Intraductal Carcinoma of the Prostate: Extreme Nuclear Size Is Not a Diagnostic Parameter

Appl1, Sortilin and Syndecan-1 immunohistochemistry on intraductal carcinoma of the prostate provides evidence of retrograde spread

The presence of intraductal carcinoma of the prostate (IDCP) correlates with late-stage disease and poor outcomes for patients with prostatic adenocarcinoma, but the accurate and reliable staging of disease severity remains challenging. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) has been utilised to overcome problems in assessing IDCP morphology, but the current markers have only demonstrated limited utility in characterising the complex biology of this lesion. In a retrospective study of a cohort of patients who had been diagnosed with IDCP, we utilised IHC on radical prostatectomy sections with a biomarker panel of Appl1, Sortilin and Syndecan-1, to interpret different architectural patterns and to explore the theory that IDCP occurs from retrograde spread of high-grade invasive prostatic adenocarcinoma. Cribriform IDCP displayed strong Appl1, Sortilin and Syndecan-1 labelling patterns, while solid IDCP architecture had high intensity Appl1 and Syndecan-1 labelling, but minimal Sortilin labelling. Notably, the expression pattern of the biomarker panel in regions of IDCP was similar to that of adjacent invasive prostatic adenocarcinoma, and also comparable to prostate cancer showing perineural and vascular invasion. The Appl1, Sortilin, and Syndecan-1 biomarker panel in IDCP provides evidence for the model of retrograde spread of invasive prostatic carcinoma into ducts/acini, and supports the inclusion of IDCP into the five-tier Gleason grading system.

Fiber Bundle Image Reconstruction Using Convolutional Neural Networks and Bundle Rotation in Endomicroscopy

Fiber-bundle endomicroscopy has several recognized drawbacks, the most prominent being the honeycomb effect. We developed a multi-frame super-resolution algorithm exploiting bundle rotation to extract features and reconstruct underlying tissue. Simulated data was used with rotated fiber-bundle masks to create multi-frame stacks to train the model. Super-resolved images are numerically analyzed, which demonstrates that the algorithm can restore images with high quality. The mean structural similarity index measurement (SSIM) improved by a factor of 1.97 compared with linear interpolation. The model was trained using images taken from a single prostate slide, 1343 images were used for training, 336 for validation, and 420 for testing. The model had no prior information about the test images, adding to the robustness of the system. Image reconstruction was completed in 0.03 s for 256 × 256 images indicating future real-time performance is within reach. The combination of fiber bundle rotation and multi-frame image enhancement through machine learning has not been utilized before in an experimental setting but could provide a much-needed improvement to image resolution in practice.

Cribriform Patterned Lesions in the Prostate Gland with Emphasis on Differential Diagnosis and Clinical Significance

Simple Summary

A cribriform structure is defined as a continuous proliferation of cells with intermingled lumina. Various entities may have a cribriform morphology within the prostate gland, ranging from normal, to benign, to borderline and even to malignant lesions. This review summarizes the morphologic features of entities that have a cribriform morphology within the prostate gland, with an emphasis on their differential diagnosis, molecular profile and clinical significance. The basic aim is to assist the pathologist with challenging and controversial cases and inform the clinician on the clinical implications of cribriform morphology.

Abstract

Cribriform glandular formations are characterized by a continuous proliferation of cells with intermingled lumina and can constitute a major or minor part of physiologic (normal central zone glands), benign (clear cell cribriform hyperplasia and basal cell hyperplasia), premalignant (high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia), borderline (atypical intraductal cribriform proliferation) or clearly malignant (intraductal, acinar, ductal and basal cell carcinoma) lesions. Each displays a different clinical course and variability in clinical management and prognosis. The aim of this review is to summarize the current knowledge regarding the morphological features, differential diagnosis, molecular profile and clinical significance of the cribriform-patterned entities of the prostate gland. Areas of controversy regarding their management, i.e., the grading of Intaductal Carcinoma, will also be discussed. Understanding the distinct nature of each cribriform lesion leads to the correct diagnosis and ensures accuracy in clinical decision-making, prognosis prediction and personalized risk stratification of patients.

Contemporary Grading of Prostate Cancer: The Impact of Grading Criteria and the Significance of the Amount of Intraductal Carcinoma

(1) Background: Prognostic grade group (PGG) is an important prognostic parameter in prostate cancer that guides therapeutic decisions. The cribriform pattern and intraductal carcinoma (IDC) are two histological patterns, that have additional prognostic significance. However, discrepancies exist regarding the handling of IDC according to the guidelines published by two international genitourinary pathology societies. Furthermore, whether, in addition to its presence, the amount of IDC is also of importance has not been studied before. Lastly, the handling of tertiary patterns has also been a matter of debate in the literature. (2) Methods: A total of 129 prostatectomy cases were retrieved and a detailed histopathologic analysis was performed. (3) Results: Two cases (1.6%) upgraded their PGG, when IDC was incorporated in the grading system. The presence and the amount of IDC, as well as the presence of cribriform carcinoma were associated with adverse pathologic characteristics. Interestingly, in six cases (4.7%) there was a difference in PGG when using the different guidelines regarding the handling of tertiary patterns. In total, 6.2% of the cases would be assigned a different grade depending on the guidelines followed. (4) Conclusions: These findings highlight a potential area of confusion among pathologists and clinicians and underscore the need for a consensus grading system.