Clear cell carcinoma of the ovary: a clinical and molecular perspective

Clear cell carcinoma of the ovary has distinct biology and clinical behavior. There are significant geographical and racial differences in the incidence of clear cell carcinoma compared with other epithelial ovarian tumors. Patients with clear cell carcinoma are younger, tend to present at an early stage, and their tumors are commonly associated with endometriosis, which is widely accepted as a direct precursor of clear cell carcinoma and has been identified pathologically in approximately 50% of clear cell carcinoma cases. The most frequent and important specific gene alterations in clear cell carcinoma are mutations of AT-rich interaction domain 1A (ARID1A) (~50% of cases) and phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase catalytic subunit alpha (PIK3CA) (~50% cases). More broadly, subgroups of clear cell carcinoma have been identified based on C-APOBEC (apolipoprotein B mRNA editing enzyme, catalytic polypeptide-like) and C-AGE (age-related) mutational signatures. Gene expression profiling shows upregulation of hepatocyte nuclear factor 1-beta (HNF1β) and oxidative stress-related genes, and has identified epithelial-like and mesenchymal-like tumor subgroups. Although the benefit of platinum-based chemotherapy is not clearly defined it remains the mainstay of first-line therapy. Patients with early-stage disease have a favorable clinical outcome but the prognosis of patients with advanced-stage or recurrent disease is poor. Alternative treatment strategies are required to improve patient outcome and the development of targeted therapies based on molecular characteristics is a promising approach. Improved specificity of the histological definition of this tumor type is helping these efforts but, due to the rarity of clear cell carcinoma, international collaboration will be essential to design appropriately powered, large-scale clinical trials.

Recent Advances in Pathology: the 2020 Annual Review Issue of The Journal of Pathology

This year's Annual Review Issue of The Journal of Pathology contains 18 invited reviews on current research areas in pathology. The subject areas reflect the broad range of topics covered by the journal and this year encompass the development and application of software in digital histopathology, implementation of biomarkers in pathology practice; genetics and epigenetics, and stromal influences in disease. The reviews are authored by experts in their field and provide comprehensive updates in the chosen areas, in which there has been considerable recent progress in our understanding of disease. © 2020 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Abstract 4161: Integrated analysis of whole exome sequencing and hormone receptor expression data in endometrioid ovarian cancer

Endometrioid ovarian carcinomas (EnOCs) account for 10% of OC diagnoses, representing distinct biological and clinical entities compared to other OC subtypes. We recently reported two molecular subgrouping studies using >100 WT1-negative EnOCs: the first identified molecular subgroups of disease by unsupervised analysis of hormone receptor expression patterns, reporting favorable disease-specific survival (DSS) in the PR-high subgroups (PR+/ER+, PR+/ER- vs PR-/ER+, PR-/ER-). The latter study performed whole exome sequencing, identifying genomic events associated with differential DSS, including TP53 mutation (TP53m) and CTNNB1m. Here, we perform integrated analysis of these data to investigate the overlap between these molecular subgrouping layers.

The PR-high subgroups demonstrated low TP53m rate (5% vs 26%, P=0.035) and frequent CTNNB1m (75% vs 26%, P<0.001), with the highest CTNNB1m rate in the PR+/ER+ subgroup (84%, 21/25). Accordingly, TP53m cases demonstrated significantly lower median histoscore (mHS) for PR (3 vs 203, P=0.028) and a trend for lower ER (mHS 66 vs 160, P=0.056), while cases with CTNNB1m demonstrated significantly higher PR and ER expression (mHS 258 vs 40, P<0.001 and 181 vs 75, P=0.002).

There was no significant difference in tumor mutational burden, microsatellite instability or tumor heterogeneity as defined by Mutant Allele Tumour Heterogeneity (MATH) score between the hormone-receptor-based subgroups. These groups also demonstrated no significant difference in mutation rate of mismatch repair protein-encoding genes.

Multivariable analysis identified only FIGO stage at diagnosis (P=0.002), optimal surgical debulking (P=0.035) and hormone receptor subgroup (P=0.004) as independently associated with DSS. TP53m and CTNNB1m were not independently associated with DSS (P=0.187 and P=0.166), though CTNNB1m demonstrated a trend for association in a corresponding model for relapse-free survival (RFS) (HR=0.26, P=0.064).

Within PR-high cases, specific genomic events were not associated with significantly differential survival. Conversely, TP53m was associated with inferior outcome specifically in PR-low cases (P=0.010 for RFS; P=0.066 for DSS).

Collectively, these data represent the first depiction of the overlay and interplay between recently identified EnOC subgroups defined by WES and hormone receptor expression patterns. They demonstrate that PR-high cases frequently harbor CTNNB1m, while TP53m is rare in this context. Moreover, they suggest that PR-high cases experience favorable outcome irrespective of genomic profile, while TP53m represents an important marker of prognosis in PR-low EnOC. Moreover, given the high expression of ER and PR in the CTNNB1m population, assessment of the potential efficacy of endocrine therapy in this population may now warrant investigation.

Citation Format: Robert L. Hollis, John Thomson, Barbara Stanley, Alison M. Meynert, Michael Churchman, Tzyvia Rye, C. Simon Herrington, Charlie Gourley. Integrated analysis of whole exome sequencing and hormone receptor expression data in endometrioid ovarian cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 4161.

Estrogen Signaling and Its Potential as a Target for Therapy in Ovarian Cancer

The estrogen receptor (ER) has functionality in selected ovarian cancer subtypes and represents a potential target for therapy. The majority (>80%) of high grade serous, low grade serous and endometrioid carcinomas and many granulosa cell tumors express ER-alpha (ERα), and these tumor types have demonstrated responses to endocrine therapy (tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors) in multiple clinical studies. Biomarkers of responses to these drugs are actively being sought to help identify responsive cancers. Evidence for both pro-proliferative and pro-migratory roles for ERα has been obtained in model systems. ER-beta (ERβ) is generally considered to have a tumor suppressor role in ovarian cancer cells, being associated with the repression of cell growth and invasion. The differential expression of the specific ERβ isoforms may determine functionality within ovarian cancer cells. The more recently identified G protein-coupled receptor (GPER1; GPR30) has been shown to mediate both tumor-suppressive and tumor-promoting action in ovarian cancer cells, suggesting a more complex role. This review will summarize recent findings in this field.

Patterns of clinicopathological features and outcome in epithelial ovarian cancer patients: 35 years of prospectively collected data

OBJECTIVE

Investigate the clinical landscape of ovarian carcinoma (OC) over time.

DESIGN

Register-based prospectively collected data.

SETTING

South East Scotland.

SAMPLE

A total of 2805 OC patients diagnosed in 1981-2015.

METHODS

Survival times were visualised using the Kaplan-Meier method; median survival, 5-year survival probabilities and associated restricted mean survival time analyses were used to quantify survival differences.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Disease-specific survival.

RESULTS

A significant increase in disease-specific survival (DSS) from 1981-1985 to 2011-2015 was observed (median 1.73 versus 4.23 years, P < 0.0001). Corresponding increase in progression-free survival (PFS) was not statistically significant (median 1.22 versus 1.58 years, P = 0.2568). An increase in the proportion of cases with low residual disease volume (RD) (<2 cm RD) following debulking was observed (54.0% versus 87.7%, P < 0.0001). The proportion of high grade serous (HGS) cases increased (P < 0.0001), whereas endometrioid and mucinous cases decreased (P = 0.0005 and P = 0.0002). Increases in stage IV HGS OC incidence (P = 0.0009) and stage IV HGS OC DSS (P = 0.0122) were observed. Increasing median age at diagnosis correlated with increasing Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG PS) over time (r = 0.86).

CONCLUSIONS

OC DSS has improved over the last 35 years. PFS has not significantly increased, highlighting that improvement in outcome has been limited to extending post-relapse survival. Distribution of stage at diagnosis, histological subtype and RD following debulking has changed over time, reflecting evolution in tumour classification, staging and optimal debulking definitions (from low RD to minimal or zero RD). Histology, stage, RD and ECOG PS remain reliable outcome predictors. Increasing median age at diagnosis and ECOG PS indicates demographic shifts in the clinical population.

TWEETABLE ABSTRACT

Significant improvement in ovarian carcinoma survival has been seen over time. Most of this improvement is due to an extension of survival following disease relapse.

Recent Advances in Pathology: the 2019 Annual Review Issue of The Journal of Pathology

In this Annual Review Issue of The Journal of Pathology, we present 15 invited reviews on topical aspects of pathology, ranging from the impacts of the microbiome in human disease through mechanisms of cell death and autophagy to recent advances in immunity and the uses of genomics for understanding, classifying and treating human cancers. Each of the reviews is authored by experts in their fields and our intention is to provide comprehensive updates in specific areas of pathology in which there has been considerable recent progress. Copyright © 2019 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Hormone receptor expression patterns define clinically meaningful subgroups of endometrioid ovarian carcinoma

Background

Numerous studies have investigated the association between hormone receptor expression and clinical outcome in ovarian carcinoma (OC); however, these have largely focussed on serous OCs, with few studies reporting specifically on endometrioid OCs (EnOC). Where analyses have been stratified by histotype, expression has been assessed using the percentage of positive tumor cells, without accounting for nuclear expression intensity.

Methods

Here we assess the expression levels of progesterone receptor (PR), estrogen receptor alpha (ER) and androgen receptor (AR) using histoscore – a nuclear scoring method incorporating both proportion of positive cells and the intensity of nuclear staining – across a cohort of 107 WT1 negative EnOCs.

Results

Hierarchical clustering by PR, ER and AR histoscores identified four EnOC subgroups (PR+/ER+, PR+/ER−, PR−/ER+ and PR−/ER−). EnOC patients in the PR+/ER+ and PR+/ER− groups displayed favorable outcome (multivariable HR for disease-specific survival 0.05 [0.01–0.35] and 0.05 [0.00–0.51]) compared to the PR−/ER+ group. Ten-year survival for stage II PR^high and PR^low cases was 94.1% and 42.4%. ER^high EnOC patients (PR+/ER+, PR−/ER+) had higher body mass index compared to ER^low cases (P = 0.015) and high grade serous OC patients (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

These data demonstrate that endometrioid OC cases with high PR expression display markedly favorable outcome. Stage II EnOCs with high PR expression represent potential candidates for de-escalation of first-line therapy. Future work should seek to characterise the sensitivity of PR and ER positive EnOCs to endocrine therapy.

•

We identify four subgroups of endometrioid ovarian carcinoma (EnOC) defined by hormone receptor expression patterns.

•

EnOC patients in the PR^high (PR+/ER+, PR+/ER−) groups demonstrate markedly favorable outcome.

•

Stage II EnOC patients in the PR^high groups display a ten-year survival of approximately 95%.

•

ER^high (PR+/ER+, PR−/ER+) EnOC patients had a higher body mass index vs ER^low cases and high grade serous carcinoma patients.

High EMSY expression defines a BRCA-like subgroup of high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma with prolonged survival and hypersensitivity to platinum

BACKGROUND

Approximately half of high-grade serous ovarian carcinomas (HGSOCs) demonstrate homologous recombination repair (HR) pathway defects, resulting in a distinct clinical phenotype comprising hypersensitivity to platinum, superior clinical outcome, and greater sensitivity to poly(adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors. EMSY, which is known to be amplified in breast and ovarian cancers, encodes a protein reported to bind and inactivate BRCA2. Thus, EMSY overexpression may mimic BRCA2 mutation, resulting in HR deficiency. However, to our knowledge, the phenotypic consequences of EMSY overexpression in HGSOC patients has not been explored.

METHODS

Here we investigate the impact of EMSY expression on clinical outcome and sensitivity to platinum-based chemotherapy using available data from transcriptomically characterized HGSOC cohorts.

RESULTS

High EMSY expression was associated with better clinical outcome in a cohort of 265 patients with HGSOC from Edinburgh (overall survival multivariable hazard ratio, 0.58 [95% CI, 0.38-0.88; P = .011] and progression-free survival multivariable hazard ratio, 0.62 [95% CI, 0.40-0.96; P = .030]). Superior outcome also was demonstrated in the Medical Research Council ICON7 clinical trial and multiple publicly available data sets. Patients within the Edinburgh cohort who had high EMSY expression were found to demonstrate greater rates of complete response to multiple platinum-containing chemotherapy regimens (radiological complete response rate of 44.4% vs 12.5% at second exposure; P = .035) and corresponding prolonged time to disease progression (median, 151.5 days vs 60.5 days after third platinum exposure; P = .004).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with HGSOCs demonstrating high EMSY expression appear to experience prolonged survival and greater platinum sensitivity, reminiscent of BRCA-mutant cases. These data are consistent with the notion that EMSY overexpression may render HGSOCs HR deficient.

Abstract 749: Multi-layer molecular characterization of high grade serous ovarian carcinomas

High grade serous ovarian carcinomas (HGSOCs) are molecularly and clinically heterogeneous malignancies. Currently, molecular stratification of patient care is limited to tumors rendered homologous recombination deficient (HRD) by BRCA1/2 mutation (BRCAm). Here we explore the overlap, interplay and clinical impact of molecular subgrouping layers in a cohort of 362 FFPE HGSOCs. We overlay genomic subgrouping and tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) burden with the three transcriptionally-defined subtypes (Immune, Angio and AngioImmune) we have previously reported as associated with survival and bevacizumab sensitivity.

The BRCAm group, the Immune subtype and those with high CD8+ TIL burden demonstrated prolonged overall survival (OS) as previously reported. The OS benefit of CD8+ TILs was abrogated in the context of gross residual disease following debulking [multivariable hazard ratio (mHR)=0.51 (0.34-0.78) vs 0.93 (0.76-1.52)]. BRCAwild-type patients demonstrating high expression of EMSY, encoding the BRCA2-binding protein EMSY, demonstrated prolonged OS [mHR=0.48 (0.29-0.79)]. BRCA2m and high-EMSY patients displayed greater chemosensitivity (first-line CA125-CR 94.4% and 81.3% vs 48.2%, P&lt;0.001 and P=0.016; CA125-CR at relapse 58.3% and 50.0% vs 14.3%, P=0.002 and P=0.015).

There was significant enrichment and depletion of BRCAm and CCNE1-gain (CCNE1g) in the Immune subtype (28.9% vs 6.3%, P=0.001 and 9.1% vs 17.4%, P=0.050). The Angio subtype harboured far fewer CD8+ TILs compared to the Immune and AngioImmune subtypes (P&lt;0.0001 for both). The frequency of RB1 loss and nonsense TP53 mutation was significantly higher in BRCAm versus BRCA wild-type cases (33.3% vs 13.5%, P=0.020 and 21.4% vs 10.3%, P=0.019).

The clinical impact of CCNE1g was modulated by transcriptomic subtype: in the Immune group, CCNE1g was associated with poor OS [mHR=3.32 (1.49-7.41)], while in the Angio group CCNE1g cases had favourable outcome [PFS mHR=0.26 (0.10-0.68)]. CD8+ TIL burden was not associated with outcome in CCNE1g cases. Missense TP53 mutation was associated with better outcome versus TP53-null mutations in BRCAm patients [PFS mHR=0.43 (0.14-0.82)], but not in the context of HR proficiency [mHR=0.90 (0.67-1.22)].

Integrated classification using the consensus of favourable and unfavourable HR-centric (HRD favourable, HR-proficient unfavourable) and transcriptomic (Immune favourable, Angio/AngioImmune unfavourable) subgrouping yielded three groups with distinct OS [favourable vs unfavourable mHR=0.49 (0.34-0.74); favourable vs no-consensus mHR=0.64 (0.42-0.98); unfavourable vs no-consensus mHR=1.31 (1.00-1.70)].

Together, these data paint a more granular picture of the clinical impact of HGSOC subgroups and demonstrate novel candidate interactions between subgrouping layers. The poorest outcome groups represent those with most to gain from trials of novel treatment regimens.

Citation Format: Robert L. Hollis, Alison M. Meynert, Michael Churchman, Tzyvia Rye, Patricia Roxburgh, Daniel Stetson, Athena Matakidou, Brian Dougherty, J. Carl Barrett, Ruth E. March, Colin A. Semple, C. Simon Herrington, Charlie Gourley. Multi-layer molecular characterization of high grade serous ovarian carcinomas [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 749.

Molecular stratification of endometrioid ovarian carcinomas

5553

Background: Endometrioid ovarian carcinomas (EC) have been historically under-investigated. We sought to determine the molecular landscape of contemporarily defined EC using whole exome sequencing (WES). Methods: Tumours diagnosed as EC between May 1980 and December 2013 were identified through the Edinburgh Ovarian Cancer Database. Pathology review was performed according to WHO 2014. Other pathologies including WT1 positive HGSOC were excluded. A selected cohort underwent WES and were analysed for single nucleotide and copy number variants across a panel of genes previously reported as mutated in endometrial, ovarian or pan cancer studies. Tissue microarrays were stained for ER, PR and AR. Multivariable analysis for disease specific survival (DSS) was performed. Results: 125 tumours were included. 61 tumours of all grades underwent WES. 5 molecular groups were identified based on the presence of TP53 mutations (45.9%); or an EClike profile (one or more mutations in ARID1A (41.0%); CTNNB1 (31.1%), PTEN (24.6%) or PIK3CA (23.0%)). Tumours with no mutations in EClike genes were termed ECnull. Each group demonstrated differential DSS (table). Some ECnull: TP53mut tumours also displayed mutations in KRAS, APC and mismatch repair genes. Unsupervised clustering analysis based on the top 100 differentially mutated genes across the dataset validated these groups. Somatic copy number alterations were significantly higher in the TP53mu t groups than the TP53wt groups (P<0.0001), and were identified across EClike genes in the ECnull groups. A PR histoscore of >150, but not ER or AR, was more frequent in the TP53wt group compared to the TP53mut groups (P=0.003). TP53mut status (P=0.0182) and PR histoscore ≤150 (P=0.0115) were independently associated with DSS. Conclusions: EC is a heterogeneous disease comprising 5 molecular subgroups each demonstrating differential clinical outcome. TP53 mutations and PR histoscore ≤150 are independently associated with poor prognosis. [Table: see text]

SCOTfluors: Small, Conjugatable, Orthogonal, and Tunable Fluorophores for In Vivo Imaging of Cell Metabolism

The transport and trafficking of metabolites are critical for the correct functioning of live cells. However, in situ metabolic imaging studies are hampered by the lack of fluorescent chemical structures that allow direct monitoring of small metabolites under physiological conditions with high spatial and temporal resolution. Herein, we describe SCOTfluors as novel small-sized multi-colored fluorophores for real-time tracking of essential metabolites in live cells and in vivo and for the acquisition of metabolic profiles from human cancer cells of variable origin.

Wide-field multiphoton imaging through scattering media without correction

Optical approaches to fluorescent, spectroscopic, and morphological imaging have made exceptional advances in the last decade. Super-resolution imaging and wide-field multiphoton imaging are now underpinning major advances across the biomedical sciences. While the advances have been startling, the key unmet challenge to date in all forms of optical imaging is to penetrate deeper. A number of schemes implement aberration correction or the use of complex photonics to address this need. In contrast, we approach this challenge by implementing a scheme that requires no a priori information about the medium nor its properties. Exploiting temporal focusing and single-pixel detection in our innovative scheme, we obtain wide-field two-photon images through various turbid media including a scattering phantom and tissue reaching a depth of up to seven scattering mean free path lengths. Our results show that it competes favorably with standard point-scanning two-photon imaging, with up to a fivefold improvement in signal-to-background ratio while showing significantly lower photobleaching.

Abstract 322: High EMSY expression defines a BRCA-like subgroup of high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma with superior survival and platinum sensitivity

EMSY, encoding a BRCA2-binding protein, is reportedly amplified in 6-18% of high grade serous ovarian carcinomas (HGSOCs). As a negative regulator of BRCA2, HGSOCs with EMSY overexpression may mimic BRCA-mutant patients, who experience superior clinical outcome and hypersensitivity to platinum chemotherapy and PARP inhibition by virtue of homologous recombination deficiency (HRD).

Here we investigate the impact of EMSY expression, extracted from local and publicly available transcriptomic data, on the outcome and platinum sensitivity of HGSOCs. Platinum response data were collected from the Edinburgh Ovarian Cancer Database. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) differences were assessed using multivariate cox regression accounting for age, stage at diagnosis and debulking status.

Within the Edinburgh cohort, high EMSY expression was associated with superior OS and PFS (table 1). Datasets from the MRC ICON7 trial control arm, Tothill et al, Mateescu et al, Pils et al, and TCGA cohorts demonstrated similar benefit for high-EMSY patients. Within the Edinburgh cohort, high-EMSY patients displayed significantly superior complete response (CR) rate to platinum at second (radio CR 44.4% vs 12.5%, P = 0.035; CA125 CR 88.0% vs 55.0%, P = 0.002) and third exposure (radio CR 50.0% vs 5.9%, P = 0.080; CA125 CR 53.3% vs 21.3%, P = 0.021), with prolonged time to progression (median 127 vs 83.5 days from second platinum, P = 0.084; median 151.5 vs 60.5 days from third platinum, P = 0.004). Within high-risk (advanced stage suboptimally debulked) HGSOCs, more high-EMSY patients remained recurrence-free 5 and 10 years from diagnosis (17.6% vs 2.7%, P = 0.031; 12.5% vs 0.9%, P = 0.041).

Together these data demonstrate a subgroup of HGSOCs defined by high EMSY expression experience superior clinical outcome and platinum sensitivity, consistent with HRD. This subgroup may therefore represent HGSOCs that are also sensitive to PARP inhibition.

DatasetEventMulti HR95% CIPEdinburghOS0.590.39 – 0.900.013PFS0.600.38 – 0.930.022MRC ICON7 control armOS0.210.07 – 0.680.009Tothill (primary tumour masses)OS0.280.09 – 0.900.032MateescuOS0.430.18 – 0.990.048PilsOS0.270.08 – 0.870.028TCGA advanced stage patientsPFS0.690.45 – 1.050.081

Citation Format: Robert L. Hollis, Michael Churchman, Tzyvia Rye, Andrena M. McCavigan, Laura A. Knight, Richard Kennedy, C. Simon Herrington, Charlie Gourley. High EMSY expression defines a BRCA-like subgroup of high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma with superior survival and platinum sensitivity [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 322.

Towards automated cancer screening: Label-free classification of fixed cell samples using wavelength modulated Raman spectroscopy

The ability to provide quantitative, objective and automated pathological analysis would provide enormous benefits for national cancer screening programmes, in terms of both resource reduction and improved patient wellbeing. The move towards molecular pathology through spectroscopic methods shows great promise, but has been restricted by spectral quality, acquisition times and lack of direct clinical application. In this paper, we present the application of wavelength modulated Raman spectroscopy for the automated label- and fluorescence-free classification of fixed squamous epithelial cells in suspension, such as those produced during a cervical smear test. Direct comparison with standard Raman spectroscopy shows marked improvement of sensitivity and specificity when considering both human papillomavirus (sensitivity +12.0%, specificity +5.3%) and transformation status (sensitivity +10.3%, specificity +11.1%). Studies on the impact of intracellular sampling location and storage effects suggest that wavelength modulated Raman spectroscopy is sufficiently robust to be used in fixed cell classification, but requires further investigations of potential sources of molecular variation in order to improve current clinical tools.

Enhanced response rate to pegylated liposomal doxorubicin in high grade serous ovarian carcinomas harbouring BRCA1 and BRCA2 aberrations

BACKGROUND

Approximately 10-15% of ovarian carcinomas (OC) are attributed to inherited susceptibility, the majority of which are due to mutations in BRCA1 or BRCA2 (BRCA1/2). These patients display superior clinical outcome, including enhanced sensitivity to platinum-based chemotherapy. Here, we seek to investigate whether BRCA1/2 status influences the response rate to single-agent pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) in high grade serous (HGS) OC.

METHODS

One hundred and forty-eight patients treated with single-agent PLD were identified retrospectively from the Edinburgh Ovarian Cancer Database. DNA was extracted from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) archival tumour material and sequenced using the Ion Ampliseq BRCA1 and BRCA2 panel. A minimum variant allele frequency threshold was applied to correct for sequencing artefacts associated with formalin fixation.

RESULTS

A superior response rate to PLD was observed in patients with HGS OC who harboured variants likely to affect BRCA1 or BRCA2 function compared to the BRCA1/2 wild-type population (36%, 9 of 25 patients versus 12.1%, 7 of 58 patients; p = 0.016). An enhanced response rate was also seen in patients harbouring only the BRCA1 SNP rs1799950, predicted to be detrimental to BRCA1 function (50%, 3 of 6 patients versus 12.1%, 7 of 58 patients; p = 0.044).

CONCLUSIONS

These data demonstrate that HGS OC patients with BRCA1/2 variants predicted damaging to protein function experience superior sensitivity to PLD, consistent with impaired DNA repair. Further characterisation of rs1799950 is now warranted in relation to chemosensitivity and susceptibility to developing ovarian carcinoma.

The terminology of pre-invasive cervical lesions in the UK cervical screening programme

The terminology of non-invasive epithelial abnormalities associated with an elevated risk of having or developing invasive cervical carcinoma (pre-invasive lesions) has been modified frequently over time as understanding of the underlying biology, and approaches to disease management, have changed. The arguments are now converging on the conclusion that the most appropriate terminology for cervical squamous intraepithelial abnormalities should be two-tier rather than three-tier. Given the findings of the Lower Anogenital Squamous Terminology (LAST) project in the USA, which have recently been endorsed by the World Health Organisation classification of tumours of female reproductive organs, the recommended terms are low-grade and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL), with the option of including the relevant cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grade in parentheses. Although, at first sight, this appears to represent only a small change, there is a fundamental conceptual difference between the systems. The CIN system requires, first, the identification of a CIN lesion and, second, the determination of its grade on a continuum, with subsequent division into three grades. The SIL system is based on the existence of two different forms of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, with productive infection leading to low-grade SIL and transforming infection leading to high-grade SIL.

Recommendations for minimum information for publication of experimental pathology data: MINPEPA guidelines

Animal models are essential research tools in modern biomedical research, but there are concerns about their lack of reproducibility and the failure of animal data to translate into advances in human medical therapy. A major factor in improving experimental reproducibility is thorough communication of research methodologies. The recently published ARRIVE guidelines outline basic information that should be provided when reporting animal studies. This paper builds on ARRIVE by providing the minimum information needed in reports to allow proper assessment of pathology data gathered from animal tissues. This guidance covers aspects of experimental design, technical procedures, data gathering, analysis, and presentation that are potential sources of variation when creating morphological, immunohistochemical (IHC) or in situ hybridization (ISH) datasets. This reporting framework will maximize the likelihood that pathology data derived from animal experiments can be reproduced by ensuring that sufficient information is available to allow for replication of the methods and facilitate inter-study comparison by identifying potential interpretative confounders.

Viruses and disease: emerging concepts for prevention, diagnosis and treatment

Viruses cause a wide range of human diseases, ranging from acute self‐resolving conditions to acute fatal diseases. Effects that arise long after the primary infection can also increase the propensity for chronic conditions or lead to the development of cancer. Recent advances in the fields of virology and pathology have been fundamental in improving our understanding of viral pathogenesis, in providing improved vaccination strategies and in developing newer, more effective treatments for patients worldwide. The reviews assembled here focus on the interface between virology and pathology and encompass aspects of both the clinical pathology of viral disease and the underlying disease mechanisms. Articles on emerging diseases caused by Ebola virus, Marburg virus, coronaviruses such as SARS and MERS, Nipah virus and noroviruses are followed by reviews of enteroviruses, HIV infection, measles, mumps, human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza, cytomegalovirus (CMV) and varicella zoster virus (VZV). The issue concludes with a series of articles reviewing the relationship between viruses and cancer, including the role played by Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) in the pathogenesis of lymphoma and carcinoma; how human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are involved in the development of skin cancer; the involvement of hepatitis B virus infection in hepatocellular carcinoma; and the mechanisms by which Kaposi's sarcoma‐associated herpesvirus (KSHV) leads to Kaposi's sarcoma. We hope that this collection of articles will be of interest to a wide range of scientists and clinicians at a time when there is a renaissance in the appreciation of the power of pathology as virologists dissect the processes of disease. Copyright © 2014 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Multi-modal approach using Raman spectroscopy and optical coherence tomography for the discrimination of colonic adenocarcinoma from normal colon

We report a multimodal optical approach using both Raman spectroscopy and optical coherence tomography (OCT) in tandem to discriminate between colonic adenocarcinoma and normal colon. Although both of these non-invasive techniques are capable of discriminating between normal and tumour tissues, they are unable individually to provide both the high specificity and high sensitivity required for disease diagnosis. We combine the chemical information derived from Raman spectroscopy with the texture parameters extracted from OCT images. The sensitivity obtained using Raman spectroscopy and OCT individually was 89% and 78% respectively and the specificity was 77% and 74% respectively. Combining the information derived using the two techniques increased both sensitivity and specificity to 94% demonstrating that combining complementary optical information enhances diagnostic accuracy. These data demonstrate that multimodal optical analysis has the potential to achieve accurate non-invasive cancer diagnosis.

Optimisation of wavelength modulated Raman spectroscopy: towards high throughput cell screening

In the field of biomedicine, Raman spectroscopy is a powerful technique to discriminate between normal and cancerous cells. However the strong background signal from the sample and the instrumentation affects the efficiency of this discrimination technique. Wavelength Modulated Raman spectroscopy (WMRS) may suppress the background from the Raman spectra. In this study we demonstrate a systematic approach for optimizing the various parameters of WMRS to achieve a reduction in the acquisition time for potential applications such as higher throughput cell screening. The Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) of the Raman bands depends on the modulation amplitude, time constant and total acquisition time. It was observed that the sampling rate does not influence the signal to noise ratio of the Raman bands if three or more wavelengths are sampled. With these optimised WMRS parameters, we increased the throughput in the binary classification of normal human urothelial cells and bladder cancer cells by reducing the total acquisition time to 6 s which is significantly lower in comparison to previous acquisition times required for the discrimination between similar cell types.

Peritoneal mesothelial hyperplasia associated with gynaecological disease: a potential diagnostic pitfall that is commonly associated with endometriosis

Aims

To describe the clinicopathological features of florid peritoneal mesothelial hyperplasia associated with gynaecological disease.

Methods

Review of a series of 44 cases where there was significant peritoneal mesothelial proliferation, usually on the surface of the ovary, which resulted in diagnostic problems, often including a consideration of malignancy.

Results

Florid mesothelial proliferation was associated with a variety of benign and malignant lesions, most commonly endometriosis. The most characteristic morphological appearance was that of small bland tubules and nests and cords of cells often embedded in fibrous tissue, sometimes with a linear arrangement. In a minority of cases, there were closely packed small glands and papillae resulting in mimicry of a serous proliferation; psammoma bodies were present in one such case. In several cases, the groups of mesothelial cells either exhibited true lymphovascular invasion or were surrounded by spaces closely simulating lymphovascular invasion. Although most cases were appreciated to represent a reactive mesothelial proliferation, several were referred with a presumed or possible diagnosis of mesothelioma, low-grade serous carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, adenomatoid tumour or Sertoli cell tumour. Positive staining with calretinin and negative staining with Ber-EP4 often helped to identify the cells as mesothelial rather than epithelial.

Conclusions

Florid peritoneal mesothelial hyperplasia can occur in association with a variety of gynaecological disorders. Recognition of this phenomenon and appreciation that it can produce worrisome histological patterns, particularly when associated with endometriosis, is key to reaching the correct diagnosis.