Search Results (50)

Background/Objectives: The early detection of high levels of CBC-derived inflammatory biomarkers and cellular lines, as well as their variations across different histological subtypes of lung cancer, may aid in the early identification of high-risk lung cancer patients and further guide their clinical approach. Methods: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted and included 202 patients diagnosed with lung carcinoma at the Clinical County Hospital Mureș. The main analyzed parameters were the histological subtype and the stage of the tumor at diagnosis, white blood cell counts, and platelet counts, as well as nine CBC-derived inflammatory indexes like neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), derived neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (d-NLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), eosinophil-to-neutrophil ratio (ENR), eosinophil-to-monocyte ratio (EMR), systemic inflammatory index (SII), systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI), and aggregate index of systemic inflammation (AISI). The statistical analysis was performed using the MedCalc software, version 23.0.2. Logarithmic ANOVA was used to compare groups. Normality was tested using the Shapiro–Wilk test. The Chi-square test compared categorical variables, while the independent Mann-Whitney test was used for continuous variables. Results: The inflammatory response increased as disease severity progressed, with NSCLC-NOS being the histological subtype with the most numerous patients outside the normal ranges. Eosinophil count differed significantly across the histologic subtypes of NSCLC, with adenocarcinoma and adenosquamous patients exhibiting the highest values. In adenocarcinoma patients, we observed that NLR and MLR levels increased progressively as the tumor stage advanced. Based on severity, differences were observed across the histological subtypes of lung cancer in stage III patients for ENR, EMR, AISI, eosinophil count, and platelet count, as well as in stage IV patients for AISI, SIRI, and SII. Disease severity impacts the associated inflammatory response in all histologic subtypes of lung cancer to varying degrees. Conclusions: Histological subtype might have a decisive role in shaping the systemic inflammatory profile of lung cancer patients. CBC-derived indices serve as accessible, cost-effective biomarkers for early risk assessment, aiding in the prognosis evaluation and monitoring of therapeutic response. Future studies are needed to further evaluate the histology-specific inflammatory profiles as adjunctive tools in precision oncology. Full article

(1) Low-grade adenosquamous carcinoma (LGASC) is a rare subtype of metaplastic breast carcinoma (MpBC), accounting for fewer than 0.05% of breast cancer cases. Unlike the typically aggressive nature of MpBCs, LGASC is an indolent tumor with an excellent prognosis. Due to its rarity, LGASC is frequently misdiagnosed, particularly in core needle biopsies. Currently, there are no clear treatment guidelines for LGASC. (2) Methods: This study presents a single-center retrospective analysis and a systematic literature review of LGASC. (3) Results: Three LGASC cases were diagnosed among 6462 breast cancer patients in our center, demonstrating its rarity. LGASC has overlapping features with benign sclerosing lesions and is often initially misdiagnosed. LGASC is often overtreated, as its indolent nature is not recognized. It very rarely presents axillary or distant metastases, and in contemporary data, local recurrences are rare, questioning the need for adjuvant therapy. (4) Conclusions: LGASC is a very rare form of breast cancer with an excellent prognosis despite being MpBC and usually a triple-negative breast cancer. It is often overtreated as its unique nature is not recognized. Full article

Background: Adenosquamous carcinoma of the lung (ASC) is a rare non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) subtype combining components of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and adenocarcinoma (AC). Data on ASC, particularly in Caucasian populations, are limited. Methods: We reviewed clinicopathological and radiological characteristics of ASC patients diagnosed between 1996 and 2023. Patients were classified into AC-predominant ASC (AC-ASC) and SCC-predominant ASC (SCC-ASC) groups for analysis. Results: Among the 66 patients included, the median overall survival was 41.7 (95% CI, 25.0–54.4), while it was 48.1 (95% CI, 27.3–88.0) in patients treated with curative surgery (n = 44) and 15.3 (95% CI, 6.5–42.6) months for palliative patients (n = 22). The five-year survival rates were 39% and 26%, respectively. Recurrence occurred in 43% of stage I patients and was associated with worse survival (HR 3.303 (95% CI, 1.10–9.89) p = 0.033). AC-ASCs (n = 17) more frequently showed air-bronchogram (p = 0.002) and pleural effusions (p = 0.054) compared to SCC-ASCs (n = 26). SCC-ASCs exhibited more vascular invasion (p = 0.006) and PD-L1 values between 1 and 49% (TPS) (p = 0.032). The subtype did not influence survival. EGFR and ALK alterations were found in 17% and 2% of patients, respectively. Conclusions: Despite early-stage disease, ASC patients had a high recurrence rate, associated with worse survival. Clinicopathologic differences between AC-ASCs and SCC-ASCs did not influence survival. Full article

(1) Background: Adenosquamous carcinoma (ASC) is a rare subtype of colon cancer. Its rarity makes characterization challenging, although colonic ASC is believed to present at more advanced stages and have worse outcomes versus adenocarcinoma. This study aims to characterize the clinicopathological characteristics and clinical outcomes of colonic ASC. (2) Methods: This is a single-center, retrospective review of patients diagnosed with colonic ASC from 2000 to 2020. Data extracted included patient demographics, staging at diagnosis, tumor clinicopathologic and genetic characteristics, and clinical outcomes. (3) Results: Among 61,126 patients with colorectal cancer, 13 (0.02%) had colonic ASC, with a mean age at diagnosis of 48.7 years. The cecum/ascending colon was the most common primary site (6/13, 46.2%), and all except one patient was diagnosed with Stage III or IV disease. Among the eight patients with mismatch repair genetics available, only one was mismatch repair deficient. Eleven patients (84.6%) underwent surgery, and 11 likewise received some form of chemotherapy. Recurrence occurred in 7 of 13 patients (53.8%), and the overall five-year survival rate was 38.5%. The median survival rate was 39.4 months overall (30.5 months for Stage III, 23.7 months for Stage IV). (4) Conclusions: Overall, colonic ASC is rare, and this cohort of colonic ASC patients demonstrated advanced stage at diagnosis, frequent recurrence, and poor overall survival. Additional research remains to compare these characteristics with those of comparably staged adenocarcinoma and to develop specific management recommendations. Full article

Background: There are currently few data about the safety and effectiveness of chemotherapy for patients with metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have progressed from prior immunotherapy. Methods: Data from patients with consecutive stage IIIB–IV, ECOG performance status (PS) 0–2, non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with combination or single-agent chemotherapy following progression on an earlier immunotherapy regimen were retrospectively gathered. Recorded were baseline attributes, outcome metrics, and toxicities. The neutrophil/lymphocyte (N/L) ratio’s predictive usefulness was examined through an exploratory analysis. Results: The analysis comprised one hundred subjects. The adeno/squamous carcinoma ratio was 77%/23%, the M/F ratio was 66%/34%, the ECOG PS was 0/1/≥2 47%/51%/2%, and the median PD-L1 expression was 50% (range 0–100). The median age was 67 (range 39–81) years. Prior immunotherapy included a single-agent treatment in 83% of cases, with pembrolizumab use being prevalent, and a median N/L ratio of four prior to chemotherapy. The overall median time-to-progression on previous immunotherapy was 6 months. After immunotherapy, just 33% of subjects underwent chemotherapy. A median of 4 (range 1–16) cycles of chemotherapy were administered; platinum doublets (primarily carboplatin) were delivered in only 31% of cases, vinorelbine accounted for 25%, taxanes for 25%, and gemcitabine for 8%. The median clinical benefit was 55%, while the overall response rate was 21%. The median overall survival was 5 months (range 1–22) and the median time to progression was 4 months (range 1–17). Subgroups with low and high N/L ratios were compared, but there was no discernible difference in survival. Conclusions: After immunotherapy, a small percentage of patients with advanced NSCLC had chemotherapy. Following immunotherapy advancement, chemotherapy demonstrated a moderate level of therapeutic effectiveness; no adverse concerns were noted. The effectiveness of chemotherapy following immunotherapy was not predicted by the baseline N/L ratio. Full article

Introduction: Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women, the highest mortality being found in low- and middle-income countries. Abdominal parietal metastases in cervical cancer are a very rare entity, with an incidence of 0.1–1.3%, and represent an unfavorable prognostic factor with the survival rate falling to 17%. Here, we present a review of cases of abdominal parietal metastasis in recent decades, including a new case of a 4.5 cm abdominal parietal metastasis at the site of the scar of the former drain tube 28 months after diagnosis of stage IIB cervical cancer (adenosquamous carcinoma), treated by external radiotherapy with concurrent chemotherapy and intracavitary brachytherapy and subsequent surgery (type B radical hysterectomy). The tumor was resected within oncological limits with the histopathological result of adenosquamous carcinoma. The case study highlights the importance of early detection and appropriate treatment of metastases in patients with cervical cancer. The discussion explores the potential pathways for parietal metastasis and the impact of incomplete surgical procedures on the development of metastases. The conclusion emphasizes the poor prognosis associated with this type of metastasis in cervical cancer patients and the potential benefits of surgical resection associated with systemic therapy in improving survival rates. Full article

Compared to the number of studies on the neoplasms of laboratory rodents, fewer studies have focused on spontaneous neoplasms in pet rodents. Notably, the mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) is associated with mammary tumors in rodents. In this study, 77 tumors and tumor-like lesions of biopsy samples were collected from 70 pet rodents, including hamsters (n = 47), guinea pigs (n = 16), unknown species (n = 4), rats (n = 2), and a gerbil. Fifty tumors were collected from 47 hamsters, in which the most common tumors were mammary tumors (13/50), followed by fibrosarcoma (9/50), mast cell tumors (4/50), and squamous cell carcinoma (4/50). The collected subtypes of mammary tumors in hamsters included tubular carcinoma (n = 5), tubular adenoma (n = 4), carcinoma and malignant myoepithelioma (n = 1), simple tubular carcinoma (n = 1), adenosquamous carcinoma (n = 1), and tubulopapillary adenoma (n = 1). In addition, twenty tumors were collected from guinea pigs, in which the most common tumor was lipoma (6/20), followed by adenocarcinoma of the mammary gland (4/20), trichofolliculoma (2/20), and collagenous hamartomas (2/20). In guinea pigs, the subtypes of mammary gland tumors were tubular carcinoma (n = 2), tubular and solid carcinoma (n = 1), and tubulopapillary carcinoma (n = 1). In 20 cases of mammary tumors, MMTV was not detected, implicating no evidence of MMTV infection in mammary oncogenesis in pet rodents in Taiwan. Full article

This report aims to shed light on the intricate challenges encountered during the diagnosis and treatment of an uncommon variant of prostate cancer—mixed adenosquamous cell carcinoma of the prostate. Prostate cancers of this nature pose distinctive diagnostic and therapeutic dilemmas due to their rarity and complex histological composition. We present a case of a 63-year-old man with metastatic prostate cancer, featuring adenocarcinoma with squamous cell differentiation, who underwent a multimodal treatment approach. The patient responded to first-line carboplatin, docetaxel, and androgen deprivation therapy, followed by androgen receptor pathway inhibitor (ARPI) maintenance. However, disease progression led to radiation therapy and a subsequent switch to Lutetium (177Lu) vipivotide tetraxetan after chemotherapy challenges. Comprehensive genetic profiling revealed shared mutations in the prostate and liver lesions, emphasizing the role of targeted therapies. Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-targeted therapy resulted in a notable PSA decline. This case highlights the evolving treatment landscape for rare prostate cancers, integrating genetic insights for tailored interventions. In conclusion, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the prostate is rare, emphasizing the imperative for enhanced comprehension in diagnosis and management. Our case suggests the potential efficacy of ARPI and PSMA-targeted therapies. Our findings advocate for a more nuanced approach to the management of this rare prostate cancer variant, leveraging genomic insights for personalized treatment strategies. This exploration serves as a foundation for further research and clinical considerations in addressing the challenges posed by mixed adenosquamous cell carcinoma of the prostate. Full article

Background: We aimed to determine whether surgical aortic staging by minimally invasive paraaortic lymphadenectomy (PALND) affects the pattern of first recurrence and survival in treated locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) patients when compared to patients staged by imaging (noPALND). Methods: This study was a multicenter observational retrospective cohort study of patients with LACC treated at tertiary care hospitals throughout Spain. The inclusion criteria were histological diagnosis of squamous carcinoma, adenosquamous carcinoma, and/or adenocarcinoma; FIGO stages IB2, IIA2-IVA (FIGO 2009); and planned treatment with primary chemoradiotherapy between 2000 and 2016. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed before the analysis. Results: After PSM and sample replacement, 1092 patients were included for analysis (noPALND n = 546, PALND n = 546). Twenty-one percent of patients recurred during follow-up, with the PALND group having almost double the recurrences of the noPALND group (noPALND: 15.0%, PALND: 28.0%, p < 0.001). Nodal (regional) recurrences were more frequently observed in PALND patients (noPALND:2.4%, PALND: 11.2%, p < 0.001). Among those who recurred regionally, 57.1% recurred at the pelvic nodes, 37.1% recurred at the aortic nodes, and 5.7% recurred simultaneously at both the pelvic and aortic nodes. Patients who underwent a staging PALND were more frequently diagnosed with a distant recurrence (noPALND: 7.0%, PALND: 15.6%, p < 0.001). PALND patients presented poorer overall, cancer-specific, and disease-free survival when compared to patients in the noPALND group. Conclusion: After treatment, surgically staged patients with LACC recurred more frequently and showed worse survival rates. Full article

Prostate cancer accounts for 29% of malignant diagnoses among men in the United States and is the second leading cause of death from cancer. Effective screening methods and improved treatment have decreased the mortality rate significantly. This decreased mortality rate, however, does not apply to all histologic variants. Adenosquamous carcinoma of the prostate is an extremely aggressive neoplasm with no current known curative therapy. It is often diagnosed after chemotherapy, radiation, or androgen deprivation therapy for traditional prostatic adenocarcinomas. Primary carcinomas of the prostate with squamous features include, but are not limited to, pure squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma mixed with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Important distinguishable clinical features of adenosquamous carcinoma include normal prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, even with advanced disease and osteolytic versus osteoblastic metastatic lesions in adenocarcinoma. Additional entities to consider in the differential diagnosis are squamous metaplasia of the prostate, secondary involvement of pure SCC, and urothelial carcinoma with squamous differentiation. Here, we present a de novo case of adenosquamous carcinoma in a 48-year-old man who rapidly developed extensive metastatic disease. Full article

The analysis of gene expression quantification data is a powerful and widely used approach in cancer research. This work provides new insights into the transcriptomic changes that occur in healthy uterine tissue compared to those in cancerous tissues and explores the differences associated with uterine cancer localizations and histological subtypes. To achieve this, RNA-Seq data from the TCGA database were preprocessed and analyzed using the KnowSeq package. Firstly, a kNN model was applied to classify uterine cervix cancer, uterine corpus cancer, and healthy uterine samples. Through variable selection, a three-gene signature was identified (VWCE, CLDN15, ADCYAP1R1), achieving consistent 100% test accuracy across 20 repetitions of a 5-fold cross-validation. A supplementary similar analysis using miRNA-Seq data from the same samples identified an optimal two-gene miRNA-coding signature potentially regulating the three-gene signature previously mentioned, which attained optimal classification performance with an 82% F1-macro score. Subsequently, a kNN model was implemented for the classification of cervical cancer samples into their two main histological subtypes (adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma). A uni-gene signature (ICA1L) was identified, achieving 100% test accuracy through 20 repetitions of a 5-fold cross-validation and externally validated through the CGCI program. Finally, an examination of six cervical adenosquamous carcinoma (mixed) samples revealed a pattern where the gene expression value in the mixed class aligned closer to the histological subtype with lower expression, prompting a reconsideration of the diagnosis for these mixed samples. In summary, this study provides valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms of uterine cervix and corpus cancers. The newly identified gene signatures demonstrate robust predictive capabilities, guiding future research in cancer diagnosis and treatment methodologies. Full article

(1) Background: Synchronous tumors are defined as tumors that occur at the same time, appearing within 2 months, according to the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results Program, with a frequency of tertiary tumors of 0.5%. The purpose of this presentation is to report a case of three synchronous tumors of the female genital tract, given the fact that it represents a challenge both therapeutically and in demonstrating that the malignant lesions are completely different from each other. (2) Methods: We report the case of a 45 year-old patient diagnosed with three synchronous tumors developed in the genital tract: clear-cell ovarian carcinoma, uterine endometrioid adenocarcinoma, and cervical adenosquamous carcinoma. (3) Results: Total hysterectomy with bilateral anexectomy was performed and accompanied by a biopsy of the greater omentum. The evolution of the patient was favorable during chemotherapy, but she died two weeks after the completion of this treatment, from a cause secondary to the adverse effects determined by it, namely, severe thrombopenia which caused a massive lower digestive hemorrhage. (4) Conclusions: This case demonstrates the maximum importance of the involvement of adjuvant diagnostic techniques, especially when it comes to a diagnostic challenge with direct implications in the subsequent therapy of the patient. Full article

The incidence and mortality of cervical cancer are high in Romania compared to other European countries, particularly for locally advanced cervical cancer cases, which are predominant at the time of diagnosis. Widely accepted therapeutic guidelines indicate that the treatment for locally advanced cervical cancer consists of concurrent chemoradiotherapy (total dose 85–90 Gy at point A), with surgery not being necessary as it does not lead to improved survival and results in significant additional morbidity. In Romania, the treatment for locally advanced cervical cancer differs, involving lower-dose chemoradiotherapy (total dose 60–65 Gy at point A), followed by surgery, which, under these circumstances, ensures better local control. In this regard, we attempted to evaluate the role and necessity of surgery in Romania, considering that in our study, residual lesions were found in 55.84% of cases on resected specimens, especially in cases with unfavorable histology (adenocarcinoma and adenosquamous carcinoma). This type of surgery was associated with significant morbidity (28.22%) in our study. The recurrence rate was 24.21% for operated-on patients compared to 62% for non-operated-on patients receiving suboptimal concurrent chemotherapy alone. In conclusion, in Romania, surgery will continue to play a predominant role until radiotherapy achieves the desired effectiveness for local control. Full article

Adenosquamous carcinoma of the skin (ASCS) or primary cutaneous adenosquamous carcinoma is a rare malignant neoplasm. It is characterized by the presence of both glandular and squamous cell components and a propensity for aggressive clinical behavior. Due to its rarity, it continues to pose diagnostic challenges. To date, only a few cases of this tumor have been reported, and even fewer have been thoroughly investigated via immunohistochemistry. Full article

Introduction: Cervical cancer is the fourth most common malignancy in women and the fourth leading cause of death among women. The main histological types of cervical cancer are squamous cell carcinoma—75% of all cases; adenocarcinoma—10–25%; and all other rare variants including adenosquamous carcinoma and neuroendocrine carcinoma. Squamotransitional cervical cancer is an extremely rare and poorly studied subtype of squamous cell carcinoma. Case report: We present a case of a 64-year-old female patient with early-stage squamotransitional carcinoma. A metastasis was observed in the left ovary and the left fallopian tube and a benign Brenner tumor in the right ovary. Discussion: Although it is believed that this cervical cancer subtype shares the same risk factors and prognosis as squamous cell carcinoma, it is more likely to metastasize and recur. It is not unusual for spread to exist within nearby structures like the cervix and adnexa. It is impossible to tell which is the predominant focus from the immunoprofile of the lesions. Practically speaking, the best course of action in these situations is to rule out the presence of a primary tumor in the urinary tract before clarifying the condition of the cervix, uterus, and adnexal tissues. The presence of a Brenner tumor raises the possibility of a connection between the tumor’s differentiation from a cell population and potential urothelial differentiation. Conclusion: Squamotransitional cervical cancer is a rare tumor with a poorly studied clinical behavior. Despite a shortage of information in the literature, it should be regarded as a more aggressive variety of squamous cell carcinoma and, as such, should be treated and followed up more aggressively. This case is the first described with involvement of the cervix, endometrium, and adnexal structures and a concomitant Brenner tumor. Full article