Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK)-Rearranged Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Case Report Highlighting Diagnostic Challenges and Therapeutic Opportunities.

A 57-year-old male underwent an open right radical nephrectomy in 2015 for a 3-cm kidney tumor which was classified at the time as a combined tubulocystic and collecting duct carcinoma. One of six nodes was positive for metastatic carcinoma and the patient received adjuvant carboplatin/gemcitabine chemotherapy. In 2020, he developed enlarging retroperitoneal adenopathy and underwent a retroperitoneal lymph node dissection with 11 of 13 nodes in the resected specimen positive for the previously described renal carcinoma, followed by adjuvant radiotherapy. In November 2022, he again underwent surgery for further locoregional recurrence with resection of a right psoas mass lesion and right hemicolectomy. Pathology on this occasion was reclassified as anaplastic lymphoma kinase-rearranged renal cell carcinoma (ALK-RCC). Shortly afterward, a restaging CT revealed multiple liver metastases and evidence of further disease recurrence in the right renal bed. He commenced alectinib with a complete radiological response and has continued on it for 12 months at the time of writing this report. To our knowledge, there are only five prior reports of ALK-RCC treated with targeted ALK inhibitor therapy in the literature. We report this case to highlight the importance of recognizing and diagnosing this rare RCC subtype since it has significant therapeutic implications. Furthermore, to our knowledge, this patient has had the longest follow-up reported to date in the literature so far. A concerted effort by the histopathology and oncology community is needed to gather more data on the incidence and treatment outcomes of these tumors so that progress can be made in optimizing their management. It is important to consider novel and emerging entities from the most recent WHO 2022 classification, many of which are defined by molecular characteristics with associated therapeutic implications.

The STING in the tale of Teflon®: Delayed ureteric obstruction after subureteric transurethral injection with polytetrafluoroethylene paste for vesicoureteral reflux.

INTRODUCTION: "Subureteric Teflon INGection" (STING) of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE/polytef) paste to treat vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) in children was popularised in 1984. It was later abandoned as an implantation material because of the possibility of migration from the injection site. Giant-cell foreign-body granuloma to Polytef in the bladder is a rare cause of ureteric obstruction. Only a handful of cases have been reported in the literature. METHODS: We performed a prospective analysis of a series of 6 adult patients who had childhood STING and presented with foreign-body granuloma to Polytef in the bladder. We report their clinical presentation, findings and treatment. RESULTS: 1 male and 5 females with a history of STING procedure in childhood for VUR presented in later life with foreign-body granuloma to Polytef. The median age at first STING procedure and at presentation to the Urology Department was 3 and 34 years respectively. The most common clinical presentations were flank pain and urinary tract infection (UTI) and all patients had radiological findings of calcified lesions at the vesicoureteric junction(s). 4 patients had histological findings of giant-cell foreign-body granuloma. 4 patients required definitive ureteric reimplantation. CONCLUSION: Polytef granuloma causing distal ureteric obstruction may give rise to significant morbidity and renal damage. Due to the likelihood of progression of the granuloma, excision and ureteric reimplantation is considered the standard approach in the management of patients with viable kidneys. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 5.

An incidental finding of large cell calcifying Sertoli cell tumor in an orchidectomy specimen for a separate adenomatoid tumor.

Introduction: Large cell calcifying Sertoli cell tumors are exceedingly rare. They are most commonly benign, but risks for malignancy include older age, larger size of tumor, and solitary tumors. To the author's knowledge, this is the first case reported of an incidental large cell calcifying Sertoli cell tumor when an orchidectomy was performed for a separate lesion. Case presentation: A 31-year-old male presented with a painless testicular lump. Ultrasound demonstrated an exophytic lesion in the superolateral aspect and calcifications were noted inferomedially and inferolaterally in the right testis. On histology from radical orchidectomy, the superolateral lesion was found to be an adenomatoid tumor, and the calcifications inferiorly represented a large cell calcifying Sertoli cell tumor. The background showed foci of germ cell neoplasia in situ but no evidence of invasive malignancy. Conclusion: Calcifications on ultrasound in isolation may represent large cell calcifying Sertoli Cell tumors.

Antiglomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) disease with clinical and histological features that bridge the typical to atypical spectrum.

We describe antiglomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) disease with rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis and concurrent parainfluenza pneumonia. Circulating anti-GBM antibodies were barely detectable and disappeared rapidly following corticosteroids, cyclophosphamide and plasma exchange. Kidney biopsy demonstrated strong linear GBM staining for IgG and IgG4 and unusually prominent endocapillary hypercellularity, suggesting 'atypical anti-GBM disease', although glomerular necrosis and crescents were also seen. When kidney function deteriorated further, despite persistently absent circulating anti-GBM antibodies, a repeat kidney biopsy was performed, showing crescents in 100% of glomeruli with ongoing endocapillary hypercellularity and strong IgG and IgG4 GBM staining. This case highlights complexities in the diagnosis of anti-GBM disease, with clinical and histological features bridging the atypical to typical anti-GBM disease spectrum. We hypothesise that these findings might be explained by the presence of IgG4 (rather than traditional IgG1 or IgG3) autoantibodies. To our knowledge, this is also the first report of parainfluenza associated with anti-GBM disease.

The ProtecT trial: analysis of the patient cohort, baseline risk stratification and disease progression.

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that the baseline clinico-pathological features of the men with localized prostate cancer (PCa) included in the ProtecT (Prostate Testing for Cancer and Treatment) trial who progressed (n = 198) at a 10-year median follow-up were different from those of men with stable disease (n = 1409). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We stratified the study participants at baseline according to risk of progression using clinical disease stage, pathological grade and PSA level, using Cox proportional hazard models. RESULTS: The findings showed that 34% of participants (n = 505) had intermediate- or high-risk PCa, and 66% (n = 973) had low-risk PCa. Of 198 participants who progressed, 101 (51%) had baseline International Society of Urological Pathology Grade Group 1, 59 (30%) Grade Group 2, and 38 (19%) Grade Group 3 PCa, compared with 79%, 17% and 5%, respectively, for 1409 participants without progression (P < 0.001). In participants with progression, 38% and 62% had baseline low- and intermediate-/high-risk disease, compared with 69% and 31% of participants with stable disease (P < 0.001). Treatment received, age (65-69 vs 50-64 years), PSA level, Grade Group, clinical stage, risk group, number of positive cores, tumour length and perineural invasion were associated with time to progression (P ≤ 0.005). Men progressing after surgery (n = 19) were more likely to have a higher Grade Group and pathological stage at surgery, larger tumours, lymph node involvement and positive margins. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate that one-third of the ProtecT cohort consists of people with intermediate-/high-risk disease, and the outcomes data at an average of 10 years' follow-up are generalizable beyond men with low-risk PCa.

Optimal sampling of pelvic lymphadenectomy specimens following radical prostatectomy: is complete tissue submission justified?

There is currently no consensus among pathologists on the optimal method of sampling pelvic lympadenectomy specimens (PLND) in prostate cancer. We evaluated the impact of complete PLND submission on lymph node (LN) yield, detection of metastasis and laboratory workload in a series of 141 cases. Following isolation of grossly identifiable LNs/potential LNs, the remaining fatty tissue was embedded in toto. Complete PLND submission increased median LN yield from 10 (1-42) to 17 (3-57). Metastatic deposits were identified in nine non-palpable LNs, which altered the pN category in four cases (3%). The primary tumour (pT) was grade group ≥3 and/or pT3 at radical prostatectomy in 96% of pN+ cases. A median of seven additional blocks (1-28) was required for complete tissue embedding. Our findings indicate that submission of the entire fat can optimise PLND assessment but has a significant impact on laboratory workload. Complete submission of selected high-risk cases may be a reasonable alternative.

Papillary Renal Cell Carcinoma With Osteosarcomatous Heterologous Differentiation: A Case Report With Molecular Genetic Analysis and Review of the Literature.

Sarcomatoid differentiation can occur in all subtypes of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). In rare cases, heterologous differentiation has been described. We present a case of heterologous osteosarcomatous differentiation in association with sarcomatoid papillary RCC including an analysis of chromosomal copy number alteration. This is the first case to identify heterologous differentiation in association with papillary RCC. The patient was a 70-year-old man who had a mass in the right kidney. Speckled calcification was seen on computed tomography scan. Histological assessment demonstrated papillary RCC merging with areas of sarcomatoid change and malignant bone formation simulating osteosarcoma. Cytogenetic evaluation demonstrated additional copies of chromosome 7 in both epithelial and osteosarcomatous components. A literature review identified 33 previous cases of heterologous differentiation in association with RCC. Of the 14 cases that reported an epithelial subtype, 13 cases were reported to be chromophobe RCC and 1 case was reported to be clear cell RCC.

Intraductal carcinoma of prostate reporting practice: a survey of expert European uropathologists.

BACKGROUND: It is unclear whether the reported variation in the diagnosis of intraductal carcinoma of the prostate (IDC-P) is due to variable interpretation of borderline morphology, use of different diagnostic criteria or both. AIMS: We sought to determine the degree of variation in the diagnostic criteria and reporting rules for IDC-P in prostate biopsies employed by expert uropathologists. METHODS: A questionnaire survey was circulated to 23 expert uropathologists from 11 European countries. RESULTS: Criteria used for diagnosis of IDC-P included solid intraductal growth (100%), dense cribriform (96%), loose cribriform/micropapillary with nuclear size >6× normal (83%) or comedonecrosis (74%) and dilated ducts >2× normal (39%). 'Nuclear size' was interpreted as nuclear area by 74% and nuclear diameter by 21%. Pure IDC-P in needle biopsies was reported by 100% and Gleason graded by 30%. All would perform immunohistochemistry in such cases to rule out invasive cancer. An IDC-P component associated with invasive cancer would be included in the determination of tumour extent and number of cores involved by 74% and 83%, respectively. 52% would include IDC-P component when grading invasive cancer. 48% would perform immunohistochemistry in solid or cribriform nests with comedonecrosis to exclude IDC-P (17% routinely, 30% if the focus appeared to have basal cells on H&E). 48% graded such foci as Gleason pattern 5 even if immunohistochemistry demonstrated the presence of basal cells. CONCLUSIONS: There is a need for more clarity in the definition of some of the diagnostic criteria for IDC-P as well as for greater standardisation of IDC-P reporting.

Is Immediate Radical Cystectomy Necessary for All Patients with Non-Muscle-Invasive Micropapillary Bladder Cancer?

INTRODUCTION: We aim to review the outcomes of micropapillary urothelial carcinoma (MPUC) of the bladder from a single institution. The hypothesis is that non-muscle-invasive (NMI) MPUC may have a heterogeneous prognosis, and detailed pathological analysis may identify patients that could be managed without immediate cystectomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of patients presenting with MPUC in a primary transurethral resection specimen (n = 40). The pattern of micropapillary (MP) differentiation [surface/non-invasive (sMP) or invasive (iMP)], extent of MP differentiation and lymphovascular invasion (LVI) were correlated with overall survival (OS), recurrence-free survival and upstaging at re-resection. RESULTS: Sixteen of 40 patients died after a median follow-up of 37 months. Tumour stage was strongly predictive of OS (p < 0.0001). LVI was associated with increased mortality (hazard ratio 12.4, 95% CI: 3.5-44.5, p = 0.0001), higher pathological stage (p = 0.001), lymph node involvement (p = 0.001) and iMP differentiation (p = 0.006). In NMI patients not undergoing cystectomy (n = 17), NMI-sMP compared with NMI-iMP differentiation was associated with an improved OS when compared with iMP (63 vs. 47 months, p = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: MPUC is an aggressive variant of urothelial carcinoma (UC). Similar to conventional UC, LVI associated with MPUC is an adverse prognostic indicator. iMP is a morphological marker for LVI. Histopathological reports should distinguish between sMP and iMP differentiation.

Immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy, associated with antibodies to signal recognition particle, together with lupus nephritis: case presentation and management.

A male patient with limb weakness, myalgia and edema was subsequently found to have an immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy (IMNM) on biopsy. Targeted myopathic antibody analysis revealed antibodies to signal recognition particle (SRP). Anti-SRP-associated necrotizing myopathy was diagnosed. This case was complicated by the concurrent development of class III lupus nephritis. We discuss an interesting case progression and development as well as the management of these difficult to treat conditions.

Gleason drift in the NIHR ProtecT study.

AIMS: There is increasing evidence of Gleason score (GS) drift in prostatic core biopsies during the last two decades. The ProtecT study is a randomized controlled study and provides an excellent cohort to study the effect of time, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, perineural invasion, tumour length and age on GS. METHODS AND RESULTS: The ProtecT study recruited men in the United Kingdom between 1999 and 2010. The Gleason scores were grouped into four categories ≤ 3 + 3, 3 + 4, 4 + 3 and ≥ 4 + 4 for analysis. Data from England between 2000 and 2012 were also available. A total of 3282 biopsies containing cancer were analysed. For each year of the ProtecT study, the odds of being diagnosed with a higher GS category increased by 4.9%. Higher GS was also associated with perineural invasion, increasing tumour length, age and PSA level. While biopsy GS from England was incomplete, it also showed a marked decrease in GS five and six tumours during the same period. CONCLUSION: There was GS drift from 3 + 3 to 3 + 4 with time in the ProtecT study, but there appeared to be no significant change in percentage of GS 4 + 3 or higher. This drift was less dramatic when compared to GS in the rest of England.

Signalling pathways in succinate dehydrogenase B-associated renal carcinoma.

AIMS: Renal tumours have recently been described in association with mutations in the gene encoding the B subunit of succinate dehydrogenase, a mitochondrial Krebs cycle and electron transport chain enzyme (SDHB-associated renal cell carcinomas). The aim of this study was to investigate the roles of different signalling pathways in the pathogenesis of these tumours. METHODS AND RESULTS: We used immunohistochemistry and antibodies against phospho-specific epitopes to examine the activity of three potential signalling pathways in tumour cells of three genetically confirmed cases of SDHB-associated renal cell carcinomas. We found no evidence supporting a role for either the mTOR [p-mTOR (Ser2448), p-S6 riboprotein (Ser235/236)] or hypoxia-inducible (carbonic anhydrase 9 and EGFR) pathways. However, there was immunohistochemical reactivity for phosphorylated AMP-dependent kinase (p-AMPK Thr172) and glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) phosphorylation (p-GSK3 Ser12), and nuclear expression of cyclin D1. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that these tumours may arise through a mechanism involving ATP depletion, activation of AMPK, and induction of cyclin D1, and that this may be a unique pathway of tumour development that has the potential for therapeutic intervention in these rare tumours.

Increased ALK1 copy number and renal cell carcinoma-a case report.

There have been recent reports of a rare variant of renal cell carcinoma associated with upregulation of the anaplastic lymphoma kinase gene (ALK) arising as a consequence of chromosomal translocations. The tumours were described as having a characteristic morphology. Here, we describe a case with similar morphology characterised by eosinophilic cells, abundant intracytoplasmic lumina and scattered large ganglion-like tumour cells. There was focal staining for ALK demonstrated by immunohistochemistry. However, rather than exhibiting a chromosomal translocation involving ALK, the use of FISH and a break-apart probe demonstrated that there was increased copy number of intact 2p23, the chromosomal region containing the ALK gene. Furthermore, the use of comparative genomic hybridisation showed increase of the whole of chromosome 2 along with chromosomes 6 and 17. There was no evidence of loss of 3p nor of trisomy of 7 associated with clear cell and papillary carcinoma, respectively. We suggest that this demonstrates a novel mechanism of upregulation of ALK activity by increased copy number occurring during the development of a renal carcinoma with the characteristic ALK-associated morphology.

Metastatic germ cell tumour following renal transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Treatment of germ cell tumours with cisplatin-based chemotherapy results in cure for the majority of patients. There is, however, a small but significant mortality rate, reported to be higher in patients with multiple co-morbidities. CASE REPORT: We report our management of a renal transplant patient with spina bifida, who was diagnosed with stage IIIC, poor-risk, non-seminomatous germ cell carcinoma. A marker-negative partial response, which has been maintained more than 2 years following completion of treatment, was seen following chemotherapy with cisplatin and etoposide. Performance status has been preserved at pre-treatment levels. CONCLUSION: Administration of cisplatin-based chemotherapy is feasible for treatment of renal transplant patients with advanced non-seminomatous germ cell tumours. Treatment strategies require careful planning and monitoring. Dose modifications may be required. This case highlights a favourable outcome in spite of multiple obstacles to ideal management.

Computed tomography findings in xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis.

BACKGROUND: Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis (XGN) is an uncommon condition characterized by chronic suppurative renal inflammation that leads to progressive parenchymal destruction. PURPOSE: To review the computed tomography (CT) findings of patients diagnosed with XGN. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of CT findings in patients with histologically proven XGN was carried out. RESULTS: Thirteen CT examinations of 11 patients were analyzed. Renal enlargement was demonstrable on the affected side in all patients. Nine patients (82%) had multiple dilated calyces and abnormal parenchyma. Six patients (55%) had a renal pelvis or upper ureteric calculus causing obstruction. Three patients (27%) had focal fat deposits identifiable within the inflamed renal parenchyma. Two patients had renal abscesses. Ten patients (91%) had extrarenal extension of the inflammatory changes. Three patients (27%) demonstrated extensive retroperitoneal inflammation. CONCLUSION: Unilateral renal enlargement and inflammation were the most consistent findings of XGN on CT. Perinephric inflammation and collections or abscess should also alert the radiologist to the possibility of this diagnosis.

SIP1 protein protects cells from DNA damage-induced apoptosis and has independent prognostic value in bladder cancer.

The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) contributes to cancer metastasis. Two ZEB family members, ZEB1 and ZEB2(SIP1), inhibit transcription of the E-cadherin gene and induce EMT in vitro. However, their relevance to human cancer is insufficiently studied. Here, we performed a comparative study of SIP1 and ZEB1 proteins in cancer cell lines and in one form of human malignancy, carcinoma of the bladder. Whereas ZEB1 protein was expressed in all E-cadherin-negative carcinoma cell lines, being in part responsible for the high motility of bladder cancer cells, SIP1 was hardly ever detectable in carcinoma cells in culture. However, SIP1 represented an independent factor of poor prognosis (P = 0.005) in a series of bladder cancer specimens obtained from patients treated with radiotherapy. In contrast, ZEB1 was rarely expressed in tumor tissues; and E-cadherin status did not correlate with the patients' survival. SIP1 protected cells from UV- and cisplatin-induced apoptosis in vitro but had no effect on the level of DNA damage. The anti-apoptotic effect of SIP1 was independent of either cell cycle arrest or loss of cell-cell adhesion and was associated with reduced phosphorylation of ATM/ATR targets in UV-treated cells. The prognostic value of SIP1 and its role in DNA damage response establish a link between genetic instability and metastasis and suggest a potential importance for this protein as a therapeutic target. In addition, we conclude that the nature of an EMT pathway rather than the deregulation of E-cadherin per se is critical for the progression of the disease and patients' survival.