

The focus of this review is the clinical and pathologic presentations of hereditary cancer syndromes with cutaneous manifestations, with the goal of providing a reference for the multidisciplinary care teams involved in the diagnosis and management of these conditions. Advancements in genomics have led to newly recognized syndromes and a deeper understanding of established syndromes. We focus on those with the most relevant cutaneous manifestations. Clinical and histopathologic images provide visual context for these findings, many of which are rare. We summarize the established literature and incorporate new research and noteworthy case reports.

Changes in the nomenclature and classification of adrenal gland diseases are the result of advances in understanding the pathogenesis, germline susceptibility and the clonal‐neoplastic nature of diseases of the adrenal gland. Although numerous classification systems have been proposed, the Weiss system remains the standard for distinguishing benign from malignant adult adrenal cortical tumours, but the Helsinki system and the reticulin algorithm are proving to be increasingly useful in difficult cases. Subtypes of adrenal cortical neoplasms, such as myxoid and oncocytic, as well as those occurring in children require special consideration as their classification systems are different from those for standard adult adrenal cortical neoplasms. The importance of proliferative activity is central to the evaluation of adrenal cortical neoplasms. As for primary unilateral aldosteronism, CYP11B2 immunostain is increasingly studied to identify sites of aldosterone production with the hope of finding staining patterns predictive of clinical outcomes. Awareness of the clonal‐neoplastic nature of adrenal cortical nodules and underlying germline susceptibilities has also advanced the classification of adrenal cortical nodular disease. For the adrenal medulla, pheochromocytomas (intra‐adrenal paragangliomas) are all regarded as malignant tumours as they all have potential for metastases and are often associated with genetic susceptibilities.

IntroductionAdamantinoma‐like Ewing sarcoma (ALES) is a rare aggressive malignancy occasionally diagnosed in the thyroid gland. ALES shows basaloid cytomorphology, expresses keratins, p63, p40, frequently CD99, and harbours the t(11;22) EWSR1::FLI1 translocation. There is debate on whether ALES resembles more sarcoma or carcinoma.MethodsWe performed RNA sequencing from two ALES cases and compared findings with skeletal Ewing's sarcomas and nonneoplastic thyroid tissue. ALES was investigated by in situ hybridization (ISH) for high‐risk human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA and immunohistochemistry for the following antigens: keratin 7, keratin 20, keratin 5, keratins (AE1/AE3 and CAM5.2), CD45, CD20, CD5, CD99, chromogranin, synaptophysin, calcitonin, thyroglobulin, PAX8, TTF1, S100, p40, p63, p16, NUT, desmin, ER, FLI1, INI1, and myogenin.ResultsAn uncommon EWSR1::FLI transcript with retained EWSR1 exon 8 was detected in both ALES cases. Regulators of EWSR1::FLI1 splicing (HNRNPH1, SUPT6H, SF3B1) necessary for production of a functional fusion oncoprotein, as well as 53 genes (including TNNT1, NKX2.2) activated downstream to the EWSR1::FLI1 cascade, were overexpressed. Eighty‐six genes were uniquely overexpressed in ALES, most of which were related to squamous differentiation. Immunohistochemically, ALES strongly expressed keratins 5, AE1/AE3 and CAM5.2, p63, p40, p16, and focally CD99. INI1 was retained. The remaining immunostains and HPV DNA ISH were negative.ConclusionComparative transcriptomic profiling reveals overlapping features of ALES with skeletal Ewing's sarcoma and an epithelial carcinoma, as evidenced by immunohistochemical expression of keratin 5, p63, p40, CD99, the transcriptome profile, and detection of EWSR1::FLI1 fusion transcript by RNA sequencing.

In endocrine pathology, surgical pathologists often concentrate on neoplasms at the expense of non-neoplastic disease processes. This is unfortunate as non-neoplastic endocrine disorders are many times more common in the population. As in all fields of medicine, non-neoplastic endocrine diseases can closely mimic the neoplastic; an awareness of all aspects of pathology underpins routine clinical practice. This 5th Series Fascicle offers pathologists and clinicians an opportunity to develop an increased understanding of nontumor endocrine pathology in order to inform patient care.

AimsRecently, a novel isoform of anaplastic lymphoma kinase, with alternative transcription initiation (ALKATI), has been described in melanoma and is susceptible to targeted ALK‐inhibitor therapy. Clinical outcomes of patients with ALKATI mutated melanoma as well as correlation with immunohistochemical (IHC) methods have not yet been described.Methods and resultsClinicopathological characteristics were abstracted for 324 patients with metastatic melanoma (MM). IHC, fluorescence in‐situ hybridisation and RNA‐based digital molecular analysis assays were performed on archival tissue from 173 stage III and 192 stage IV tumours. ALKATI was identified in 12.7 and 4.8% stage III and IV tumours, respectively. Discrete presentations of the ALKATI are seen: isolated ALKATI (n = 20) and mixed ALKATI (combined ALKATI and ALKWT; n = 7). Isolated ALKWT expression (n = 4) was seen with no ALK fusions. Stage III patients showed improved survival with ALKATI expression compared to those with ALKWT or no expression [5‐year survival 80, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 57–100% versus 43%, 95% CI = 34–55%, P = 0.013]. Clinicopathological characteristics were not statistically significant. Strong diffuse cytoplasmic staining of ALK IHC (n = 12) has a sensitivity of 52.2%, specificity 100%, PPV of 100% and NPV of 92.5% of detecting isolated ALKATI.ConclusionPresence of ALKATI is a good prognostic indicator in MM. ALK IHC and digital molecular analysis can be incorporated into MM evaluation to identify patients with ALKATI for targeted therapy.

Objectives:With the introduction of novel immune therapeutics for the treatment of disseminated malignancies, we sought to evaluate whether deliberate sequencing of immunotherapy before/after conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy would have an impact on clinical outcomes in patients with previously treated metastatic melanoma. We sought to evaluate whether or not ipilimumab immunotherapy administered before or after cytotoxic chemotherapy (nab-paclitaxel+bevacizumab, AB) would impact clinical outcomes.Methods:We conducted a randomized phase 2 clinical trial of patients with BRAF wild-type metastatic melanoma (up to 2 prior therapies) who received either: (A) AB followed by ipilimumab therapy at progression; or (B) ipilimumab followed by AB treatment at progression. The primary goal of the study was a comparison of AB versus ipilimumab progression-free survival, with secondary clinical and laboratory endpoints.Results:This study did not reach full accrual due to concurrent Food and Drug Administration approval of anti-programmed cell death 1 agents. Nevertheless, the available data suggests a cumulative therapeutic advantage to the sequential use of ipilimumab followed by AB. Correlative laboratory data revealed a favorable effect on systemic immune homeostasis in patients receiving AB therapy, of potential interest in further investigations, especially in the context of chemotherapy/immunotherapy combinations.Conclusion:Albeit limited in scope, our data suggest that cytotoxic therapy with nab-paclitaxel and bevacizumab appear to favorably alter systemic parameters of immune function of potential benefit in combination T-cell directed immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy.

Abstract Abstract 3840 Background: Patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) harbor a multitude of somatic mutations involving JAK2, MPL, LNK, CBL, TET2, ASXL1, IDH1, IDH2, EZH2, DNMT3A, IKZF1 and TP53. None of these mutations have been consistently traced back to the ancestral clone and most of them are currently believed to represent secondary genetic events. The higher prevalence of IDH, LNK, IKZF1 and TP53 mutations in blast-phase MPN, as opposed to chronic-phase disease, suggests their pathogenetic contribution to leukemic transformation (Harutyunyan A, et al. N Engl J Med. 2011;364:488). We examined this possibility for TP53 mutations or its SNPs in chronic-phase PMF; TP53 SNPs involving codon 72 have been associated with increased risk in the development of several cancers. Methods: Mayo Clinic MPN database was utilized to identify adult patients (>18 years) with chronic-phase PMF. Study eligibility criteria included availability of bone marrow histology and cytogenetic information at time of referral. In addition, all patients were annotated for IDH, MPL and JAK2 mutational status. Patients with blast-phase disease at the time of their referral were excluded from the study. DNA from bone marrow or peripheral blood was extracted using conventional methods and amplified with one set of primers covering TP53 exons 4 through 9. The amplification products were then sequenced with eight primers using the Big Dye Terminator sequencing kit v1.1 (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA) and the ABI 3130xl Genetic Analyzer. Sequences were examined for mutations by the Sequencher software (Gene Codes, Ann Arbor, MI). Any mutation found was confirmed with a second PCR and sequencing reaction. A mutation was considered to be any sequence other than genomic reference sequence NC_000017.10 or a well documented polymorphism such as the rs1042522 in exon 4. Mutations were compared with the IARC p53 Database (http://www-p53.iarc.fr/) and/or the TP53 Mutation Database (http://p53.free.fr/index.html) to determine if the mutation had been reported before. Results I: Baseline characteristics and clinical course A total of 107 patients with chronic-phase PMF were studied. Median age at time of referral was 64 years (range 32–81) and 71% were males. DIPPS-plus risk assignment was low in 13%, intermediate-1 in 15%, intermediate-2 in 38% and high in 34%. Karyotype was normal in 70 (65%) patients, favorable in 26 (24%) and unfavorable in 11 (10%). JAK2, MPL and IDH mutations were detected in 62 (58%), 7 (7%) and 6 (6%) cases, respectively. To date, 74% of patients had died and 15% had documented leukemic transformation. Results II: TP53 mutations/polymorphisms and their clinical relevance TP53 mutations were discovered in only 4 (4%) cases: i) E204E; GAG>GAA (silent exon 6); ii) G245D; GGC>GAC (exon 7); iii) R175H; CGC>CAC (exon 5); and iv) six base insert (GGCGAG) after bp13767 (exon 6). There was no significant difference in presenting features or survival between TP53 mutated and unmutated cases. None of the four patients with TP53 mutation incurred leukemic transformation. TP53 exon 4 SNPs data for codon 72 was available on 104 patients and included 58 (56%) patients with homozygous Arg72Arg, 34 (33%) patients with heterozygous Pro72Arg and 12 (11%) patients with homozygous Pro72Pro. Allele frequencies were 0.7 for G (corresponding to arginine) and 0.3 for C (corresponding to proline), which is similar to the general population (0.65 and 0.35 respectively). There were no significant differences among the three codon 72 genotypes in terms of presenting characteristics or survival. Conclusions: TP53 mutations are infrequent in chronic phase PMF. A higher number of informative cases are needed to accurately define their phenotypic or prognostic effects. We are currently analyzing more cases in this regard. On the other hand, TP53 polymorphisms at codon 72 do not appear to influence phenotype or prognosis in chronic-phase PMF. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.