Endocervical adenocarcinoma: selected diagnostic challenges

Unusual spread of cervical adenocarcinoma to the endometrium and left fallopian tube: a case report and literature review

Introduction

The incidence of cervical adenocarcinoma and adenocarcinoma in situ are gradually increasing especially in younger women. However, unusual spread of cervical adenocarcinoma has rarely been reported.

Case presentation

The authors report a case of a 60-year-old woman who presented with postmenopausal bleeding. She was misdiagnosed to have endometrial adenocarcinoma on the lower uterine segment depending on curettage specimen. After hysterectomy, it was revealed depending on morphological features in histology accompanied with immunohistochemistry that the patient had cervical adenocarcinoma with endometrial and left fallopian tube extension.

Discussion

Distinguishing endocervical adenocarcinoma from endometroid adenocarcinoma poses many challenges especially when evaluating endometrial curettage specimens. Histological diagnosis based on morphological features combined with a panel of immunohistochemistry stains is crucial for accurate diagnosis and identifying the primary origin of the tumor.

Conclusion

Accurate distinction between cervical adenocarcinoma versus endometrial adenocarcinoma is important because of its significant effects on choosing the appropriate treatment option.

Identifying tumor markers-stratified subtypes (CA-125/CA19-9/carcinoembryonic antigen) in cervical adenocarcinoma

OBJECTIVE

There is a lack of research evaluating the effect of tumor markers for prognosis in cervical adenocarcinoma. We aimed to develop and validate a preoperative tumor-marker-based model including clinicopathological factors to clarify the prognostic value of endocervical adenocarcinoma.

METHODS

A total of 572 patients with cervical adenocarcinoma who were staged at the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) IA-IIA were reviewed retrospectively. Preoperative serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen (CA)-125 and CA19-9 levels were measured. The survival and recurrence patterns were analyzed according to the tumor-marker-related stratification. The predictive values of biomarkers and clinical variables were assessed with Cox regression and competing risk models.

RESULTS

Patients with elevated preoperative tumor markers had evidently poor overall survival and recurrence-free survival. The triple-elevated tumor marker (TETM) subgroup had the worst overall survival and progression-free survival than the triple-negative tumor marker (TNTM) subgroup and the single-elevated tumor marker (SETM) subgroup. The most important predictors for overall survival were elevated tumor markers, FIGO-stage, tumor differentiation, lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI) and lymph nodes metastasis. The most important predictors for recurrence-free survival were elevated tumor markers, FIGO-stage, tumor differentiation, LVSI and deep stromal invasion. Stratified analysis showed that elevated CA-125 and CA19-9 were significantly associated with postoperative distant metastasis. A decision curve analysis confirmed that a combination of tumor markers as predictors significantly outperformed the other common predictors used (FIGO-stage, intermediate and high-risk factors, tumor differentiation, lymph nodes).

CONCLUSIONS

Elevated preoperative serum CEA, CA-125, and CA19-9 levels exhibited poor overall survival and recurrence-free survival in cervical adenocarcinoma patients. Combined preoperative serum CA-125 and CA19-9 independently predicted distant metastasis in patients with endocervical adenocarcinoma.

Establishment and validation of prognostic nomograms integrating histopathological features in patients with endocervical adenocarcinoma

AIMS

To develop and verify pathological models using pathological features basing on HE images to predict survival invasive endocervical adenocarcinoma (ECA) postoperatively.

METHODS

There are 289 ECA patients were classified into training and validation cohort. A histological signature was produced in 191 patients and verified in the validation groups. Histological models combining the histological features were built, proving the incremental value of our model to the traditional staging system for individualised prognosis estimation.

RESULTS

Our model included five chosen histological characteristics and was significantly related to overall survival (OS). Our model had AUC of 0.862 and 0.955, 0.891 and 0.801 in prognosticating 3-year and 5 year OS in the training and validation cohort, respectively. In training cohorts, our model had better performance for evaluation of OS (C-index: 0.832; 95% CI 0.751 to 0.913) than International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging system (C-index: 0.648; 95% CI 0.542 to 0.753) and treatment (C-index: 0.687; 95% CI 0.605 to 0.769), with advanced efficiency of the classification of survival outcomes. Furthermore, in both cohorts, a risk stratification system was built that was able to precisely stratify stage I and II ECA patients into high-risk and low-risk subpopulation with significantly different prognosis.

CONCLUSIONS

A nomogram with five histological signatures had better performance in OS prediction compared with traditional staging systems in ECAs, which might enable a step forward to precision medicine.

Conization before radical hysterectomy in patients with early-stage cervical cancer: A Korean multicenter study (COBRA-R)

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the impact of conization on survival outcomes and to identify a specific population that might benefit from conization before radical hysterectomy (RH) in patients with early-stage cervical cancer.

METHODS

From six institutions in Korea, we identified node-negative, margin-negative, parametria-negative, 2009 FIGO stage IB1 cervical cancer patients who underwent primary type C RH between 2006 and 2021. The patients were divided into multiple groups based on tumor size, surgical approach, and histology. We performed a series of independent 1:1 propensity score matching and compared the survival outcomes between the conization and non-conization groups.

RESULTS

In total, 1254 patients were included: conization (n = 355) and non-conization (n = 899). Among the matched patients with a tumor size of >2 cm, the conization group showed a significantly better 3-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate compared with the non-conization group when RH was conducted via minimally invasive surgery (MIS), in those with squamous cell carcinoma (96.3% vs. 87.4%, P = 0.007) and non-squamous cell carcinoma (97.0% vs. 74.8%, P = 0.021). However, no difference in DFS was observed between the two groups among the matched patients with a tumor size of ≤2 cm, regardless of surgical approach or histological type. In patients who underwent MIS RH, DFS significantly worsened as the residual tumor size increased (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Cervical conization was associated with a lower recurrence rate in patients with early-stage cervical cancer with a tumor size of >2 cm who underwent primary MIS RH. Cervical conization may be performed prior to MIS RH to minimize the uterine residual tumor.

Prominent Pseudo-Angiovascular invasion by benign gallbladder epithelium and bile emboli in a patient with delayed cholecystectomy due to COVID-19 positive test

Lymphovascular invasion is a hallmark of malignant neoplasms, however the presence of benign epithelium within vessels has been reported in benign processes, albeit infrequently. The proposed mechanism to explain this phenomenon entails mechanical displacement of benign epithelium into the vascular spaces during surgical manipulation or diagnostic interventions. We report a case of numerous benign epithelial vascular emboli in a cholecystectomy specimen. A 29-year-old male presented with acute calculous cholecystitis. Surgery was delayed for several weeks due to COVID-19 infection. Histologic examination of the gallbladder showed subacute cholecystitis, widespread vascular epithelial emboli with associated fibrin deposition and bile embolism supporting an in vivo process. The epithelial emboli were localized in small veins and arterioles with D2–40−/CD31+/CD34+ endothelium. The displaced epithelium showed benign cytologic features, was negative for p53 expression, and had a Ki-67 labelling index like the benign background mucosa, supporting a benign process. There was no evidence of dysplasia or malignancy in the specimen after thorough sampling. Persistent inflammation, mucosal ulceration, transmural mucosal herniation (Rokitansky-Aschoff sinuses), and protracted surgical manipulation secondary to adhesive disease are favored to be the underlying causes of this unusual histologic finding. Although we presume an uneventful outcome, clinical follow up was recommended. COVID-19 infection likely contributed to this phenomenon by causing a delay in the surgical management.

Open versus minimally invasive radical hysterectomy for early cervical cancer: A two-center retrospective cohort study with pathologic review of usual-type adenocarcinoma and adenosquamous carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

To compare survival outcomes of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) and open surgery for radical hysterectomy (RH) in early cervical cancer patients with histologic subtypes of usual-type adenocarcinoma and adenosquamous carcinoma.

METHODS

From two centers' cervical cancer cohorts, patients with 2009 FIGO stage IB1-IB2 who underwent RH between 2007 and 2020 were retrospectively identified. Patients with usual-type adenocarcinoma and adenosquamous carcinoma were included in the analysis after pathologic review according to the updated World Health Organization Classification of Tumors. Clinicopathologic characteristics and survival outcomes were compared in terms of open surgery or MIS.

RESULTS

This study included 161 patients. No significant differences were noted in overall survival (OS; P = 0.241) and disease-free survival (DFS; P = 0.156) between patients with usual-type adenocarcinoma (n = 136) and those with adenosquamous carcinoma (n = 25). MIS RH group (n = 99) had a significantly smaller tumor size (P < 0.001), lesser pathologic parametrial invasion (P = 0.001), and lesser lymph node metastasis (P < 0.001) than open RH group (n = 62). MIS and open RH groups showed similar OS (P = 0.201) and 3-year DFS rate (87.9% vs. 75.1%; P = 0.184). In multivariate analysis, worse DFS was not associated with MIS (P = 0.589) but was associated with pathologic parametrial invasion (adjusted HR, 3.41; 95% CI, 1.25-9.29; P = 0.016). Consistent results were observed among patients with usual-type adenocarcinoma; MIS was not associated with worse DFS.

CONCLUSIONS

Comparable survival outcomes were found for MIS and open RH in early-stage cervical usual-type adenocarcinoma and adenosquamous carcinoma. Although MIS RH was not a poor prognostic factor, pathologic parametrial invasion was significantly associated with worse DFS in cervical usual-type adenocarcinoma and adenosquamous carcinoma.

Tumor histology is an independent prognostic factor in locally advanced cervical carcinoma: A retrospective study

Background

Even with different histologic origins, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and adenocarcinoma (AC) are considered a single entity, and the first-line treatment is the same. Locally advanced disease at the diagnosis of cervical cancer is the most important prognostic factor, the recurrence rate is high, making it necessary to evaluate prognostic factors other than clinical or radiological staging; histology could be one of them but continues to be controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate tumor histology as a prognostic factor in terms of treatment outcomes, disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in a retrospective cohort of patients with Locally Advanced Cervical Carcinoma (LACC).

Methods

The records of 1291patients with LACC were reviewed, all of them were treated with 45–50 Gy of external beam radiotherapy with concurrent chemotherapy and brachytherapy. A descriptive and comparative analysis was conducted. Treatment response was analyzed by the chi-square test; DFS and OS were calculated for each histology with the Kaplan–Meier method and compared with the log-rank test; and the Cox model was applied for the multivariate analysis.

Results

We included 1291 patients with LACC treated from 2005 to 2014, of which 1154 (89·4%) had SCC and 137 (10·6%) had AC. Complete response to treatment was achieved in 933 (80·8%) patients with SCC and 113 (82·5%) patients with AC. Recurrence of the disease was reported in 29·9% of SCC patients and 31·9% of AC patients. Five-year DFS was 70% for SCC and 62·2% for AC. The five-year OS rates were 74·3% and 60% for SCC and AC, respectively. The mean DFS was 48·8 months for SCC vs 46·10 for AC (p = 0·043), the mean OS was 50·8 for SCC and 47·0 for AC (p = 0·002).

Conclusion

Our findings support the hypothesis that SCC and AC are different clinical entities.

Trial Registration

NCT04537273.

HPV E6/E7 mRNA in situ hybridization in endocervical adenocarcinoma: implications for prognosis and diagnosis

Background

Human papillomavirus (HPV) E6/E7 mRNA in situ hybridization (HPV E6/E7 RNAscope) appears to be a sensitive and specific technique in detecting transcriptionally active HPV. We aimed to examine the diagnostic utility of this technique in endocervical adenocarcinoma (ECA), to explore the prognostic factors for ECA patients and develop a clinically useful nomogram based on clinicopathological parameters to predict it.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 200 patients with ECA who had undergone surgery at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center from 2010 and 2014. The diagnostic performance of HPV E6/E7 RNAscope were evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. A prognostic nomogram model including HPV E6/E7 RNAscope was generated based on multivariate Cox regression analysis, then we compared the predictive accuracy of the prognostic model with FIGO staging and treatment using concordance index (C-index), time-dependent ROC (tdROC), and decision curve analysis (DCA).

Results

The sensitivity and specificity of HPV E6/E7 RNAscope for distinguishing HPV-associated adenocarcinoma (HPVA) from non-HPV-associated adenocarcinoma (NHPVA) in the whole cohort were 75.8% and 80%, respectively. According the univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis, age, lymphovascular invasion (LVI), lymph node involvement (LNI), and HPV E6/E7 RNAscope were valuable predictive factors for OS. These parameters were incorporated into the nomogram model (nomogram A) compared with FIGO stage and treatment. The C-index of nomogram A for predicting OS was 0.825, which was significantly higher than FIGO stage (C-index = 0.653, p = 0.002) and treatment (C-index = 0.578, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

 HPV E6/E7 RNAscope is highly specific for ECA, and the 4-variable nomogram showed more accurate prognostic outcomes in patients with ECA.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12935-021-02349-1.

Pathology Behind Constant Watery Vaginal Discharge: A Rare Case of Uterine Cervical Minimal Deviation Adenocarcinoma

Minimal deviation adenocarcinoma (MDA) of uterine cervix is a rare malignant disease with rather poorer prognosis partially due to the early misdiagnosis. Hence, better understanding of early-stage symptoms is critical. We report a case of a 39-year-old woman came to hospital with a chief complaint of "a watery vaginal discharge for 9 months". She was further diagnosed as having uterine cervical minimal deviation adenocarcinoma in cervical LEEP specimen and MDA stage IIIC1 (FIGO 2018 staging-after correction) in post-hysterectomy histopathology. Currently, the definitive treatment is hysterectomy with adjuvant therapy based on staging. This article gives concise symptoms, history, and images of MDA colposcopy finding and histopathology, through the whole process of diagnosis and treatment for future clinical reference.

LncRNAs specifically overexpressed in endocervical adenocarcinoma are associated with an unfavorable recurrence prognosis and the immune response

Background

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common gynecological tumor in terms of both the incidence and mortality of females worldwide. Cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) accounts for 70–80% of cervical cancers, and endocervical adenocarcinoma (EAC) accounts for 20–25%. Unlike CSCC, EAC has worse clinical outcomes and prognosis. In this study, we explored the relationship between various types of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and pathological types of cervical cancer.

Methods

RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) and clinical data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) were used in this study. A single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) and the ESTIMATE package were used to assess lncRNA activity and immune responses, respectively. RT-qPCR was performed to verify our findings.

Results

We explored the relationship between various types of lncRNAs and pathological types of cervical cancer. A series of long intergenic noncoding RNAs (lincRNAs) and antisense RNAs, which are the major types of lncRNAs, were identified to be specifically expressed in EAC and associated with a poor recurrence prognosis in patients with cervical cancer, suggesting that they might serve as independent prognostic markers of recurrence in patients with cervical cancer. RT-qPCR was performed to verify the 10 EAC-specific lncRNAs in cervical cancer samples we collected. Furthermore, the overexpression of these lncRNAs was positively correlated with EAC pathology levels but negatively correlated with immune responses in the microenvironment of cervical cancer.

Conclusions

These lncRNAs potentially represent new biomarkers for the prediction of the recurrence prognosis and help obtain deeper insights into potential immunotherapeutic approaches for treating cervical cancer.

A retrospective study on incidence, diagnosis, and clinical outcome of gastric-type endocervical adenocarcinoma in a single institution

Background

Gastric-type endocervical adenocarcinoma is rare but the most common subtype of cervical adenocarcinoma not associated with human papillomavirus. It is more aggressive with a shorter five-year survival rate compared to human papillomavirus-associated usual type endocervical adenocarcinoma. The objectives of our study were to determine the incidence and clinical-pathological characteristics of Gastric-type endocervical adenocarcinoma in a single institution.

Methods

Twenty four cases of invasive cervical adenocarcinoma were identified between January 2000 and December 2015, from the Saskatoon Health Region pathology database using International Endocervical Adenocarcinoma Criteria and Classification to retrospectively classify endocervical adenocarcinoma. Immunohistochemistry was performed with antibodies for Gastric mucin-6 (MUC-6), p16^INK4a, cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A (p16), p53 protein (p53), estrogen and progesterone receptors. Clinical and pathological data was retrieved from pathology reports and charts. Statistical analysis was performed using Mann-Whitney U test and Chi-Square test.

Results

Using the International Endocervical Adenocarcinoma Criteria and Classification criteria, 19 cases (79.2%) were classified as human papillomavirus-associated usual type endocervical adenocarcinoma, and five cases (20.8%) as Gastric-type endocervical adenocarcinoma. In our study 40% of Gastric-type endocervical adenocarcinoma cases presented at stage III compared to none of the usual type endocervical carcinoma cases. All the Gastric-type endocervical adenocarcinoma cases were positive for MUC-6, and negative for p16. 60% Gastric-type endocervical adenocarcinoma cases demonstrated mutant type p53 staining. In contrast, 84.2% of human papillomavirus-associated usual type endocervical adenocarcinoma cases showed block like nuclear and cytoplasmic positivity with p16 antibodies. The Gastric-type endocervical adenocarcinoma group had significantly shorter median survival time than human papillomavirus-associated usual type endocervical adenocarcinoma group, Gastric-type endocervical adenocarcinoma is 22 months compared to human papillomavirus-associated usual type endocervical adenocarcinoma at 118 months (p = 0.043).

Conclusions

In this study, Gastric-type endocervical adenocarcinoma accounted for 20.8% of all cervical adenocarcinoma with higher stage at presentation and shorter overall survival. Criteria proposed by International Endocervical Adenocarcinoma Criteria and Classification (IECC) are simple and reproducible in differentiating between, HPV- associated (HPVA) and non HPV associated (NHPVA) endocervical adenocarcinoma. Although none of the IHC assays is specific for GAS, but p16, MUC-6, ER, PR and p53 may further aid in confirming GAS and to differentiate it from benign and malignant mimics.

Minimal deviation adenocarcinoma with elevated CA19-9: A case report

BACKGROUND

Minimal deviation adenocarcinoma is a rare malignancy with a high rate of misdiagnosis and high aggressiveness, and its diagnosis relies on histopathology. Surgical resection is the preferred and most effective treatment, but the outcomes are often unsatisfactory.

CASE SUMMARY

A 60-year-old perimenopausal woman was admitted to the hospital and found to have elevated CA19-9 on physical examination without abdominal pain or vaginal bleeding. Clinical examination and positron emission tomography/computed tomography examination were unremarkable, magnetic resonance imaging examination was suggestive of dominant cervical lesions, and methylation examination was suggestive of malignant lesions. Tissue samples were taken from the suspected cervical lesion, and the final pathologic diagnosis was minimal deviation adenocarcinoma. Based on the pathologic diagnosis of suspected minimal deviation adenocarcinoma, radical abdominal total hysterectomy, bilateral oophorectomy, and pelvic and para-aortic lymph node dissection were performed. The final histological report confirmed minimal deviation adenocarcinoma of the cervix, stage IB2, with lymph node metastasis. Minimal deviation adenocarcinoma is a tumor with aggressive clinical behavior.

CONCLUSION

Patients with minimal deviation adenocarcinoma have a lower survival rate than patients with conventional human papillomavirus-related cervical adenocarcinoma. A precise preoperative pathologic diagnosis may reduce the mortality rate due to missed optimal treatment with multiple surgical interventions. To date, there is no therapeutic consensus; therefore, each case must be treated individually.

The Silva Pattern-based Classification for HPV-associated Invasive Endocervical Adenocarcinoma and the Distinction Between In Situ and Invasive Adenocarcinoma: Relevant Issues and Recommendations From the International Society of Gynecological Pathologists

The Silva pattern-based classification for human papilloma virus-associated invasive adenocarcinoma has emerged as a reliable system to predict risk of lymph node metastasis and recurrences. Although not a part of any staging system yet, it has been incorporated in synoptic reports as established by the College of American Pathologists (CAP) and the International Collaboration on Cancer Reporting (ICCR). Moreover, the current National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines include this classification as an "emergent concept." In order to facilitate the understating and application of this new classification by all pathologists, the ISGyP Endocervical Adenocarcinoma Project Working Group presents herein all the current evidence on the Silva classification and aims to provide recommendations for its implementation in practice, including interpretation, reporting, and application to biopsy and resection specimens. In addition, this article addresses the distinction of human papilloma virus-associated adenocarcinoma in situ and gastric type adenocarcinoma in situ from their invasive counterparts.

Superficially Spreading Endocervical Adenocarcinoma in situ with Multifocal Microscopic Involvement of the Endometrial Surface: A Case Report with Emphasis on the Potential for Misdiagnosis Based on Endometrial Curettage Specimens

Misdiagnosis of endocervical adenocarcinoma (EAC) as endometrial endometrioid carcinoma (EEC) is one of the major concerns when evaluating endometrial curettage specimens. It is difficult to differentiate EAC involving the endometrium from EEC, particularly when the specimens have only a few small tumor fragments. We report a case of endocervical adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS) with multifocal microscopic involvement of the endometrium. The endometrial curettage specimen obtained from an 82-year-old woman consisted of a large volume of blood and fibrin, with small endometrial tissue fragments showing microscopic foci of atypical glandular proliferation. Based on the presence of complex glands with stratified mucin-poor columnar epithelium and intermediate-grade nuclear atypia, a preoperative diagnosis of grade 1 EEC was made. However, the hysterectomy specimen revealed an endocervical AIS involving the endocervix and low uterine segment. Frequent mitotic figures and apoptotic bodies, characteristic of AIS, were present. The endometrium showed a few microscopic foci of atypical glandular proliferation involving the surface only. Their histological features were similar to those of the endocervical AIS. Immunohistochemically, the atypical glands exhibited block p16 positivity. The final diagnosis was a superficially spreading endocervical AIS with multifocal microscopic involvement of the endometrial surface epithelium. In summary, small tumor tissues in an endometrial curettage may lead to misdiagnosis of AIS or EAC as EEC, especially when the pathologists are unaware of the possibility of microscopic endometrial involvement of AIS or EAC. The origin of the tumor can be correctly determined based on a combination of histological features and immunostaining. Endocervical AIS involving the endometrium should be included in the differential diagnosis of neoplastic glandular lesions in endometrial curettage specimens. An accurate diagnosis in these cases is important because of its significant implications for clinical management.

HPV nonrelated endocervical adenocarcinoma in hereditary cancer syndromes

INTRODUCTION

The relationship between endocervical cancer and cancer susceptibility syndromes is not yet fully understood. We present 2 cases of endocervical cancer: 1 arising in a patient carrier with a pathogenic BRCA1 variant and the second detected in a Lynch syndrome family carrying the MSH2 germline pathogenic variant.

CASE DESCRIPTION

Somatic analyses including loss of heterozygosity and fluorescent in situ hybridization demonstrated that the second hit in patient 1 is BRCA1-related. Mismatch repair somatic analyses in the second family demonstrated that the endocervical cancers of patient 2 and of her sister are MSH2-related. These data confirm the relationship between the pathogenesis of endocervical cancer and the presence of germline BRCA1 and MSH2 mutations.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study confirms that gynecologic cancers including rare entities such as non-human papillomavirus-related endocervical cancer (NHPVA) are sentinels for inherited cancer syndromes. Endocervical cancer NHPVAs might be considered for cancer genetic counseling in order to improve cancer prevention. For this reason, the role of pathologists is particularly important for the correct identification of the cervical tumor site.

Coexistence of gastric choriocarcinoma and adenocarcinoma with reproductive hormone secretion in a man: a case report

The present study reports a rare case of a 65-year-old male patient with an exophytic ulcerative lesion in the gastric antrum. After performing a radical subtotal gastrectomy with D2 lymph node dissection and Billroth I gastrojejunostomy, histological analysis revealed a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma combined with a biphasic pattern consisting of cytotrophoblasts and syncytiotrophoblasts. Immunohistochemical analysis showed a positive reaction with an anti-β-human chorionic gonadotropin antibody, and an abnormal increase in reproductive hormones. Furthermore, the patient succumbed to upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage in less than 3 months after the initial diagnosis, although the rupture of his liver metastasis was successfully treated by transhepatic artery embolization during the second admission.

Micropapillary Cervical Adenocarcinoma: A Clinicopathologic Study of 44 Cases

Micropapillary adenocarcinoma has been reported as an aggressive variant of adenocarcinoma in several organs, where it is associated with poor clinical outcome. This study reports the clinicopathologic features and outcomes of cervical adenocarcinomas with a micropapillary component (micropapillary cervical adenocarcinomas); this represents the largest reported study of these neoplasms. The study comprised 44 cervical adenocarcinomas of usual (human papillomavirus-related)-type (84%), mucinous, not otherwise specified (4.5%), gastric-type (4.5%), endometrioid (4.5%), and adenosquamous carcinoma (2%). The micropapillary component comprised >50% of the neoplasm in 34 cases (77%) (group 1), and 10% to 50% in 10 cases (23%) (group 2). Lymph node metastasis was present in 41 of 44 (93%) cases and typically the nodal tumor retained a prominent micropapillary morphology. Follow-up ranged from 7 to 123 months (mean, 65.9 mo). Seventeen of 44 (38.6%) patients had no evidence of disease on follow-up, 6/44 (13.6%) were alive with disease, and 21/44 (47.7%) died of disease. There were no survival differences between group 1 and group 2. On univariate analysis, lymph node metastasis (P=0.0015), lymphovascular space invasion (P=0.002), parametrial involvement (P=0.03), and depth of stromal invasion (P=0.045) were related to tumor recurrence. On multivariate analysis, lymph node metastasis (P=0.001), and extent of lymphovascular space invasion (P=0.027) were significant independent predictors of tumor recurrence. Our study shows that a micropapillary component in cervical adenocarcinoma may be associated with aggressive behavior and that a micropapillary architecture may occur within a variety of types of cervical adenocarcinoma.

Expanded study on the risk of lymphovascular space invasion and lymph node metastasis of endocervical adenocarcinoma using Pattern Classification: a single-centre analysis of 213 cases

A new three-tiered Pattern Classification system for usual-type endocervical adenocarcinomas (U-EACs) recommends using tumour invasive patterns rather than depth of invasion (DOI) and horizontal spread to categorise tumours. Tumours categorised by Pattern Classification are associated with lymph node (LN) metastasis and adverse outcomes. The aim of this study is to further explore the potential of Pattern Classification in surgical pathology practice. A total of 213 consecutive cases [201 U-EACs and 12 gastric-type adenocarcinomas (GACs)] diagnosed between 2006 and 2017 was retrospectively analysed. Clinicopathological data included age at diagnosis, DOI measurement, the status of lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI) and LN metastasis, and the number of LVSI foci, dissected and metastatic LNs. Immunostaining for CD34 and D2-40 was performed to identify LVSI in 14 challenging cases. Overall, mean age at diagnosis was 51 years (range 23-75). LVSI and LN metastasis occurred in 128 (60.1%, 128/213) and 42 (20.5%, 42/205) cases, respectively. Also, 28 (13.1%), 21 (9.9%), and 164 (77.0%) patients had pattern A, B, and C tumours, respectively. Patients with pattern C tumours had the oldest age at diagnosis (p=0.007), the highest incidence of LVSI and LN metastasis, and the highest DOI (p<0.001). Due to a highly heterogeneous growth pattern, pattern C U-EACs were stratified into four subgroups: C1, C2 and C3 corresponded to solid, extensive linear destructive, and band-like lymphocytic infiltrate growth patterns, respectively, and C4 included diffuse destructive, confluent, micropapillary and mixed growth pattern. C2 and C3 subgroup tumours had lower incidence of LVSI (20% and 40%, respectively) than the other two subgroups (p<0.001). None of the patients with C2 and C3 subgroup had LN metastasis and ≥3 LVSI foci. All GACs belonged to pattern C and had deeper stromal invasion (p=0.008), higher incidence of LN metastasis (p=0.001), and larger quantity of LVSI foci (p=0.008) and metastatic LNs (p=0.004) than those of pattern C U-ECAs. Number of LVSI foci were moderately positively correlated with LN metastasis status (p<0.001, γ=0.489) or number of metastatic LNs (p<0.001, γ=0.409). Our study further supports that Pattern Classification is a system easy to follow, which has a strong correlation to LVSI and an effective predictability for LN metastasis. Extensive linear destructive and band-like lymphocytic infiltrate growth patterns in pattern C U-EACs need to be recognised, as they behave less aggressively than that for the other growth pattern subgroups. Our study supports that Pattern Classification can be routinely applied to guide therapies for patients with U-EACs.

Morphologic Features of Gastric-type Cervical Adenocarcinoma in Small Surgical and Cytology Specimens

Gastric-type cervical adenocarcinoma (GCA) is a human papillomavirus-unassociated, aggressive, chemorefractory tumor. Well-differentiated examples may exhibit bland morphologic appearances, which could potentially lead to misdiagnosis, particularly in limited material. We sought to characterize the morphologic features of GCA in surgical biopsy and cytology specimens. We identified patients with histologic diagnoses of GCA or minimal-deviation adenocarcinoma between 2004 and 2017. Available slides from biopsy, curettage, and cytology specimens were reviewed. Fifty-nine specimens (37 histology, 22 cytology) were reviewed from 23 patients, including histology specimens alone from 6 patients, cytology specimens alone from 4 patients, and both types of specimen from 13 patients. The median patient age was 52 yr (range, 29-83 yr). Biopsies showed well-to-moderately differentiated adenocarcinomas composed of cells with pale or foamy cytoplasm and well-defined cytoplasmic borders. Nuclei exhibited mild-to-moderate pleomorphism with small nucleoli. The diagnosis was challenging in a minority of biopsies in which neoplastic glandular epithelium was scant, fragmented, and/or well differentiated. Cytology slides showed single and crowded clusters of tumor cells with pale, foamy, and/or vacuolated cytoplasm and well-defined cytoplasmic borders. Nuclei were moderately pleomorphic, round to oval with one or more nucleoli. Of 20 submitted biopsies, GCA was suspected by the submitting pathologist in only 5 (25%) cases. Awareness of the morphologic features and use of confirmatory ancillary studies (eg, immunohistochemistry for markers of gastric differentiation and human papillomavirus testing) will allow accurate diagnosis of these aggressive tumors in biopsy and cytology specimens.

Robust expression of EZH2 in endocervical neoplastic lesions

The aim of this study was to evaluate the nuclear expression of histone methyltransferase enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) in endocervical neoplastic lesions such as invasive endocervical adenocarcinoma (ECA) and cervical in situ adenocarcinoma (AIS) in comparison with normal endocervix and non-neoplastic counterparts. A total of 54 consecutive neoplastic cases (37 ECA, 17 AIS) and 32 non-neoplastic endocervical lesions (15 reactive atypia, 9 microglandular hyperplasia, 3 tuboendometrioid metaplasia, 3 tunnel cluster, 2 endometriosis) were included in the study with adjacent normal endocervix if present. EZH2 immunoreactivity was evaluated semiquantitatively by three independent experts in lesions and adjacent normal glandular epithelium as well. EZH2 expression was defined robust if at least two of the three experts rated partial or diffuse positivity. Robust EZH2 expression was statistically compared among the neoplastic, non-neoplastic, and normal glandular epithelium samples. Diagnostic test capability of robust EZH2 expression was calculated. Fifty-three out of the 54 neoplastic cases (98%) showed robust EZH2 expression. Robust EZH2 expression was significantly less often (4 out of 32 cases, 12.5%) found in the non-neoplastic endocervical lesions (p < 0.0001) and never (0 out of 66 samples) in the adjacent normal glandular epithelium. Robust EZH2 overexpression had a sensitivity and specificity of over 95% in detecting neoplastic lesions versus non-neoplastic lesions or normal glandular epithelium. EZH2 may play a role in the pathogenesis of endocervical neoplasia, and the detection of robust expression of EZH2 might be a useful differential diagnostic tool in problematic endocervical lesions in histology and cytology as well.

HPV DNA integration site as proof of the origin of ovarian metastasis from endocervical adenocarcinoma: three case reports

Background

Most endocervical adenocarcinomas are human papillomavirus (HPV)-related cancers associated with p16 immunostaining. Ovarian metastasis from cervical cancer is a rare phenomenon, the mechanism of dissemination remains unclear. The diagnosis of metastasis may be difficult to establish when the ovarian neoplasm presents features consistent with primary tumor. Immunohistochemical expression of p16 in ovarian tumors can guide the diagnosis of metastasis from HPV-related cervical cancer, but p16 positivity is nonspecific. Identical HPV genotype in the paired endocervical and ovarian tumors is a better marker for cervical origin, which may also be confirmed by identical HPV integration site.

Case presentation

Two women presented with HPV18 cervical adenocarcinoma. No signs of disease were visible on MRI after treatment. After several years of follow-up, mucinous ovarian tumors were discovered in both patients. Molecular analyses showed that the ovarian lesions were HPV18-positive; indicating a primary cervical origin. A third woman was diagnosed with grade 1 ovarian endometrioid carcinoma with no peritoneal carcinomatosis. Final histological examination and HPV genotyping revealed HPV18-related in situ endometrioid adenocarcinoma in the endocervix and HPV18-related invasive endometrioid adenocarcinoma in the endometrium and both ovaries. Additional molecular analyses performed in two patients identified the same HPV integration sites in both the ovarian and cervical tumors, confirming that the ovarian mass was a metastasis from the cervical adenocarcinoma.

Conclusion

We report three new cases of ovarian neoplasia in which the diagnosis of metastasis from cervical cancer was supported by the same HPV genotype and the same integration site in the paired cervical and ovarian tumors. To our knowledge, this is the first report of molecular evidence of the cervical origin of an ovarian metastasis. HPV screening should be performed in ovarian tumors for all patients with history of cervical neoplasia.

[Focus on mucinous adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix]

Cancer of the uterine cervix is the fourth most common cancer in women worldwide, and the fourth leading cause of cancer death in women. Squamous cell carcinoma is the first type of cervical cancer (about 75% of cases), and adenocarcinoma the second. Adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix were redefined in the 2014 WHO classification. Endocervical adenocarcinoma, usual type, is the mose common. Mucinous adenocarcinoma were classified by this classification into different subtypes: gatric type, intestinal type and signet-ring cell type. This literature review shows the caracteristics of these various subtypes of cervical cancer, little known. These are physiopathological, clinical, cytological histological, pronostic caracteristics, and their treatments.

Microsatellite instability-high endocervical serous carcinoma manifesting as pulmonary thromboembolism: A case report and review of the literature

A 53-year-old obese woman was referred because of sudden onset of dyspnea and chronic vaginal bleeding. In addition to severe anemia, multiple pulmonary emboli were identified. Pelvic imaging showed an irregular-shaped mass in the region of the endocervix extending to the lower uterine segment. After successful anticoagulant therapy, followed by placement of an inferior vena cava filter, transabdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy were performed. An immunopathological study resulted in the diagnosis of endocervical serous carcinoma. After the identification of a high level of microsatellite instability (MSI), an immunohistochemical analysis of mismatch repair (MMR) proteins showed the isolated loss of PMS2. Germline testing of MMR genes showed no mutations, indicating that the high MSI had occurred as a result of sporadic isolated loss of the PMS2 gene expression.

CD103+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes are tumor-reactive intraepithelial CD8+ T cells associated with prognostic benefit and therapy response in cervical cancer

Human papilloma virus (HPV)-induced cervical cancer constitutively expresses viral E6/E7 oncoproteins and is an excellent target for T cell-based immunotherapy. However, not all tumor-infiltrating T cells confer equal benefit to patients, with epithelial T cells being superior to stromal T cells. To assess whether the epithelial T cell biomarker CD103 could specifically discriminate the beneficial antitumor T cells, association of CD103 with clinicopathological variables and outcome was analyzed in the TCGA cervical cancer data set (n = 304) and by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in an independent cohort (n = 460). Localization of CD103+ cells in the tumor was assessed by immunofluorescence. Furthermore, use of CD103 as a response biomarker was assessed in an in vivo E6/E7+ tumor model. Our results show that CD103 gene expression was strongly correlated with cytotoxic T cell markers (e.g. CD8/GZMB/PD1) in the TCGA series. In line with this, CD103+ cells in the IHC series co-expressed CD8 and were preferentially located in cervical tumor epithelium. High CD103+ cell infiltration was strongly associated with an improved prognosis in both series, and appeared to be a better predictor of outcome than CD8. Interestingly, the prognostic benefit of CD103 in both series seemed limited to patients receiving radiotherapy. In a preclinical mouse model, HPV E6/E7-targeted therapeutic vaccination in combination with radiotherapy increased the intratumoral number of CD103+ CD8+ T cells, providing a potential mechanistic basis for our results. In conclusion, CD103 is a promising marker for rapid assessment of tumor-reactive T cell infiltration of cervical cancers and a promising response biomarker for E6/E7-targeted immunotherapy.

Endocervical gastric-type adenocarcinoma, an unrelated HPV tumour: difficulties in screening and diagnosis

Gastric-type adenocarcinoma of the cervix (GAS) is an uncommon and aggressive tumour unrelated to human papillomavirus (HPV) infection with distinctive histological and immunohistochemical characteristics. GAS may be associated with lobular endocervical glandular hyperplasia (LEGH), another unusual lesion. We report a case of a 59-year-old woman with screening cytology 'AGC-Neo' and cervical conisation exhibiting cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 1, extensive LEGH and canal sampling with abundant mucinous cells. Based on the possible association between LEGH and GAS, a total hysterectomy was performed. The histological diagnosis revealed a morphological gradient of lesions: LEGH, minimal deviation adenocarcinoma and GAS with lymphatic invasion. Immunohistochemistry revealed strong MUC6 expression and no p16 staining. After pelvic radiotherapy, the patient continues follow-up evaluation. The diagnostic difficulties of GAS and its relationship with LEGH are discussed. This rare tumour is important because it is poorly symptomatic and potentially aggressive. In addition, the methods for cancer control related to HPV do not affect this tumour.