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The Journal of Urology Nov 2016Wilms tumor is the most common childhood renal malignancy and the fourth most common childhood cancer. Many biomarkers have been studied but there has been no... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
Wilms tumor is the most common childhood renal malignancy and the fourth most common childhood cancer. Many biomarkers have been studied but there has been no comprehensive summary. We systematically reviewed the literature on biomarkers in Wilms tumor to quantify the prognostic implications of the presence of individual tumor markers.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We searched for English language studies from 1980 to 2015 performed in patients younger than 18 years with Wilms tumor and prognostic data. The protocol was conducted per PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. Two reviewers abstracted data in duplicate using a standard evaluation form. We performed descriptive statistics, then calculated relative risks and 95% confidence intervals for markers appearing in multiple level II or III studies.
RESULTS
A total of 40 studies were included examining 32 biomarkers in 7,381 patients with Wilms tumor. Studies had a median of 61 patients, 24 biomarker positive patients per series and a median followup of 68.4 months. Median percentages of patients with stages 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 tumors were 28.5%, 26.4%, 24.5%, 14.1% and 1.7%, respectively, and 10.2% had anaplasia. The strongest negative prognostic association was loss of heterozygosity at 11p15, with a risk of recurrence of 5.00, although loss of heterozygosity at 1p and gain of function at 1q were also strongly linked to increased recurrence (2.93 and 2.86, respectively).
CONCLUSIONS
Several tumor markers are associated with an increased risk of recurrence or a decreased risk of overall survival in patients with Wilms tumor. These data suggest targets for development of diagnostic tests and potential therapies.
Topics: Biomarkers, Tumor; Child; Humans; Kidney Neoplasms; Prognosis; Wilms Tumor
PubMed: 27259655
DOI: 10.1016/j.juro.2016.05.100 -
Modern Pathology : An Official Journal... Sep 2022Correctly diagnosing a rare childhood cancer such as sarcoma can be critical to assigning the correct treatment regimen. With a finite number of pathologists worldwide...
Correctly diagnosing a rare childhood cancer such as sarcoma can be critical to assigning the correct treatment regimen. With a finite number of pathologists worldwide specializing in pediatric/young adult sarcoma histopathology, access to expert differential diagnosis early in case assessment is limited for many global regions. The lack of highly-trained sarcoma pathologists is especially pronounced in low to middle-income countries, where pathology expertise may be limited despite a similar rate of sarcoma incidence. To address this issue in part, we developed a deep learning convolutional neural network (CNN)-based differential diagnosis system to act as a pre-pathologist screening tool that quantifies diagnosis likelihood amongst trained soft-tissue sarcoma subtypes based on whole histopathology tissue slides. The CNN model is trained on a cohort of 424 centrally-reviewed histopathology tissue slides of alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma and clear-cell sarcoma tumors, all initially diagnosed at the originating institution and subsequently validated by central review. This CNN model was able to accurately classify the withheld testing cohort with resulting receiver operating characteristic (ROC) area under curve (AUC) values above 0.889 for all tested sarcoma subtypes. We subsequently used the CNN model to classify an externally-sourced cohort of human alveolar and embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma samples and a cohort of 318 histopathology tissue sections from genetically engineered mouse models of rhabdomyosarcoma. Finally, we investigated the overall robustness of the trained CNN model with respect to histopathological variations such as anaplasia, and classification outcomes on histopathology slides from untrained disease models. Overall positive results from our validation studies coupled with the limited worldwide availability of sarcoma pathology expertise suggests the potential of machine learning to assist local pathologists in quickly narrowing the differential diagnosis of sarcoma subtype in children, adolescents, and young adults.
Topics: Adolescent; Animals; Child; Humans; Machine Learning; Mice; Neural Networks, Computer; Pathologists; Rhabdomyosarcoma; Rhabdomyosarcoma, Embryonal; Young Adult
PubMed: 35449398
DOI: 10.1038/s41379-022-01075-x -
Ophthalmology Science Mar 2022Gain of chromosome 6p has been associated with poor ocular survival in retinoblastoma and histopathologic grading of anaplasia with increased risk of metastatic spread...
PURPOSE
Gain of chromosome 6p has been associated with poor ocular survival in retinoblastoma and histopathologic grading of anaplasia with increased risk of metastatic spread and death. This study examined the correlation between these factors and other chromosomal abnormalities as well as results of whole genome sequencing, digital morphometry, and progression-free survival.
DESIGN
Retrospective cohort study from 2 United States tertiary referral centers.
PARTICIPANTS
Forty-two children who had undergone enucleation for retinoblastoma from January 2000 through December 2017.
METHODS
Status of chromosomes 6p, 1q, 9q, and 16q was evaluated with fluorescence in situ hybridization, the degree of anaplasia and presence of histologic high-risk features were assessed by ocular pathologists, digital morphometry was performed on scanned tumor slides, and whole genome sequencing was performed on a subset of tumors. Progression-free survival was defined as absence of distant or local metastases or tumor growth beyond the cut end of the optic nerve.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Correlation between each of chromosomal abnormalities, anaplasia, morphometry and sequencing results, and survival.
RESULTS
Forty-one of 42 included patients underwent primary enucleation and 1 was treated first with intra-arterial chemotherapy. Seven tumors showed mild anaplasia, 19 showed moderate anaplasia, and 16 showed severe anaplasia. All tumors had gain of 1q, 18 tumors had gain of 6p, 6 tumors had gain of 9q, and 36 tumors had loss of 16q. Tumors with severe anaplasia were significantly more likely to harbor 6p gains than tumors with nonsevere anaplasia ( < 0.001). Further, the hematoxylin staining intensity was significantly greater and that of eosin staining significantly lower in tumors with severe anaplasia ( < 0.05). Neither severe anaplasia ( = 0.10) nor gain of 6p ( = 0.21) correlated with histologic high-risk features, and severe anaplasia did not correlate to , , , or mutations in a subset of 14 tumors ( > 0.5). Patients with gain of 6p showed significantly shorter progression-free survival ( = 0.03, Wilcoxon test).
CONCLUSIONS
Gain of chromosome 6p emerges as a strong prognostic biomarker in retinoblastoma because it correlates with severe anaplasia, quantifiable changes in tumor cell staining characteristics, and extraocular spread.
PubMed: 36246172
DOI: 10.1016/j.xops.2021.100089 -
Indian Journal of Pathology &... 2022Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft tissue sarcoma in children. Anaplasia is a rare phenomenon seen in childhood RMS. The most common histologic subtype was...
BACKGROUND
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft tissue sarcoma in children. Anaplasia is a rare phenomenon seen in childhood RMS. The most common histologic subtype was Embryonal followed by Alveolar and spindle subtype.
DESIGN
A total of 11 cases of pediatric RMS were selected from January 2017 to June 2019 presenting at various sites. Out of 11 cases, 2 were further diagnosed as Embryonal, 2 as Alveolar, 2 as Pleomorphic, 1 as Spindle subtype and rest 4 as RMS-NOS based on morphology. All cases were positive for Desmin. The presence of cells with lobated, hyperchromatic nuclei at least three times larger than the tumor cell (anaplastic cells) was selected as the main criterion to diagnose Anaplasia.
RESULTS
Out of the total 11 cases, anaplasia was seen in 7 cases. Out of these seven, five cases showed Focal Anaplasia (FA) (71.4%) and 2 cases showed Diffuse Anaplasia (DA) (28.6%). Out of 2 cases of Embryonal RMS one exhibited focal anaplasia (50%). One case of Spindle RMS showed diffuse anaplasia, 2 cases of pleomorphic RMS showed focal anaplasia. Out of 3 cases of RMS- NOS, 2 exhibited focal anaplaisa and one displayed Diffuse anaplasia. Both Alveolar RMS had no features of anaplasia.
CONCLUSION
Presence of Anaplasia is a frequent observation in pediatric RMS. Anaplasia is often under reported in pediatric RMS. Pathologist should be more aware of this rare phenomenon.
Topics: Child; Humans; Anaplasia; Rhabdomyosarcoma; Sarcoma; Soft Tissue Neoplasms; Rhabdomyosarcoma, Alveolar
PubMed: 36308195
DOI: 10.4103/ijpm.ijpm_178_21 -
Modern Pathology : An Official Journal... Jan 2024Patients with Wilms tumor (WT) in general have excellent survival, but the prognosis of patients belonging to the subgroup of WT with diffuse anaplasia (DA) is poor due...
Patients with Wilms tumor (WT) in general have excellent survival, but the prognosis of patients belonging to the subgroup of WT with diffuse anaplasia (DA) is poor due to frequent resistance to chemotherapy. We hypothesized that DA WT cells might undergo changes, such as acquiring a persistent tolerance to DNA damage and copy number aberrations (CNAs), which could eventually lead to their resistance to chemotherapy treatment. Tissue sections from chemotherapy-treated DA WTs (n = 12) were compared with chemotherapy-treated nonanaplastic WTs (n = 15) in a tissue microarray system, enabling analysis of 769 tumor regions. All regions were scored for anaplastic features and immunohistochemistry was used to quantify p53 expression, proliferation index (Ki67), and DNA double-strand breaks (γH2AX). CNAs were assessed by array-based genotyping and TP53 mutations using targeted sequencing. Proliferation index and the frequency of DNA double-strand breaks (γH2AX dot expression) increased with higher anaplasia scores. Almost all (95.6%) areas with full-scale anaplasia had TP53 mutations or loss of heterozygosity, along with an increased amount of CNAs. Interestingly, areas with wild-type TP53 with loss of heterozygosity and only one feature of anaplasia (anaplasia score 1) also had significantly higher proliferation indices, more DNA double-strand breaks, and more CNAs than regions without any anaplastic features (score 0); such areas may be preanaplastic cell populations under selective pressure for TP53 mutations. In conclusion, we suggest that chemoresistance of DA WTs may be partly explained by a high proliferative capability of anaplastic cells, which also have a high burden of double-stranded DNA breaks and CNAs, and that there is a gradual emergence of anaplasia in WT.
Topics: Humans; Kidney Neoplasms; Anaplasia; Wilms Tumor; Mutation; Prognosis; DNA
PubMed: 37951357
DOI: 10.1016/j.modpat.2023.100382 -
CNS Oncology Nov 2013Pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma (PXA) is a rare astrocytic neoplasm that commonly affects children and young adults, and presents with seizures. PXA is typically... (Review)
Review
Pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma (PXA) is a rare astrocytic neoplasm that commonly affects children and young adults, and presents with seizures. PXA is typically supratentorial with a predilection to the temporal lobe, and often involves the cortex and the meninges. PXAs have a favorable prognosis with a 10-year survival probability of >70%, and are WHO grade II neoplasms. Recent observations and studies demonstrate that PXAs are clinically, histologically and genetically distinct. Some PXAs recur and exhibit aggressive clinical behavior. In such cases, certain histological and clinical factors could account for the aggressive behavior. However, the histological features that predict adverse outcome are poorly defined. In the current WHO classification of CNS tumors, there is no option for a high-grade PXA, even if the tumor had numerous recurrences and poor outcome. In this review, we focus on aggressive clinical behavior and anaplasia in PXA, and discuss how our current experience suggests modifications in the current WHO classification. We also review recent discoveries on the molecular characteristics of PXA that could help us better understand their biological behavior.
Topics: Anaplasia; Astrocytoma; Central Nervous System Neoplasms; Humans; Neoplasm Grading; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local
PubMed: 25054822
DOI: 10.2217/cns.13.56 -
Cancer Cytopathology Jul 2019Certain carcinomas of the thyroid gland behave aggressively resulting in increased patient morbidity and poor patient prognosis. The diagnosis of these aggressive... (Review)
Review
Certain carcinomas of the thyroid gland behave aggressively resulting in increased patient morbidity and poor patient prognosis. The diagnosis of these aggressive thyroid cancer subtypes is sometimes challenging and subject to increased interobserver variability. This review deals with the cytological features of such tumors including aggressive variants of papillary thyroid carcinoma, poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma, and anaplastic thyroid carcinoma. These malignancies fall into 2 groups based on their cytomorphology: those that exhibit distinct microscopic features (eg, nuclear findings typical of classical papillary thyroid carcinoma or marked anaplasia) and those that present with more subtle cytologic features (eg, nuclear pseudostratification, "soap bubble" nuclei, supranuclear or subnuclear cytoplasmic vacuoles, rosette-like structures, hobnail cells). We review the literature regarding these aggressive thyroid cancers and highlight important phenotypic characteristics that can be useful for their diagnosis based on fine needle aspiration.
Topics: Adenocarcinoma, Follicular; Biopsy, Fine-Needle; Diagnosis, Differential; Humans; Prognosis; Thyroid Cancer, Papillary; Thyroid Carcinoma, Anaplastic; Thyroid Gland; Thyroid Neoplasms
PubMed: 31150164
DOI: 10.1002/cncy.22136 -
European Journal of Cancer (Oxford,... Jan 2021Established prognostic indicators in rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), the most common childhood soft tissue sarcoma, include several clinicopathologic features. Among pathologic...
BACKGROUND
Established prognostic indicators in rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), the most common childhood soft tissue sarcoma, include several clinicopathologic features. Among pathologic features, anaplasia has been suggested as a potential prognostic indicator, but the clinical significance of anaplasia remains unclear.
METHODS
Patients enrolled on one of five recent Children's Oncology Group clinical trials for RMS (D9602, n = 357; D9802, n = 80; D9803, n = 462; ARST0331, n = 335; and ARST0531, n = 414) with prospective central pathology review were included in this study. Clinicopathologic variables including demographic information, risk group, histologic subtype, and anaplasia were recorded along with overall survival (OS) and failure-free survival (FFS) with failure defined by recurrence, progression, or death. The log-rank test was used to compare OS and FFS.
RESULTS
Anaplasia was more common in embryonal RMS (27% of all embryonal RMS) than other subtypes of RMS (11% for alveolar RMS, 7% for botryoid RMS, 11% for spindle cell RMS). On multivariate analyses, anaplasia was not an independent prognostic factor in RMS (OS:hazard ratio (HR) = 1.12, p = 0.43; FFS:HR = 1.07, p = 0.56) across all subtypes or within embryonal RMS only (OS:HR = 1.41, p = 0.078; FFS:HR = 1.25, p = 0.16). Among tumors with TP53 mutations, 69% had anaplasia, while only 24% of tumors with anaplasia had a tumoral TP53 mutation.
CONCLUSIONS
Anaplasia is not an independent indicator of adverse outcomes in RMS. Emerging information on the prognostic significance of TP53 mutations raises the possibility that anaplasia may be a surrogate marker of TP53 mutations in some cases. Tumoral TP53 mutation status may be investigated as a prognostic indicator in future studies.
Topics: Anaplasia; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Humans; Infant; Male; Prognosis; Rhabdomyosarcoma; Risk Factors; Survival Analysis
PubMed: 33302115
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2020.10.018 -
Advances in Cancer Diagnosis: Bio-Electrochemical and Biophysical Characterizations of Cancer Cells.Micromachines Aug 2022Cancer is a worldwide leading cause of death, and it is projected that newly diagnosed cases globally will reach 27.5 million each year by 2040. Cancers (malignant... (Review)
Review
Cancer is a worldwide leading cause of death, and it is projected that newly diagnosed cases globally will reach 27.5 million each year by 2040. Cancers (malignant tumors), unlike benign tumors are characterized by structural and functional dedifferentiation (anaplasia), breaching of the basement membrane, spreading to adjacent tissues (invasiveness), and the capability to spread to distant sites (metastasis). In the cancer biology research field, understanding and characterizing cancer metastasis as well as features of cell death (apoptosis) is considered a technically challenging subject of study and clinically is very critical and necessary. Therefore, in addition to the cytochemical methods traditionally used, novel biophysical and bioelectrochemical techniques (e.g., cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy), atomic force microscopy, and electron microscopic methods are increasingly being deployed to better understand these processes. Implementing those methods at the preclinical level enables the rapid screening of new anticancer drugs with understanding of their central mechanism for cancer therapy. In this review, principles and basic concepts of new techniques suggested for metastasis, and apoptosis examinations for research purposes are introduced, along with examples of each technique. From our recommendations, the privilege of combining the bio-electrochemical and biosensing techniques with the conventional cytochemical methods either for research or for biomedical diagnosis should be emphasized.
PubMed: 36144024
DOI: 10.3390/mi13091401 -
Journal of Hepatology Oct 2022Hepatoblastoma (HB) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are the predominant liver cancers in children, though their respective treatment options and associated outcomes...
BACKGROUND & AIMS
Hepatoblastoma (HB) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are the predominant liver cancers in children, though their respective treatment options and associated outcomes differ dramatically. Risk stratification using a combination of clinical, histological, and molecular parameters can improve treatment selection, but it is particularly challenging for tumors with mixed histological features, including those in the recently created hepatocellular neoplasm not otherwise specified (HCN NOS) provisional category. We aimed to perform the first molecular characterization of clinically annotated cases of HCN NOS.
METHODS
We tested whether these histological features are associated with genetic alterations, cancer gene dysregulation, and outcomes. Namely, we compared the molecular features of HCN NOS, including copy number alterations, mutations, and gene expression profiles, with those in other pediatric hepatocellular neoplasms, including HBs and HCCs, as well as HBs demonstrating focal atypia or pleomorphism (HB FPAs), and HBs diagnosed in older children (>8).
RESULTS
Molecular profiles of HCN NOS and HB FPAs revealed common underlying biological features that were previously observed in HCCs. Consequently, we designated these tumor types collectively as HBs with HCC features (HBCs). These tumors were associated with high mutation rates (∼3 somatic mutations/Mb) and were enriched with mutations and alterations in key cancer genes and pathways. In addition, recurrent large-scale chromosomal gains, including gains of chromosomal arms 2q (80%), 6p (70%), and 20p (70%), were observed. Overall, HBCs were associated with poor clinical outcomes.
CONCLUSIONS
Our study indicates that histological features seen in HBCs are associated with combined molecular features of HB and HCC, that HBCs are associated with poor outcomes irrespective of patient age, and that transplanted patients are more likely to have good outcomes than those treated with chemotherapy and surgery alone. These findings highlight the importance of molecular testing and early therapeutic intervention for aggressive childhood hepatocellular neoplasms.
LAY SUMMARY
We molecularly characterized a class of histologically aggressive childhood liver cancers and showed that these tumors are clinically aggressive and that their observed histological features are associated with underlying recurrent molecular features. We proposed a diagnostic algorithm to identify these cancers using a combination of histological and molecular features, and our analysis suggested that these cancers may benefit from specialized treatment strategies that may differ from treatment guidelines for other childhood liver cancers.
Topics: Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Child; Chromosome Aberrations; Hepatoblastoma; Humans; Liver Neoplasms; Mutation; Young Adult
PubMed: 35577029
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2022.04.035