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Whaley, Rumeal D.

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9256-4484

Mayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic

Citations 9

A phase II study of pemetrexed and pembrolizumab in patients (pts) with recurrent and/or metastatic (R/M) salivary gland cancer (SGC): Results from the adenoid cystic cohort.
Price, Katharine A. , Foster, Nathan, Asmus, Erik, Bayne, Harry E. Fuentes, Fazer-Posorske, Casey, Meyers, Jordan E., Savvides, Panayiotis, Zhao, Yujie, Cooper, Anna C., Baral, Binav W., Burkett, Brian J., Dizdar, Nur, Lucien, Fabrice, Chintakuntlawar, Ashish V., Nathan, Foster, Asmus, Erik, Fazer-Posorske, Casey , Savvides, P. , McGarrah, Patrick W. , Burkett, Brian J., Whaley, Rumeal D. , Lucien, Fabrice , Chintakuntlawar, Ashish V.

Journal of Clinical Oncology | May 27, 2026 | Volume: 44 | Issue: 16_suppl | Pages: 6123-6123

10.1200/jco.2026.44.16_suppl.6123 Get It

6123 Background: Pemetrexed (PTX) is safe and tolerable with responses reported in pts with R/M SGC. Given enhanced responses with PTX and pembrolizumab (PMB) for lung cancer, we hypothesized that PTX and PMB will have activity for SGC. Herein we present the efficacy results in pts with adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC). Methods: MC200708 is a single arm phase II study of PTX and PMB in pts with R/M SGC (NCT04895735) with 2 cohorts: ACC (cohort A) and non-ACC (cohort B). Key eligibility criteria: ≥18 years, ECOG 0-1, measurable disease. Prior ICI and/or PTX was allowed. Key exclusion criteria: serious comorbidities, autoimmune disease and brain metastases. Simon’s 2-stage design was used for each cohort. Primary endpoint was overall response rate (ORR) for Cohort A but was amended to clinical benefit rate (CBR=SD+PR+CR) due to prolonged SD in several pts. Secondary endpoints: progression free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and toxicity. Exploratory analyses in Cohort A1 (post-amendment pts) included PSMA PET imaging and circulating PSMA extravesicles (EVs) as a biomarker. All pts received PTX 500 mg/m2 IV + PMB 200 mg IV q3 weeks until progression or treatment intolerance. Imaging was q3 cycles. Results: 20 pts (11 Cohort A + 9 Cohort A1) were enrolled from August 2021-Feb 2025. All 20 patients were eligible and received ≥ 1 cycle of treatment. Median age was 60.5 yrs, 50% male, performance status 0 (80%) or 1 (20%). 11 pts had no prior therapies (55.0%). The remaining pts had 1 (35%) or 2 (10%) prior lines of therapy. 75% of pts had no prior ICI. In Cohort A, the ORR was 0% (0 of 11). Cohort A1 met criteria for success based on CBR with 1 PR (12.5%) and 5 SD (62.5%) in the first 8 pts. For the whole cohort of 20 patients, the ORR was 5% (95% CI: 0.1-24.9) and the CBR rate was 75% (95% CI: 51-91) with 1 PR and 14 pts with SD. The duration of response for the 1 PR patient was 12.4 months. The median duration of response for the 15 pts with SD was 7.5 (2.0-29.7) months. 3 pts (15%) had PD and 2 pts (10%) went off prior to response assessment. Median cycles of treatment was 4 (2-30). In the 17 pts who discontinued, treatment was stopped in 9 (53%) for PD, 4 (23.5%) due to adverse events (AE), and 4 (23.5%) due to physician/patient preference. With a median follow-up of 14.5 months (1.5-39.2), the 1-year PFS rate is 52.1% (32.6 – 83.2%) and the OS rate is 82.1% (95% CI: 65.6 – 100%). The overall grade 3+ AE rate regardless of attribution was 80% (16/20). The most common grade 3 AEs were lymphocyte count decrease (40%), hypertension (20%), fatigue (10%), and pneumonitis (10%). 2 pts had a grade 4 AE (lymphocyte count decrease and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura). There were no treatment-related deaths. Analysis of correlative studies for Cohort A1 with PSMA imaging and EV biomarker ongoing. Conclusions: PTX and PMB has modest activity in pts with R/M ACC with CBR of 75% and prolonged benefit for some patients. Clinical trial information: NCT04895735 .
Case Report of Sinonasal Renal Cell-Like Adenocarcinoma
Brown, Kobina Mensah, Stokken, Janalee K, Link, Michael J., Rao, Vaishnavi , Eaton, Jessica C. , Whaley, Rumeal D.

Journal of Neurological Surgery Part B: Skull Base | February 27, 2026 | Volume: 87 | Issue: No issue available | Pages: No page available

10.1055/s-0046-1819287 Get It

Pathology of adrenal tumours: recent advances
Erickson, Lori A. , Gupta, Sounak , Whaley, Rumeal D. , Erickson, Lori A

Histopathology | December 12, 2025 | Volume: 88 | Issue: 1 | Pages: 301-316

10.1111/his.70045 Get It

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.
Biomarkers of response to antibody-drug conjugates (TROP2 and nectin-4) and the immune microenvironment (NKG7, PD-L1, and B7-H3) in penile squamous cell carcinoma
Cheville, John C. , Kopp, Karla, Torell, Nate R, Lavoie, Roxane R. , Farrell, Ava, Jaszewski, Brandy L., Jenkins, Sarah M. , Dasari, Surendra , Menon, Santosh, Whaley, Rumeal D. , Boorjian, Stephen A. , Pagliaro, Lance C. , Gupta, Sounak , Lucien, Fabrice , Kopp, Karla J, Smith, Carin Y , Tekin, Burak , Lucien, Fabrice , McCarthy, Michael, Dong, Haidong , Smith, Carin Y. , Erickson, Lori A, Guo, Ruifeng

American Journal of Clinical Pathology | May 6, 2025 | Volume: 163 | Issue: 6 | Pages: 898-908

10.1093/ajcp/aqaf022 Get It

Abstract Objectives We aimed to assess the expression of biomarkers of response to antibody-drug conjugates (TROP2 and nectin-4) and immune microenvironment (NKG7, PD-L1, and B7-H3) in penile squamous cell carcinoma (pSCC). Methods Our archive was queried for patients who had a penectomy for pSCC between 2000 and 2022. Primary tumors were immunostained for B7-H3 and NKG7, while metastatic specimens were immunostained for TROP2 and nectin-4. Expression of PD-L1, TROP2, and nectin-4 in primary tumors was previously characterized. H-scores (0-300) were used to quantify expression. Associations between biomarkers, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), and clinicopathologic and outcome parameters were evaluated. Results For both TROP2 and nectin-4, H-scores within the lymph node metastases were higher compared to those within the primary tumors (mean, 264.5 vs 244.8, P = .0003; mean, 170.6 vs 146.7, P = .05, respectively; 33 paired specimens). For B7-H3 (n = 107), 32.7% of the primary tumors had an H-score of more than 0. In 34.8% of the cases, NKG7 expression was observed in 25% to 50% of the TILs. A significant association was noted between TIL density, B7-H3, NKG7, and PD-L1 expression. Conclusions Therapeutic strategies targeting TROP2 and nectin-4 hold promise for patients with advanced pSCC. The potential of PD-L1, B7-H3, and NKG7 for predicting response to immunomodulatory treatment warrants further research.
P16-Negative, High-Risk Human Papilloma Virus-Associated Penile Squamous Cell Carcinomas
Cheville, John C. , Enninga, Elizabeth Ann L. , Johnson, Emma F. , Whaley, Rumeal D. , Hernandez, Loren P. Herrera , Jiménez, Rafael E. , Gupta, Sounak , Herrera Hernandez, Loren P, Enninga, Elizabeth Ann L , Tekin, Burak , Norgan, Andrew P. , Erickson, Lori A. , Guo, Ruifeng

The American Journal of Dermatopathology | March 19, 2025 | Volume: 47 | Issue: 7 | Pages: 564-565

10.1097/dad.0000000000002960 Get It

Testicular sclerosing stromal tumour: A report of two cases documenting GLI1 alterations
Whaley, Rumeal D. , Hernandez, Loren P. Herrera , McCarthy, Michael R., Hofich, Christopher D , Al‐Kateb, Hussam , Halling, Kevin C. , Gupta, Sounak , Ulbright, Thomas M. , Herrera-Hernandez, Loren , Al-Kateb, Hussam, Hornick, Jason L , Tekin, Burak , Hornick, Jason L.

Histopathology | August 28, 2024 | Volume: 85 | Issue: 5 | Pages: 829-832

10.1111/his.15305 Get It

NTRK3 -Rearranged Prostatic Acinar Adenocarcinoma: Report of a Patient and Review of the Literature
Whaley, Rumeal D. , McCarthy, Michael, Zia, Hamid , Al‐Kateb, Hussam , Cheville, John C. , Gupta, Sounak , Al-Kateb, Hussam, Gupta, Sounak , Tekin, Burak , Pitel, Beth A.

International Journal of Surgical Pathology | May 21, 2024 | Volume: 33 | Issue: 1 | Pages: 204-208

10.1177/10668969241253197 Get It

Molecular investigations have led to increased therapeutic options for prostatic adenocarcinoma. A single case report of a PRPSAP1 :: NTRK3 gene fusion occurring in prostate cancer was previously reported. A review of the literature revealed that NTRK gene rearrangements are exceedingly rare molecular events in prostate cancer. NTRK gene fusions can be oncogenic drivers or develop as resistance mechanisms. The tumor-agnostic approvals of TRK inhibitors by the FDA provide additional rationale for molecular investigations of aggressive prostatic adenocarcinomas. This may prove to be an additional therapeutic option for patients with aggressive prostatic carcinomas refractory to initial therapy. We report a case of an aggressive castrate-resistant prostatic adenocarcinoma with a BMP6 :: NTRK3 gene fusion.
Primitive Embryonic-Type Neuroectodermal/Glandular Complexes in Testicular Germ Cell Tumors
Whaley, Rumeal D. , Ulbright, Thomas M.

American Journal of Surgical Pathology | May 7, 2024 | Volume: 48 | Issue: 7 | Pages: 909-917

10.1097/pas.0000000000002241 Get It

Embryonic-type neuroectodermal elements are often intimately mixed with primitive endodermal-type glands, like those of yolk sac tumors, in germ cell neoplasia in situ (GCNIS)-derived germ cell tumors of the testis. Because the primitive glands mimic tubules or rosettes of embryonic-type neuroectodermal elements, these embryonic-type neuroectodermal/glandular complexes may be misinterpreted as pure lesions of embryonic-type neuroectodermal elements, which, if of sufficient size, may lead to a diagnosis of embryonic-type neuroectodermal tumor, despite that the criteria of the World Health Organization for a “somatic-type malignancy” are not met. A diagnosis of embryonic-type neuroectodermal tumor in the testis may lead to retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy even in clinical stage I patients, and in postchemotherapy resections indicates a poor prognosis. The distinction of the neuroectodermal and glandular elements is not always straightforward based on morphology alone. We, therefore, studied 34 testis-derived germ cell tumors with embryonic-type neuroectodermal/glandular complexes and 2 purely glandular yolk sac tumors to characterize the immunophenotypes and determine an efficient immunohistochemical panel to aid in this differential. We found that GFAP, synaptophysin, and paired-like homeobox 2B (PHOX2B) expression was specific to embryonic-type neuroectodermal elements, although PHOX2B had poor sensitivity. In contrast, positive reactions with antibodies directed against AFP, villin, and CDX2 were specific for the glandular elements, although CDX2 had poor sensitivity. Other markers, including AE1/AE3 cytokeratin, SALL4, glypican 3, SOX2, SOX11, CD56, INSM1, and neurofilament, proved less helpful because of their nonspecificity and/or poor sensitivity. We conclude that the optimal immunohistochemical panel for distinguishing the components of embryonic-type neuroectodermal/glandular complexes includes stains for synaptophysin, GFAP, villin, and AFP.
Ability for fine needle aspiration and frozen section to predict extent of parotidectomy
Ali, Hawa M. , Sankar, George B., Stickney, Emily A., Johns, Heather L., Whaley, Rumeal D. , Rivera, Michael , Lohse, Christine M. , Tasche, Kendall K. , Abel, Kathryn M. Van , Moore, Eric J. , Van Abel, Kathryn M , Yin, Linda X , Moore, Eric J , Stickney, Emily, Price, Daniel L. , Yin, Linda X.

Head & Neck | September 27, 2023 | Volume: 45 | Issue: 12 | Pages: 3006-3014

10.1002/hed.27527 Get It

AbstractIntroductionSeveral diagnostic modalities with various sensitivity and specificities can be used to evaluate a parotid mass. The aims of this project were to compare the diagnostic actionability, accuracy, and ability to accurately predict extent of surgery for FNA and frozen section during the evaluation of a parotid mass.MethodsA retrospective chart review of patients who underwent parotidectomy for a parotid mass from January 1, 2015 to January 30, 2022 was conducted. Actionability was defined as a pathology diagnosis or the histologic grade of a lesion, as this provided clear and useful information for the surgeon to act upon. Diagnostic accuracy was determined by comparing FNA and frozen section results to final pathology. Accuracy of extent of surgery was determined by comparing predicted extent of surgery from the FNA or frozen section result to the extent of surgery predicted by the final pathology.ResultsA total of 626 patients were included in this study. FNA was obtained in 396 (63%) patients, while all neoplasms were evaluated by frozen section analysis. FNA diagnosis was actionable in 318 (80%), while frozen section diagnosis was actionable in 616 (98%) patients. Exactly 294 (92.5%) FNA diagnoses were accurate compared with 600 (98%) frozen section diagnoses. The FNA diagnosis predicted appropriate extent of surgery in 294 (74%) while the frozen section diagnosis predicted appropriate extent of surgery in 600 (96%). Among the 396 patients with FNA, frozen section was significantly more likely to accurately predict appropriate extent of surgery compared with FNA (p < 0.001).ConclusionFrozen section is more likely to yield actionable and accurate results compared with FNA. Additionally, frozen section is better than FNA in predicting the appropriate extent of surgery.