Objective:To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics of spiradenocarcinoma, cylindrocarcinoma, and spiradenocylindrocarcinoma, and to understand the correlations between their morphological patterns and clinical behaviors.Methods:Seven cases of spiradenocarcinoma, cylindrocarcinoma, and spiradenocylindrocarcinoma diagnosed at Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China from 2015 to 2021 were collected. The clinicopathological characteristics and follow-up data were retrospectively analyzed. Histopathologic evaluation and immunohistochemical studies were carried out.Results:There were four men and three women in the cohort, with ages ranging from 46 to 75 years (mean, 61 years). The tumors were located on the head and neck (four cases), extremities (two cases), and trunk (one case). Histologically, the residuum of a benign neoplasm was present in all cases. One case presented salivary gland-type basal cell adenocarcinoma-like pattern, low-grade (BCAC-LG). Another case showed salivary gland-type basal cell adenocarcinoma-like pattern, high-grade (BCAC-HG). The remaining five cases were invasive adenocarcinoma, not otherwise specified (IAC-NOS). One of IAC-NOS contained a mucinous adenocarcinoma component. Immunohistochemically, BCAC-LG and BCAC-HG predominantly expressed basal cell markers such as p63 and p40, whereas IAC-NOS primarily exhibited positivity for CK7, a glandular epithelial marker. Follow-up was available for six patients, ranging from 1 to 9 years (mean, 4.5 years). Among the four patients of IAC-NOS with follow-up, three showed recurrences, two had regional lymph node metastases, and one died.Conclusions:The malignant components of spiradenocarcinomas, cylindrocarcinomas, and spiradenocylindrocarcinomas in this cohort contain BCAC-LG, BCAC-HG and IAC-NOS. This study also shows the presence of mucinous adenocarcinoma components in IAC-NOS. The tumors with IAC-NOS have a relatively poorer prognosis than those without.

Objective:To investigate the correlation and predictive value of serum miR-149-5p and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and hemorrhagic transformation (HT) after intravenous thrombolysis in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS).Methods:Patients with AIS received intravenous thrombolytic therapy in Shangqiu First People's Hospital from September 2019 to February 2022 were enrolled prospectively. They were divided into HT group and non-HT group according to whether HT occurred after intravenous thrombolysis. Serum miR-149-5p and MMP-9 were measured by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the independent risk factors for HT after thrombolysis. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the predictive value of serum miR-149-5p, MMP-9 and their combination for HT after intravenous thrombolysis. Results:A total of 358 patients with AIS received intravenous thrombolytic therapy were enrolled, 71 of them (19.83%) developed HT. The serum MMP-9 in the HT group was significantly higher than that in the non-HT group (273.95±35.23 μg/L vs. 202.71±30.52 μg/L; t=17.062, P<0.001), while the serum miR-149-5p was significantly lower than that in the non-HT group (0.26±0.06 vs. 1.03±0.15; t=42.387, P<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that atrial fibrillation (odds ratio [ OR] 2.282, 95% confidence interval [ CI] 1.731-3.008; P<0.001), time from onset to intravenous thrombolysis ( OR 2.334, 95% CI 1.458-3.735; P<0.001), miR-149-5p ( OR 1.758, 95% CI 1.142-2.705; P=0.010) and MMP-9 ( OR 1.535, 95% CI 1.106-2.129; P=0.010) were the independent risk factors for HT after intravenous thrombolysis. Serum miR-149-5p (area under the curve 0.856, 95% CI 0.803-0.909; when the optimal cut-off value was 0.741, the sensitivity was 80.3% and the specificity was 89.9%), MMP-9 (area under the curve 0.875, 95% CI 0.821-0.929; when the optimal cut-off value was 240.051 μg/L, the sensitivity was 83.1% and the specificity was 90.2%) and their combination (area under the curve 0.897, 95% CI 0.854-0.941; sensitivity 84.5% and specificity 90.6%) had better predictive value for HT after thrombolysis, and there were no significant differences in the predictive value among the three. Conclusions:After intravenous thrombolysis, the serum miR-149-5p is lower and MMP-9 is higher at admission in patients with HT in patients with AIS. Both of them and their combination have better predictive value for HT after intravenous thrombolysis.

Objective:To study the utility of immunohistochemistry (IHC) in differential diagnosis between trichoblastoma (TB) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC).Methods:Fifty-eight cases of TB and 40 cases of BCC were collected at Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center from January 2009 to December 2019 and retrospectively analyzed by IHC for bcl-2, Ber-EP4, CD10, CK20 and Ki-67. Fisher exact test was performed for statistical analysis.Results:Twenty-five (43.1%) TBs and 5 (12.5%) BCCs showed bcl-2 staining in the outermost layer of the epithelial nests, the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.01). The proportion of cases with bcl-2 staining>75% of epithelial cells in BCC group was much higher than that in TB group (40% vs. 12.1%; P<0.01). BCC group showed larger proportions with Ber-EP4 staining>75%, 51%-75% of epithelial cells than TB group (12.5% vs. 1.7%, 37.5% vs. 8.6%; P<0.05). Fifty-five (94.8%) TBs demonstrated CD10 expression in the follicular stroma, while only 16 (40.0%) BCCs showed focal or scattered CD10 expression in reactive fibrous stroma ( P<0.01). CK20 expression was present in 37 (63.8%) TBs with scattered pattern, but BCCs exhibited no CK20 staining except for only one case (2.5%) showing focal staining ( P<0.01). Compared with TB group, the BCC group included more cases with Ki-67 labeling index ≥15% on average and ≥25% in hotspot areas ( P<0.05). Conclusion:IHC is helpful in differential diagnosis between TB and BCC. Scattered CK20 staining pattern and stromal CD10 expression support the diagnosis of TB. Bcl-2 staining limited to the outermost layer of the proliferation is more likely to be found in TB. In contrast, Ber-EP4 positivity and higher Ki-67 labeling index tend to be present in BCC.

Objective:To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics, differential diagnosis and prognosis of nodal nevi (NN).Methods:Eighteen cases of NN diagnosed at Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China from 2009 to 2019 were collected. The clinicopathological characteristics and follow-up data were retrospectively analyzed. Histopathologic evaluation and immunohistochemical studies were carried out. The Vysis Melanoma FISH Probe Kit, combined with 9p21(CDKN2A) and 8q24(MYC) assays were performed in 2 cases.Results:There were 2 males and 16 females in the case series. The age of the patients ranged from 36 to 70 years (average 48.2 years). Fifteen cases located in axillary lymph nodes, 1 in inguinal lymph node, 1 in cervical lymph node, and 1 in external iliac lymph node. NN was found in only one lymph node in each case. Histologically, the nevus cell aggregates were found in capsule of lymph nodes in all cases. Nevus cells grew along the capsule into trabeculae in 8 cases, with 3 of them scattered in parenchyma. In one of these 8 cases, nevus cell aggregates massively occupied the parenchyma of the lymph node. The largest lesions in the 18 NN cases measured from 0.2 to 6.5 mm. All of the NN cases were classified as conventional nevi. The majority of the cases were composed of uniform nevus-like cells and identical to cutaneous pigmented nevi without atypia, necrosis, or mitosis. In the NN case that massively occupied parenchyma, some areas had abundant nevus cells and displayed atypical cytologic features, including increased nucleo-cytoplasmic ratio, small nucleoli, and occasional mitotic figures. Immunohistochemistry was performed in 13 cases. All of them were positive for S-100, SOX10, Melan A, and p16. HMB45 showed weak staining in rare cells of only one case out of 13 cases. Ki-67 labeling index <1% was found in all 13 cases. Additionally, the results of FISH assay were both negative. All patients were followed up for 13 to 129 months (median 31.5 months). Except that one patient died of the salivary gland carcinoma, the other patients all survived without tumor during the follow-up period.Conclusions:NN is a benign melanocytic lesion in lymph node. It is important to distinguish NN from metastatic melanoma when nevus cells occur in parenchyma and subcapsular sinus of lymph nodes, or show some atypical cytologic features. The morphology of bland nevus cells in capsule and trabeculae is a valuable clue. Besides, immunohistochemical profiling and FISH assay are helpful in the differential diagnosis.

Objective:To investigate the clinical value of the first multicolor fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assay on multiple genes, and combined with 9p21 and 8q24 evaluation in the differential diagnosis of melanoma.Methods:Fifty-six melanomas and 36 benign melanocytic nevi diagnosed in Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center from 2017 to 2019 were included. Each specimen was examined by first multicolor FISH assay targeting 6p25 (RREB1), 6q23 (MYB), 11q13 (CCND1) and CEP6, as well as 9p21 (CDKN2A) and 8q24 (MYC). The results of FISH assay in all cases were recorded according to Gerami′s criteria. Basing on the sensitivity and specificity of the first FISH assay, the refinement of diagnosis by adding combined 9p21 and 8q24 probes was further evaluated, as well as their association with different clinicopathological features.Results:In 86 cases, the FISH signals were adequate for analysis. Of the 56 melanoma cases, 52 cases were adequate for analysis; 36 cases (69.2%) were positive in the first FISH assay. The most frequent chromosomal anomaly was gain of RREB1 (30/52, 57.7%), followed by gain of CCND1 (20/52, 38.5%), loss of MYB relative to CEP6 (18/52, 34.6%) and gain of RREB1 relative to CEP6 (17/52, 32.7%). The frequency of homozygous deletions in 9p21 was 15.4% (8/52) and gain of 8q24 was 36.5% (19/52). Among the 36 melanocytic nevi cases, FISH results could be accurately evaluated in 34 cases, and none showed a positive result in the first FISH assay or 9p21 and 8q24 FISH analysis. Compared with the first FISH assay, the sensitivity of combination with 9p21 and 8q24 FISH analysis increased from 69.2% to 76.9% (40/52) and the specificity remained 100.0%. Statistical data showed that the rates of FISH positivity in patients with acral-lentiginious melanoma and nodual melanoma subtypes were higher than that in patients with superficial spreading melanoma and lentigo maligna melanoma subtypes, and patients with Breslow thickness>2.0 mm had higher positive FISH frequency than patients with Breslow thickness ≤2.0 mm.Conclusion:Multisite FISH analysis is a highly effective ancillary tool for the differentiation of unequivocal malignant from benign melanocytic lesions. By combining the first FISH assay with CDKN2A and MYC assay, the clinical utility of FISH analysis is further optimized in differential diagnosis of melanoma. Patients with Breslow thickness>2.0 mm, or acral-lentiginious melanoma and nodual melanoma subtypes tend to have higher FISH positivity. There remains a need to further explore the ancillary value of FISH analysis in diagnosis of ambiguous lesions.

Objective: To explore the predictive value of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) characterization for time to castration resistance of newly diagnosed high volume metastatic castration sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC) patients. Methods: Newly diagnosed high volume mCSPC patients were prospectively enrolled in this study from September 2015 to February 2017. The inclusion criteria include that the patients' age should be between 18 to 85 years old. The Prostate cancer should be diagnosed by biopsy or cytopathology. No endocrinological therapy, radiative therapy or chemotherapy was used before the study. High-volume metastatic lesion was confirmed by imaging. Those patients who accepted previous endocrinological therapy, radiative therapy or chemotherapy were excluded in this study. Those patients combined with concomitant tumor were also excluded. The health males were enrolled in the control group. All patients received androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) with goserelin plus bicalutamide (goserelin 3.6 mg subcutaneous injection, once a month plus bicalutamide 50mg orally, once a day). CanPatrol system was used to count CTCs in peripheral blood of patients and characterize CTCs based on expressions of epithelial markers(EpCAM and CK8/18/19) and mesenchymal markers(vimentin and twist). Primary endpoint was time to castration resistance. Survival analysis was conducted using Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test was used to assess the difference of survival between groups, and univariate and multivariate analyses of prognostic factors were conducted using the Cox proportional hazards model. Results: A total of 108 newly diagnosed high volume mCSPC patients were enrolled in this study. The median age of enrolled patients was 68 years old (ranging 51-85 years old), and median PSA was 196.2 ng/ml(ranging 5.8-5 011.9 ng/ml). The median level of hemoglobin was 32 g/L(ranging 9-172 g/L). The median level of LDH was 179 U/L(ranging 49-630 U/L). The ECOG scores was 0-1 score in 94 cases(87.0%), 2 scores in 14 cases (13.0%). The Gleason scores was 6-7 in 20 cases (18.5%) and more than 8 in 88 cases (81.5%). All patients had bone metastatic lesions, among which 41 (38.0%) patients had more than 10 metastatic lesions and 6 (5.6%) patients with visceral metastasis, 30(27.8%) patients with limb bone metastasis. The median CTCs count was four, and ranging 0-35. Mesenchymal CTCs positive and negative (negative included CTCs negative, epithelial CTCs positive and biophenotypic CTCs positive) patients were 58(53.7%) and 50, respectively. There was no correlation between CTCs characterization with age, baseline PSA, Gleason score, ALP and other clinical parameters (P>0.05). In control group, the mean age was 26 years old (ranging 20-31 years old). No CTCs were detected among those people. After a median follow-up of 24 months (ranging 18-32 months), 90 patients (83.3%) progressed to castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). The median time to CRPC for patients of mesenchymal CTCs positive and negative was (10.5±1.4) and (14.0±3.4) months, respectively(P<0.001). Univariate analysis revealed CTCs characterization(HR=1.647, P=0.003), the number of metastatic lesions (HR=1.624, P=0.025)and limb bone metastasis(HR=1.706, P=0.019) were prognostic factors of time to CRPC; further multivariate analysis showed that only baseline mesenchymal CTCs positive (HR=1.562, P=0.008) was independent prognostic factors of unfavorable time to CRPC. Conclusions CTCs characterization can predict time to CRPC of newly diagnosed high volume mCSPC patients receiving ADT, and patients of baseline mesenchymal CTCs positive are more likely to progress to CRPC.

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathologic features and prognosis of ALK-positive Spitz tumors. Methods: Thirteen patients with ALK-positive Spitz tumors diagnosed at Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University from October 2016 to December 2017 were collected. All cases were routinely evaluated histopathological features in HE staining and detected ALK protein expression by immunohistochemistry. The ALK fusions of 7 cases were confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH).Follow-up data was collected. Results: The age of patients including 2 males and 11 females ranged from 4 to 47 years (mean 25 years). 12 patients were diagnosed with atypical Spitz tumors and 1 patient was diagnosed with Spitz nevus. Clinically, most lesions presented as papules or nodules, while a few lesions presented as plaques. Histologically, most tumors were exophytic (9/13). More than half of the tumors were amelanotic and the junctional component was mainly composed of melanocytic nests. Kamino bodies were not found. The bases of the tumors were mainly wedge-shaped (5/13) and flat (7/13). Eight tumors displayed mixed cell types, while 5 tumors were composed of only spindle cells. All the tumors showed a plexiform and/or intersecting fascicular growth pattern, and perineural extension was observed in 3 tumors. ALK immunohistochemistry showed diffuse and intense cytoplasmic staining in 13 cases, and 7 of them were detected by FISH to confirm the presence of ALK fusions. All patients were followed up for 7 to 21 months (median=12), with no recurrence or lymph node dissemination. Conclusions Spitz tumors with ALK fusions have their special histopathologic features.ALK fusions mainly occur in Spitz nevi and atypical Spitz tumors. The follow-up data of the existing literatures and our research indicates that the prognosis of ALK-positive Spitz tumors may be good.

Objective: To study the clinicopathologic features, differential diagnosis and prognosis of lentigo maligna (LM) and lentigo maligna melanoma (LMM). Methods: Histopathologic evaluation and immunohistochemical study by HRP multimer method were carried out in 24 cases of LM and LMM from 2012 to 2017 at Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center. The clinical information and follow-up data were analyzed. Results: Of total 24 cases, there were 7 cases of LM and 17 cases of LMM; 10 males and 14 females. The age of patients ranged from 32 to 88 years (mean 67 years). The male-to-female ratio was 1.0∶1.4. Tumors were all located on head and face. Clinically, all patients presented with mottled light brown or sepia macule located on head and face for a long time, and some of them followed by nodules or ulceration within the lesion. The diameter of lesions ranged from 0.5 to 3.0 cm. Microscopically, LM and in-situ component of LMM were all characterized by a predominantly junctional proliferation of atypical melanocytes with marked pleomorphism, frequently extending down the walls of hair follicles and sweat ducts. Multinucleate cells were frequently present. The invasive components of LMM mainly consisted of atypical melanocytic spindle cells (13 cases, 76.5%), and the mean Breslow thickness was 1.2 mm (0.1-2.7 mm). The lesions of LM/LMM were generally associated with severe actinic damage, scattered infiltration of lymphocytes and melanophages. Statistically, the number of cases whose diameter of lesion ≥0.6 cm, mitotic rates ≥4/mm² and nests of melanocytes within epidermis in group of LMM were significantly more than those in group of LM. Immunohistochemically, atypical melanocytes in LM and LMM were generally positive for S-100, HMB45, PNL2, Melan A and SOX-10. Follow-up was available in all cases, ranging from 1 to 64 months. Only one out of 23 patients with wide surgical excision had local recurrence, and the remaining 22 patients were all alive with no evidence of disease. One LM patient who was merely treated with biopsy was alive with disease progression after 20 months follow-up. Conclusions LM/LMM is a special subtype of melanoma predominantly located on the sun-exposed skin of elderly people. Recognition of its specific histologic features can help distinguish with sun-damaged diseases and other subtypes of melanoma. The prognosis of LM/LMM patients treated with surgical excision is considered relatively favorable. However, long term follow-up should be recommended in patients with LM/LMM because of high recurrence rates indicated by previous studies.

Objective: To investigate the difference between routine hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and immunohistochemistry in diagnosing metastatic melanoma in sentinel lymph node (SLN) metastases, and to evaluate the association of SLN tumor burden with the status of non-sentinel lymph nodes (NSLN). Methods: 126 melanoma patients were treated with SLN biopsy and further examined with immunohistochemistry at Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center between 2010 and 2016, and the status of SLN was respectively estimated by HE stain and immunohistochemistry (S-100 protein, HMB45, Melan A and SOX10). In 39 patients who were treated with complete lymph node dissection, characteristics of SLN tumor burden (maximum diameter of the tumor deposit, tumor penetrative depth and the microanatomic location of the metastasis) and the associations of SLN tumor burden with the involvement of NSLN were all evaluated. Results: Of the total 126 cases, 33 (26.2%) were positive by HE staining and 49 (38.3%) were positive by immunohistochemistry. S-100 protein was positive in 48 out of 49 cases (98.0%). HMB45 was positive in 46 out of 49 cases (93.9%). Melan A was positive in 47 out of 49 cases (96.0%). SOX10 was positive in 8 out of 8 cases. The outcome indicated that the application of immunohistochemistry identified positive SLN missed by HE stain in about 12.1% of cases. Of the 39 patients who were treated with complete lymph node dissection, six showed metastases in NSLN. The frequency of metastases in NSLN was 15.4% (6/39) when SLN was positive. Additionally, the frequency of metastases in NSLN in cases with SLN metastatic deposits ≤2 mm was significantly lower than that in cases with SLN metastatic deposits >2 mm; eight cases with SLN metastatic deposits <0.2 mm had no additional positive NSLN. Conclusions The findings suggest that immunohistochemistry could effectively improve the detection of positive SLN in melanoma. Cases with SLN metastatic deposits ≤2 mm are less likely to have further metastases in NSLN. There is a need for prospective large-population based studies to identify a subgroup of SLN positive patients who can safely be spared complete lymph node dissection.

Objective: To evaluate the sensitivity, specificity and clinical value of anti-BRAF V600E antibody (clone VE1) in detection of the BRAF V600E mutant in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) melanoma specimens by immunohistochemical (IHC) methods. Methods: A total of 50 melanoma samples collected between 2008 and 2016 from 40 patients were analyzed for BRAF mutation (exon 15) by DNA sequencing using FFPE. These tissues were immunostained with VE1 antibody, and the results were analyzed and compared with those by DNA sequencing. Results: By DNA sequencing, 36 cases showed BRAF mutation while others were BRAF wild type. Among the 36 cases with BRAF mutation, 32 harbored BRAF V600E, two harbored BRAF V600K, one had BRAF K601E and one had BRAF D594N, respectively. IHC staining showed 30 specimens were VE1 positive, while 19 were negative. The determination of IHC result for one case was obscured by heavy pigments. Of the BRAF-mutated specimens, four specimens with BRAF mutation other than V600E were all negative for VE1. The sensitivity and specificity of the VE1 immunostaining was 96.8% and 100.0% respectively.Concordance of BRAF V600E detection between immunostaining and DNA sequencing was 98.0%(48/49). Conclusions High sensitivity and specificity for VE1 immunostaining in detecting BRAF V600E in melanomas are demonstrated. It is a rapid and cost-effective method for detecting BRAF V600E mutations in melanoma patients. Hence, VE1 immunostaining can be used as an important screening method for BRAF mutation in laboratories.