SIRT7, H3K18ac, and ELK4 Immunohistochemical Expression in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

BACKGROUND: SIRT7 is one of the histone deacetylases and is NAD-dependent. It forms a complex with ETS-like transcription factor 4 (ELK4), which deacetylates H3K18ac and works as a transcriptional suppressor. Overexpression of SIRT7 and deacetylation of H3K18ac have been shown to be associated with aggressive clinical behavior in some cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The present study investigated the immunohistochemical expression of SIRT7, H3K18ac, and ELK4 in hepatocellular carcinoma. METHODS: A total of 278 HCC patients were enrolled in this study. Tissue microarray blocks were made from existing paraffin-embedded blocks. Immunohistochemical expressions of SIRT7, H3K18ac and ELK4 were scored and analyzed. RESULTS: High SIRT7 (p = .034), high H3K18ac (p = .001), and low ELK4 (p = .021) groups were associated with poor outcomes. Age < 65 years (p = .028), tumor size ≥ 5 cm (p = .001), presence of vascular emboli (p = .003), involvement of surgical margin (p = .001), and high American Joint Committee on Cancer stage (III&V) (p < .001) were correlated with worse prognoses. In multivariate analysis, H3K18ac (p = .001) and ELK4 (p = .015) were the significant independent prognostic factors. CONCLUSIONS: High SIRT7 expression with poor overall survival implies that deacetylation of H3K18ac contributes to progression of HCC. High H3K18ac expression with poor prognosis is predicted due to a compensation mechanism. In addition, high ELK4 expression with good prognosis suggests another role of ELK4 as a tumor suppressor beyond SIRT7's helper. In conclusion, we could assume that the H3K18ac deacetylation pathway is influenced by many other factors.

Cholangiolocellular carcinoma with satellite nodules showing intermediate differentiation

No abstract available.

Tumor Sprouting in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Is Correlated with Lymph Node Metastasis and Recurrence

BACKGROUND: Identification of poor prognostic factors in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) patients is important for the patients' care and follow-up. We can sometimes see small tumor clusters without desmoplasia and no evidence of lymphatic emboli around the main tumor mass of PTC. We termed this form of tumor clustering, 'tumor sprouting,' and determined whether these tumors correlate with lymphovascular invasion, lymph node metastasis, and recurrence. METHODS: We analyzed a total of 204 cases of papillary thyroid macrocarcinoma. Number, size and distance from the main tumor of the tumor sprouting were observed and analyzed with clinicopathologic characteristics. RESULTS: Tumor sprouting was observed in 101 patients. Presence of tumor sprouting was significantly associated with positive resection margin (p=.002), lymphovascular invasion (p=.001), lymph node metastasis (p<.001), and recurrence (p=.004). Univariate analysis of recurrence-free survival revealed that tumor multiplicity (p=.037), positive resection margin (p=.007), lymphovascular invasion (p=.004), lymph node metastasis (p<.001), and tumor sprouting (p=.004) were poor prognostic factors. In multivariate analysis, positive resection margin was an independent poor prognostic factor of recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, tumor sprouting is significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis and recurrence. Evaluation of tumor sprouting in PTC patients could be helpful in predicting tumor recurrence or lymph node metastasis.

SIRT1 Expression Is Associated with Good Prognosis in Colorectal Cancer

BACKGROUND: Silent mating type information regulation 2 homolog 1 (SIRT1), an NAD+-dependent deacetylase, might act as a tumor promoter by inhibiting p53, but may also as a tumor suppressor by inhibiting several oncogenes such as beta-catenin and survivin. Deleted in breast cancer 1 (DBC1) is known as a negative regulator of SIRT1. METHODS: Immunohistochemical expressions of SIRT1, DBC1, beta-catenin, surviving, and p53 were evaluated using 2 mm tumor cores from 349 colorectal cancer patients for tissue microarray. RESULTS: Overexpression of SIRT1, DBC1, survivin, and p53 was seen in 235 (67%), 183 (52%), 193 (55%), and 190 (54%) patients, respectively. Altered expression of beta-catenin was identified in 246 (70%) patients. On univariate analysis, overexpression of SIRT1 (p=0.029) and altered expression of beta-catenin (p=0.008) were significantly associated with longer overall survival. Expression of SIRT1 was significantly related to DBC1 (p=0.001), beta-catenin (p=0.001), and survivin (p=0.002), but not with p53. On multivariate analysis, age, tumor stage, differentiation, and expression of SIRT1 were independent prognostic factors significantly associated with overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: SIRT1 overexpression is a good prognostic factor for colorectal cancer, and SIRT1 may interact with beta-catenin and survivin rather than p53.

Prognostic Significance of Heat Shock Protein 70 Expression in Early Gastric Carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Overexpression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) has been observed in many types of cancer including gastric adenocarcinomas, although the exact role of HSP70 in carcinogenesis remains unclear. METHODS: The study analyzed a total of 458 radical gastrectomy specimens which were immunohistochemically stained with HSP70, p53, and Ki-67 antibodies. RESULTS: The study determined that the expression of HSP70 was significantly increased in early gastric cancer (EGC) compared to advanced gastric cancer (p<0.001). The HSP70 expression was correlated with well-differentiated tumor type, intestinal type of Lauren classification and the lower pT and pN stage. Negative expression of Ki-67 and p53 expression was associated with poor prognosis. The study did not find any correlation between HSP70 and p53 expression. The study determined that HSP70 expression in the EGC subgroup was associated with a poor prognosis (p=0.009), as well as negative Ki-67 expression (p=0.006), but was not associated with p53. Based on multivariate analysis, HSP70 expression (p=0.024), negative expression of Ki-67, invasion depth and lymph node metastasis were determined to be independent prognostic markers. CONCLUSIONS: HSP70 is expressed in the early stages of gastric adenocarcinoma. In EGC, HSP70 is a poor independent prognostic marker and is correlated with a low proliferation index.

Pigmented Perivascular Epithelioid Cell Tumor (PEComa) of the Kidney: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Heavily pigmented perivascular epithelioid cell tumors (PEComa) are rare, only eight cases of which have been reported. Unlike typical epithelioid angiomyolipoma, most of these tumors have been encountered in female patients without tuberous sclerosis. The long-term prognosis thereof is undetermined. Cytological similarity and heavy melanin pigment make it difficult for pigmented PEComa to be differentiated from pigmented clear cell renal cell carcinoma or malignant melanoma. The immunoprofile of tumor cells, such as human melanoma black-45 expression, as well as the absence or presence of other melanocytic or epithelial markers, are helpful in determining a differential diagnosis. Here we report a case of heavily pigmented PEComa of the right kidney and review the literature describing this tumor. In this case, the immunoprofile and clinical features corresponded well to those described in the literature. Since the prognosis of such disease has not yet been established, close follow-up of this patient was recommended.

A Case of Hypopharyngeal Cancer Treated by Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection / 대한소화기학회지

Recent advances in endoscopic instruments, including narrow-band imaging (NBI) and magnification endoscopy, allowed dramatic increase in the early diagnosis of hypopharyngeal cancers. In addition, endoscopic mucosal resection or endoscopic submucosal dissection has recently been used for the treatment of hypopharyngeal cancer at an early stage, especially in Japan. However, to date, there is no published report in Korea. A 68-year-old man was admitted for preoperative evaluation and treatment for known esophageal cancer initially diagnosed at a local clinic. During the evaluation, magnifying endoscopy combined with the NBI system revealed a concurrent hypopharyngeal cancer not detected by initial conventional endoscopy. In this case report, we describe for the first time in Korea a case of early stage hypopharyngeal carcinoma that was successfully treated by endoscopic submucosal dissection with a review of literature.

Plexiform Angiomyxoid Myofibroblastic Tumor of the Stomach: Report of Two Cases and Review of the Literature

Plexiform angiomyxoid myofibroblastic tumor (PAMT) of the stomach is a recently recognized entity. Because of its rarity, only 22 cases have been reported in the English-language literature and most of these are single case reports. We report two cases of gastric PAMT. The tumor cells were bland and plexiform arranged in a myxoid stroma, which was positive for alcian blue. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were positive for smooth muscle actin, but negative for c-kit, CD34, desmin, S-100 protein, epithelial membrane antigen, neurofilament, and protein kinase C-theta. Mutation analyses for exon 9, 11, 13, and 17 of KIT genes and 12, 14, and 18 of the platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRA) genes were performed and the tumors were wild-type for mutation.

Plexiform Angiomyxoid Myofibroblastic Tumor of the Stomach: Report of Two Cases and Review of the Literature

Plexiform angiomyxoid myofibroblastic tumor (PAMT) of the stomach is a recently recognized entity. Because of its rarity, only 22 cases have been reported in the English-language literature and most of these are single case reports. We report two cases of gastric PAMT. The tumor cells were bland and plexiform arranged in a myxoid stroma, which was positive for alcian blue. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were positive for smooth muscle actin, but negative for c-kit, CD34, desmin, S-100 protein, epithelial membrane antigen, neurofilament, and protein kinase C-theta. Mutation analyses for exon 9, 11, 13, and 17 of KIT genes and 12, 14, and 18 of the platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRA) genes were performed and the tumors were wild-type for mutation.

Biliary intraepithelial neoplasia: a case with benign biliary stricture / 대한간학회지

No abstract available.