Loss of B-cell lymphoma 2 immunohistochemical expression in endometrial hyperplasia: A specific marker of precancer and novel indication for treatment

The oncological and reproductive outcomes of fertility-preserving treatments for stage 1 grade 1 endometrial carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

The number of patients desiring fertility-preserving treatment for endometrial cancer rather than standard surgical management continues to increase.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to evaluate the efficacies of fertility-preserving treatments on the live birth rate, remission and relapse rates for women with stage 1a grade 1 endometrial carcinoma to support patient counselling.

METHODS

We performed a meta-analysis for our primary outcomes of overall remission and relapse rate, and for secondary analysis, we divided papers into treatment type: systemic progestins, intrauterine progestins or hysteroscopic resection and adjuvant hormonal treatment.

RESULTS

Thirty-five observational studies met inclusion criteria, with a total of 624 patients. Overall, conservative treatment of endometrial cancer showed a remission rate of 77% (95% CI: 70-84%), a relapse rate of 20% (95% CI: 13-27%) and a live birth rate of 20% (95% CI: 15-25%) with more favourable outcomes for the hysteroscopic resection group.

CONCLUSIONS

Hysteroscopic resection and adjuvant hormonal treatment had the most favourable fertility and oncological outcomes. Further high-quality prospective multi-centre trials are warranted to determine the optimal treatment regimen and dosage and risk stratification for these patients.

Comparison of B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL-2) expression in disordered proliferative endometrium and simple endometrial hyperplasia

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2) is an anti-apoptotic protein that may play a role in disordered proliferative endometrium (DPE) and endometrial hyperplasia (EH). Several studies have investigated BCL-2 expression in normal, hyperplastic endometrium and endometrial adenocarcinoma, with conflicting results. Therefore, the present study aimed to compare the expression of BCL-2 in disordered proliferative endometrium and simple EH.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, 63 DPE and 67 SEH samples from patients referred to Mostafa Khomeini Hospital between 2017 and 2022 were immunohistochemically stained by BCL-2 antibody. BCL-2 expression in each sample was reported as negative, weak positive, and strong positive. The findings were analyzed using SPSS version 16 software.

RESULTS

Negative, weakly positive, and strongly positive BCL-2 expression was observed in 55.6%, 38.1%, and 6.3% of DPE samples, and 61.2%, 31.3%, and 7.5% of SEH samples, respectively, which does not show a statistically significant difference (p=0.718). There was no relationship between the age of patients and BCL-2 expression in any of the two groups of DPE and SEH (p=0.378 and p=0.178, respectively).

CONCLUSION

BCL-2 expression is observed with a relatively similar frequency in DPE and SEH samples, and it is probably under the control of oestrogen hormone as the main factor involved in the pathogenesis of these lesions.

Integrated histological parameters define prognostically relevant groups in atypical endometrial hyperplasia/endometrioid intraepithelial neoplasia

OBJECTIVE

To assess the risk of endometrial carcinoma following a diagnosis of atypical hyperplasia/endometrioid intraepithelial neoplasia by endometrial biopsy, stratified based on integrated histological parameters.

METHODS

All women with atypical hyperplasia/endometrioid intraepithelial neoplasia undergoing hysterectomy within 1 year of diagnosis without progestin treatment were included. Patients were subdivided into three study groups, based on two criteria: (a) grade of nuclear atypia and (b) foci (<2 mm) of confluent glands with no intervening stroma: low-grade, high-grade, and confluent glands. The rate of endometrial carcinoma on the subsequent hysterectomy was assessed in each study group, and differences between study groups were assessed using Fisher's exact test, with a significant p value <0.05. Reproducibility was assessed by using Cohen's κ.

RESULTS

Ninety-six patients were included. Overall, 36 of 96 patients (37.5%) had endometrial carcinoma on the subsequent hysterectomy. The number of endometrial carcinomas was 4 of 42 (9.5%) in the low-grade group, 14 of 28 (50.0%) in the high-grade group, and 18 of 26 (69.2%) in the confluent glands group. The rate of endometrial carcinoma was significantly higher in the high-grade group than in the low-grade group (p<0.001), whereas it did not significantly differ between the high-grade group and the confluent glands group (p=0.176). The reproducibility among pathologists was moderate for low-grade versus high-grade (κ=0.58) and substantial for confluent glands versus low-grade (κ=0.63) and high-grade (κ=0.63).

CONCLUSION

Atypical hyperplasia/endometrioid intraepithelial neoplasia can be stratified into prognostically relevant groups based on integrated histological parameters, with a possible major impact on patient management.

Diagnostic accuracy of MRI in the differential diagnosis between uterine leiomyomas and sarcomas: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Differential diagnosis between uterine leiomyomas and sarcomas is challenging. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) represents the second-line diagnostic method after ultrasound for the assessment of uterine masses.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the accuracy of MRI in the differential diagnosis between uterine leiomyomas and sarcomas.

SEARCH STRATEGY

A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed searching five electronic databases from their inception to June 2023.

SELECTION CRITERIA

All peer-reviewed observational or randomized clinical trials that reported an unbiased postoperative histologic diagnosis of uterine leiomyoma or uterine sarcoma, which also comprehended a preoperative MRI evaluation of the uterine mass.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratios, diagnostic odds ratio, and area under the curve on summary receiver operating characteristic of MRI in differentiating uterine leiomyomas and sarcomas were calculated as individual and pooled estimates, with 95% confidence intervals (CI).

RESULTS

Eight studies with 2495 women (2253 with uterine leiomyomas and 179 with uterine sarcomas), were included. MRI showed pooled sensitivity of 0.90 (95% CI 0.84-0.94), specificity of 0.96 (95% CI 0.96-0.97), positive likelihood ratio of 13.55 (95% CI 6.20-29.61), negative likelihood ratio of 0.08 (95% CI 0.02-0.32), diagnostic odds ratio of 175.13 (95% CI 46.53-659.09), and area under the curve of 0.9759.

CONCLUSIONS

MRI has a high diagnostic accuracy in the differential diagnosis between uterine leiomyomas and sarcomas.

Detection rates and factors affecting thereof in endometrial hyperplasia, endometrial carcinoma, and cervical glandular lesions on cervical smear

INTRODUCTION

Endometrial lesions are morphologically diverse and uncommon on cervical smears, with its detection rate and associated diagnostic categories uncharacterized. In this study, cervical smears matched to histologically proven endometrial hyperplasias and carcinomas were reviewed and compared with cervical in-situ-carcinomas/carcinomas, aiming to detail the diagnostic performance of cervical smears for upper tract and glandular lesions.

METHODS

Pathology reports of cervical smears, hysterectomies, endometrial and cervical biopsies from 1995 to 2021 were retrieved. Diagnoses of cervical smears were matched to endometrial hyperplasias and carcinomas, or cervical carcinomas and reviewed.

RESULTS

Totally 832 cervical smears (272 cervical carcinomas, 312 endometrial carcinomas, and 248 hyperplasias) were included. Considering all cytologic glandular diagnosis as positive, the detection rate of cervical adenocarcinoma-in-situ was the highest (64.3%), followed by cervical adenocarcinoma (63.8%), endometrial carcinoma (31.7%), and hyperplasia (with atypia-8.5%; without atypia-2.3%) (p < 0.001). Endometrial hyperplasia was most often diagnosed as atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) (5.0%) or atypical glandular cells, not otherwise specified (3.6%) without indication of endometrial origin. For endometrial carcinomas, higher FIGO grading and endocervical involvement were associated with higher detection rates across all diagnostic categories (p = 0.002-0.028). High FIGO grade was associated with suspicious/favor neoplastic (C4) (31.1%vs10.3%, p < 0.001) and carcinoma (C5) (17.8% vs. 5.6%, p = 0.005) categories, but not for all glandular diagnoses combined (33.3% vs. 31.0%, p = 0.761).

CONCLUSION

Detection rates for endometrial lesions are lower than cervical lesions but not insignificant. Endometrial hyperplasia should be recognized as a differential of human papilloma virus-negative ASCUS and prompt consideration of investigation of the upper genital tract.

Diagnostic and prognostic value of Bcl-2 in uterine leiomyosarcoma

BACKGROUND

Uterine leiomyosarcoma (uLMS) may show loss of expression of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) protein. It has been suggested that Bcl-2 loss may both be a diagnostic marker and an unfavorable prognostic marker in uLMS.

OBJECTIVE

To define the diagnostic and prognostic value of Bcl-2 loss in uLMS through a systematic review and meta-analysis.

METHODS

Electronic databases were searched from their inception to May 2020 for all studies assessing the diagnostic and prognostic value of Bcl-2 loss of immunohistochemical expression in uLMS. Data were extracted to calculate odds ratio (OR) for the association of Bcl-2 with uLMS vs leiomyoma variants and smooth-muscle tumors of uncertain malignant potential (STUMP), and hazard ratio (HR) for overall survival; a p value < 0.05 was considered significant.

RESULTS

Eight studies with 388 patients were included. Loss of Bcl-2 expression in uLMS was not significantly associated with a diagnosis of uLMS vs leiomyoma variants and STUMP (OR = 2.981; p = 0.48). Bcl-2 loss was significantly associated with shorter overall survival in uLMS (HR = 3.722; p = 0.006). High statistical heterogeneity was observed in both analyses.

CONCLUSION

Loss of Bcl-2 expression appears as a significant prognostic but not diagnostic marker in uLMS. The high heterogeneity observed highlights the need for further research and larger studies.

Diagnostic accuracy of HIK1083 and MUC6 as immunohistochemical markers of endocervical gastric-type adenocarcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

HIK1083 and MUC6 have been used as immunohistochemical markers to differentiate gastric-type adenocarcinoma (GTAC) from other endocervical adenocarcinomas. We aimed to assess their diagnostic accuracy through a systematic review and meta-analysis.

METHODS

Three electronic databases were searched from their inception to July 2022 for all studies assessing the expression in endocervical GTAC vs other endocervical adenocarcinomas. Diagnostic accuracy was assessed as sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (LR+), negative likelihood ratio (LR-), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and area under the curve (AUC) on SROC curves.

RESULTS

Four studies with 343 patients were included. HIK1083 showed sensitivity= 0.64, specificity= 0.94, LR+ =8.30, LR-= 0.38, DOR= 33.36, AUC= 89.9%. MUC6 showed sensitivity= 0.51, specificity= 0.74, LR+ =1.96, LR-= 0.71, DOR= 3.48, AUC= 72.8%.

CONCLUSION

HIK1083 showed high specificity and low sensitivity as a marker of GTAC, with moderate overall accuracy; MUC6 showed moderate specificity and low sensitivity, with low overall accuracy.

Prognostic value of Bcl2 and Bcl6 in primary cutaneous large B-cell lymphoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis

AIMS

To assess the prognostic value of Bcl2 and Bcl6 in primary cutaneous diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (pcDLBCL), through a systematic review and meta-analysis.

METHODS

Electronic databases were searched from their inception to April 2021 for studies reporting Bcl2 and Bcl6 expression and survival outcomes in pcDLBCL series. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression survival analyses with hazard ratio calculation were performed for overall survival (OS), with a significant p-value< 0.05.

RESULTS

Eight studies with 148 patients were included. OS was significantly decreased in Bcl2-pos itive pcDLBCLs (5-year OS= 52.9 ± 5.2%) compared to Bcl2 negative pcDLBCLs (5-year OS= 86.6 ± 7.2%), with a HR of 4.615 (95% CI, 1.827-11.657; p = 0.001); no significant difference in OS was found between Bcl6-positive pcDLBCLs (5-year OS= 61.3 ± 6.5%) and Bcl6-negative pcDLBCLs (5-year OS= 56.8 ± 7.2%), with a HR of 0.789 (95% CI, 0.462-1.350; p = 0.388).

CONCLUSIONS

In pcDLBCL, Bcl2 expression is a strong unfavourable prognostic marker; Bcl6 does not seem to be associated with survival instead. Further studies are necessary in this field.

Immunophenotype of Atypical Polypoid Adenomyoma of the Uterus: Diagnostic Value and Insight on Pathogenesis

Atypical polypoid adenomyoma (APA) is a rare uterine lesion constituted by atypical endometrioid glands, squamous morules, and myofibromatous stroma. We aimed to assess the immunophenotype of the 3 components of APA, with regard to its pathogenesis and its differential diagnosis. A systematic review was performed by searching electronic databases from their inception to January 2019 for immunohistochemical studies of APA. Thirteen studies with 145 APA cases were included. APA glands appeared analogous to atypical endometrial hyperplasia (endometrioid cytokeratins pattern, Ki67≤50%, common PTEN loss, and occasional mismatch repair deficiency); the prominent expression of hormone receptors and nuclear β-catenin suggest that APA may be a precursor of "copy number-low," CTNNB1-mutant endometrial cancers. Morules appeared as a peculiar type of hyperdifferentiation (low KI67, nuclear β-catenin+, CD10+, CDX2+, SATB2+, p63-, and p40-), analogous to morular metaplasia in other lesions and distinguishable immunohistochemically from both conventional squamous metaplasia and solid cancer growth. Stroma immunphenotype (low Ki67, α-smooth-muscle-actin+, h-caldesmon-, CD10-, or weak and patchy) suggested a derivation from a metaplasia of normal endometrial stroma. It was similar to that of nonatypical adenomyoma, and different from adenosarcoma (Ki67 increase and CD10+ in periglandular stroma) and myoinvasive endometrioid carcinoma (h-caldesmon+ in myometrium and periglandular fringe-like CD10 pattern).

Prognostic value of Bcl2 and p53 in Hodgkin lymphoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis

AIMS

Several studies suggested that high expression of Bcl2 and/or p53 in Hodgkin/Reed-Sternberg cells is an unfavorable prognostic factor in Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). However, results in this field appear contrasting. We aimed to assess the prognostic value of p53 and Bcl2 in HL through a systematic review and meta-analysis.

METHODS

Electronic databases were searched from January 2000 to December 2020 for all studies assessing the prognostic value of p53 and Bcl2 in HL. The association of high p53 or Bcl2 expression with overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and response to treatment was assessed by using hazard ratio (HR) and odds ratio (OR).

RESULTS

Eighteen studies were included. Bcl2 overexpression was significantly associated with decreased PFS (HR = 2.202; p < 0.0001), while the associations with decreased OS (HR = 1.565; p = 0.257) and refractoriness to treatment (OR = 0.482; p = 0.068) were non-significant. p53 overexpression was not significantly associated with refractoriness to treatment (OR = 0.904; p = 0.155); the analysis of OS and PFS was not feasible, but published data suggested the absence of a significant association.

CONCLUSIONS

In HL, Bcl2 overexpression is associated with decreased PFS, while a significant prognostic value could not be demonstrated for p53. Defining optimal criteria for interpreting Bcl2 and p53 immunostaining is necessary to draw definitive conclusions.

Clinical Predictive Factors of Response to Treatment in Patients Undergoing Conservative Management of Atypical Endometrial Hyperplasia and Early Endometrial Cancer

Purpose: Predictive markers of response to conservative treatment of atypical endometrial hyperplasia (AEH) or early endometrial cancer (EEC) are still lacking. We aimed to assess clinical predictive factors of response to conservative treatment of AEH and EEC. Methods: All patients with AEH or EEC conservatively treated from January 2007 to June 2018 were retrospectively assessed. The associations between 23 clinical factors and outcomes of response to treatment were assessed with standard univariate analyses and multivariate logistic regression (significant p-value <0.05). The primary outcome was the association of each clinical factor with treatment failure (i.e., no regression or relapse of the disease). Secondary outcomes were the associations of each clinical factor with: (1) no regression, (2) relapse, or (3) pregnancy after treatment. Results: Forty-three women, 37 (86%) with AEH and 6 (14%) with EEC were included. At univariate analyses, treatment failure was associated with longer menstrual cycle (p = 0.002), infrequent menstrual bleeding (p = 0.04), and a diagnosis of EEC instead of AEH (p = 0.008). Among the secondary outcomes, no regression was associated with infrequent menstrual bleeding (p = 0.04), and a diagnosis of EEC instead of AEH (p < 0.001), while relapse was associated with longer menstrual cycles (p = 0.007). At multivariate analyses, odds ratio for treatment failure was 4.54 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.24-84.4) for a diagnosis of EEC instead of AEH (p = 0.3), and 2.10 (95% CI, 1.03-4.29) for longer menstrual cycles (p = 0.042), while infrequent menstrual bleeding perfectly predicted treatment failure. Conclusions: Longer menstrual cycles and infrequent menstrual bleeding appear as independent predictive factors for conservative treatment failure in AEH and EEC. Further and larger studies are necessary to confirm these findings.

Histopathological characterization of ProMisE molecular groups of endometrial cancer

BACKGROUND

After the Proactive Molecular Risk Classifier for Endometrial Cancer (ProMisE) development, endometrial cancer (EC) may be reclassified in four novel prognostic groups: POLE-mutated (POLE-mt), mismatch-repair-deficient (MMR-d), p53-abnormal (p53abn), p53-wild-type (p53wt). However, histopathological characteristics of each ProMisE group are still undefined. Such characterization may be useful to understand how this novel molecular classifier may change the current patient management, reducing over- and undertreatment.

AIM

To provide a histopathological characterization of ProMisE groups of EC, in terms of histological grade (G3 vs G1-2), histotype, lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI), deep myometrial invasion (>50%), lymph node involvement, and European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) risk category.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed by searching seven electronic databases from their inception to May 2019, for studies that reported histopathological characteristics of each ProMisE group. Pooled prevalence of each histopathological characteristic of EC in each ProMisE group was calculated.

RESULTS

Four studies with 1171 patients were included in the systematic review, out of which three studies with 912 patients were included in the meta-analysis. Pooled prevalence estimates were: CONCLUSIONS: The histopathological characterization of the ProMisE groups suggests that many patients are currently undertreated or overtreated (especially in the POLE-mt and MMR-d groups).

Congruence Between 1994 WHO Classification of Endometrial Hyperplasia and Endometrial Intraepithelial Neoplasia System

OBJECTIVES

To assess congruence between World Health Organization (WHO) 1994 and endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia (EIN) classification systems of endometrial hyperplasia.

METHODS

Systematic review and meta-analysis were performed by searching electronic databases for studies that classified endometrial hyperplasia according to both WHO 1994 and EIN systems. Congruence was based on the rate of specimens classified as EIN in WHO categories, which should be virtually 0.000 in nonatypical hyperplasia (NAH) and 1.000 in atypical hyperplasia (AH). Subgroup analyses were performed based on architecture complexity.

RESULTS

Eight studies with 1,352 hyperplasias were included. Congruence with EIN criteria was fair in NAH (0.241) and moderate in AH (0.815). Subgroup analyses of NAH showed high congruence in simple NAH (0.065), null in complex NAH (0.517), null in simple AH (0.148), and high in complex AH (0.901).

CONCLUSIONS

WHO 1994 system is not congruent with the EIN system and cannot be directly translated into a dual classification.

Diabetes mellitus and responsiveness of endometrial hyperplasia and early endometrial cancer to conservative treatment

Objective: The conservative treatment of endometrial hyperplasia without atypia (HWA), atypical endometrial hyperplasia (AH/EIN) and early endometrioid carcinoma (EEC) is based on progestins. We aimed to assess whether diabetes mellitus affects the responsiveness of HWA, AH/EIN and EEC to conservative treatment, through a systematic review and meta-analysis. Study design: Electronic databases were searched for studies assessing the outcome of conservative treatment in HWA, AH/EIN and EEC, stratified based on the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. The association of diabetes mellitus with treatment failure was assessed by using odds ratio (OR). A p-value  < .05 was considered significant. The risk of publication bias was assessed by using a funnel plot. A subgroups analyses was performed based on histologic diagnosis of benignity (HWA) or premalignancy/malignancy (AH/EIN or EEC). Results: Six studies with 876 patients (383 HWA, 365 AH/EIN and 128 EEC) were included. Overall, diabetes mellitus was not associated with outcome of treatment (OR = 1.20; p = .62). The association was not significant in both the HWA subgroup (OR = 0.95; p = .93) and in AH/EIN and EEC subgroup (OR = 1.43; p = .46). There was no significant risk of publication bias. Conclusions: Diabetes mellitus does not affect the outcome of conservative treatment in HWA, AH/EIN and EEC.

Prognostic factors in Krukenberg tumor

BACKGROUND

Krukenberg tumor (KT) is a rare secondary ovarian tumor. Little is known about clinicopathologic factors affecting prognosis in KT.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the prognostic value of clinicopathologic factors in KT through a systematic review and meta-analysis.

METHODS

Electronic databases were searched from their inception to February 2019 for studies assessing the association of clinicopathologic factors with overall survival in KT. Pooled hazard ratio (HR) was calculated for each factor; a p value < 0.05 was considered significant.

RESULTS

Twenty-three studies with 1743 patients were included. A decreased overall survival was significantly associated with peritoneal involvement (HR 1.944; p = 0.003), ascites (HR 2.055; p = 0.034), synchronous presentation (HR 1.679; p = 0.034) and increased serum CEA levels (HR 1.380; p = 0.010), but not with age > 50 (HR 0.946; p = 0.743), menopausal status (HR 1.565; p = 0.204), gastric origin (HR 1.600; p = 0.201), size > 5 cm (HR 1.292; p = 0.119), size > 10 cm (HR 0.925; p = 0.714), bilateral ovarian involvement (HR 1.113; p = 0.347), non-peritoneal extaovarian metastases (HR 1.648; p = 0.237), liver metastases (HR 1.118, p = 0.555), predominant signet ring cell morphology (HR 1.322; p = 0.208) and levels of CA125 (HR 0.933; p = 0.828) and CA19.9 (HR 0.996; p = 0.992).

CONCLUSION

Peritoneal involvement, synchronous presentation, ascites and increased serum CEA levels appear as unfavorable prognostic factors in KT and might affect the patient management.

Nuclear expression of β-catenin in endometrial hyperplasia as marker of premalignancy

We aimed to assess (1)-whether nuclear β-catenin is a marker of endometrial precancer, and (2)-the diagnostic accuracy of β-catenin immunohistochemistry in the differential diagnosis between benign and premalignant endometrial hyperplasia (EH), defining criteria for its use. Electronic databases were searched for studies evaluating β-catenin immunohistochemistry in normal endometrium (NE), benign and/or premalignant EH, and endometrioid carcinoma (EC). Odds ratio (OR; p < 0.05), sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic OR (DOR), positive and negative likelihood ratios (LR+, LR-) were calculated. Subgroup analyses were based on the classification system used (WHO or EIN) and criteria to define aberrant β-catenin expression (only nuclear or cytoplasmic/nuclear). Twelve studies with 1510 specimens were included. Nuclear β-catenin rate significantly increased from NE to benign EH (OR = 26.01; p = 0.0002, only in WHO subgroup), and from benign EH to premalignant EH (OR = 3.89; p = 0.0002; more markedly in EIN subgroup), but not from premalignant EH to EC (OR = 0.78; p = 0.29). Nuclear β-catenin accuracy was very low in WHO subgroup (sensitivity = 0.40, specificity = 0.76, LR+ = 1.85, LR- = 0.72; DOR = 2.89) and moderate in EIN subgroup (sensitivity = 0.19, specificity = 1.00, LR+ = 14.80, LR- = 0.83; DOR = 18.14). Cytoplasmic/nuclear β-catenin accuracy was absent in WHO subgroup (sensitivity = 0.45, specificity = 0.54, LR+ = 1.01, LR- = 1.01; DOR = 0.99) and low in EIN subgroup (sensitivity = 0.57, specificity = 0.86, LR+ = 3.63, LR- = 0.51; DOR = 8.30). Considering nuclear expression and using EIN system, β-catenin immunohistochemistry might be reliable as rule-in test for diagnosis of endometrial precancer, with perfect specificity and moderate overall accuracy.

BAG3 expression correlates with the grade of dysplasia in squamous intraepithelial lesions of the uterine cervix

INTRODUCTION

Bcl-2-associated athanogene 3 (BAG3) is a protein involved in apoptosis and stress response, which is overexpressed in invasive cervical cancer. However, nothing is known about BAG3 expression in precancerous lesions of the uterine cervix. We aimed to evaluate the expression of BAG3 in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia/squamous intraepithelial lesions (CIN/SIL).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Forty patients (16 CIN1/L-SIL, 11 CIN2/H-SIL and 13 CIN3/H-SIL) were assessed by immunohistochemistry for BAG3. The intensity of BAG3 expression was categorized as null, minimal, weak, moderate or strong. The association of BAG2 intensity of expression with the grade of dysplasia was assessed using Chi-square test (significant P value <0.05).

RESULTS

In all normal controls, BAG3 expression was negative. In L-SIL specimens, BAG3 expression was confined to the basal third of the epithelium, with an intensity minimal in nine cases (56.3%), weak in six (37.5%) and strong in one (6.3%). In H-SIL specimens, BAG3 expression involved also the two upper thirds of the epithelium, with an intensity moderate in 13 cases (54.2%; 8 CIN2 and 5 CIN3) and strong in 11 cases (45.8%; 3 CIN2 and 8 CIN3). The distribution of BAG3 expression correlated perfectly with the grade of dysplasia (P = 0.0); a moderate/strong expression of BAG3 was significantly associated with H-SIL (P < 0.0001), with no significant difference between CIN2 and CIN3 (P = 0.1228).

CONCLUSIONS

In CIN/SIL, both distribution and intensity of BAG3 expression correlate directly with the grade of dysplasia, supporting the involvement of BAG3 in all phases of cervical carcinogenesis and its possible diagnostic and prognostic role in cervical premalignant lesions.

TCGA molecular groups of endometrial cancer: Pooled data about prognosis

BACKGROUND

After The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) findings, four novel prognostic groups may direct the management of endometrial cancer (EC): POLE-mutated/ultramutated (POLEmt), microsatellite-instable/hypermutated (MSI), copy-number-low/p53-wild-type (p53wt), and copy-number-high/p53-mutated (p53mt). However, data about prognosis in each group are different across the studies, and definitive pooled estimates are lacking after validation series. Such data may be crucial in directing clinical study design and establishing the optimal tailored management of patients.

AIM

To provide pooled estimates of hazard ratio (HR) for overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), progression-free survival (PFS) in each prognostic group.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed by searching 7 electronic databases, from their inception to April 2019, for studies assessing prognosis in each TCGA EC group. Both univariable and multivariable HR analysis was performed for OS, DSS and PFS in each group, using p53wt as reference group.

RESULTS

Six studies with 2818 patients were included. Regarding OS, pooled HRs were 3.179 and 1.986 for p53mt group, 1.522 and 1.192 for MSI group, and 0.589 and 0.795 for POLEmt group at univariable and multivariable analyses, respectively. Regarding DSS, pooled HR were 5.052 and 2.133 for p53mt group, 1.965 and 1.068 for MSI group, and 0.552 and 0.325 for POLEmt group at univariable and multivariable analyses, respectively. Regarding PFS, pooled HR were 3.512 and 1.833 for p53mt group, 1.354 and 0.817 for MSI group, and 0.287 and 0.217 for POLEmt group at univariable and multivariable analyses, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Prognosis of p53mt group is consistently the worst one and is further worsened by unfavorable clinicopathological factors. Prognosis of MSI group overlaps with p53wt group but is worsened by unfavorable clinicopathological factors. Prognosis of POLEmt group is the best one and does not seem to be significantly affected by clinicopathological factors.

Accuracy of One-Step Nucleic Acid Amplification in Detecting Lymph Node Metastases in Endometrial Cancer

One-step nucleic acid amplification (OSNA) is used to intraoperatively detect sentinel lymph node metastases in breast cancer. OSNA has also been proposed in endometrial cancer, but evidence in this regard is unclear to define the diagnostic accuracy of OSNA in detecting lymph node metastases in endometrial cancer. A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed by searching 8 electronic databases from their inception to March 2019 for studies testing the diagnostic accuracy of OSNA in detecting sentinel lymph node metastasis in endometrial cancer. Pathologic ultrastaging was the reference standard. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratio (LR+ and LR-), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) and area under the curve (AUC) on SROC curve were calculated. Four studies with 237 patients and 691 lymph nodes were included. OSNA showed sensitivity = 0.88, specificity = 0.93, LR + =17.95, LR- = 0.15, DOR = 191.23 and high diagnostic accuracy (AUC = 0.959). OSNA appears as a highly accurate tool for intraoperative assessment of sentinel lymph node in endometrial cancer.

Immunohistochemical Nuclear Expression of β-Catenin as a Surrogate of CTNNB1 Exon 3 Mutation in Endometrial Cancer

OBJECTIVES

CTNNB1 exon 3 mutations have shown independent prognostic value in endometrial cancer. We aimed to assess whether nuclear β-catenin expression is an accurate surrogate, as immunohistochemistry is cheaper, faster, and more widely applicable than sequencing.

METHODS

A systematic review was performed by searching electronic databases for all studies assessing the association between β-catenin immunohistochemical expression and CTNNB1 mutations. Meta-analysis of diagnostic accuracy was performed by calculating sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratios (LR+ and LR-), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and area under the curve (AUC) on summary receiver operating characteristic curves.

RESULTS

Fifteen observational studies with 1,158 endometrial carcinomas were included. Pooled estimates showed sensitivity = 0.88, specificity = 0.85, LR+ = 4.57, LR- = 0.20, DOR = 27.16, and high diagnostic accuracy (AUC = 0.91).

CONCLUSIONS

Nuclear expression of β-catenin is an accurate immunohistochemical surrogate of CTNNB1 exon 3 mutations and thus might be considered in the risk stratification of endometrial cancer.

PTEN expression in endometrial hyperplasia and risk of cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

Rates of progression of endometrial hyperplasia (EH) to endometrial cancer (EC) are highly variable. Among several prognostic markers, PTEN has been recommended by ESMO-ESGO-ESTRO to identify premalignant EH. However, its prognostic accuracy is unclear. Thus, we aimed to assess: (1) the association between PTEN loss in EH and risk of cancer, and (2) the prognostic accuracy of PTEN immunohistochemistry in EH.

METHODS

Electronic databases were searched from their inception to June 2018. All studies assessing PTEN immunohistochemistry in EH and the presence of EC on subsequent hysterectomy were included. Odds ratio (OR), sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value (PPV and NPV), positive and negative likelihood ratio (LR + and LR-) and area under the curve (AUC) on SROC curves were calculated with subgroup analysis (short/long-term; atypical/non-atypical EH).

RESULTS

Nine retrospective studies assessing 933 EH were included. PTEN loss in EH was significantly associated with increased risk of EC (OR = 3.32, p = 0.001). The association was significant only on the short term ( < 1 year) (OR = 3.45, p = 0.002) and in atypical EH (OR = 1.89, p = 0.01). For overall analysis and short-term/atypical EH subgroup the prognostic accuracy was low, with sensitivity = 0.58 and 0.68, specificity = 0.60 and 0.48, VPp = 0.41 and 0.54, VPN = 0.75 and 0.63, LR +  = 1.80 and 1.37, LR - =  0.62 and 0.56, AUC = 0.687 and 0.721, respectively.

CONCLUSION

PTEN loss in EH is a risk factor for EC, but is not reliable in predicting the risk of EC. In atypical EH, PTEN loss is associated with a risk of concurrent EC of over 50%. This information might integrate the patients' informed consent for the choice of treatment (conservative/hysterectomy), especially in borderline cases. In conservative approach, PTEN loss might suggest closer follow-up.

Endometrial hyperplasia and progression to cancer: which classification system stratifies the risk better? A systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

Benign and precancerous endometrial hyperplasias (EH) are differentiated thorough two possible histomorphologic classifications: WHO (adopting the subjective evaluation of cytologic atypia) and EIN (adopting several histomorphologic parameters, evaluable subjectively, or objectively with a computerized analysis calculating a prognostic score, the D score). ACOG recommends the use of EIN system although no distinction was made between objective assessment (not widely available), and subjective assessment (more applicable in the common practice). Moreover, it is still unclear if subjective EIN system is actually preferable to WHO classification. We aimed to assess the reliability of WHO system, D score and subjective EIN system in stratifying the risk of progression to cancer in EH.

METHODS

MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Sciences, Scopus, ClinicalTrial.gov, OVID, Cochrane Library and Google Scholar were searched for relevant articles from the inception to August 2018. All studies assessing the rates of progression of EH to cancer were included.

RESULTS

Twelve cohort studies and one case-control study, assessing 3629 EH, were included. Relative risk (RR) for cancer progression was calculated with 95% confidence interval (CI), and results were compared using Chi-square test (significant p value < 0.05). WHO system showed a RR of 8.74 (95% CI 6.66-11.47). Objective D score showed a RR of 29.22 (95% CI 13.24-64.51), significantly higher than WHO (p = 0.005). Subjective EIN system showed a RR of 19.37 (95% CI 5.86-64.01), intermediate between WHO and D score, without significant differences (p = 0.20 and p = 0.57, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Objective EIN criteria with D score are significantly more reliable than WHO criteria in stratifying the risk of progression of EH to cancer. Subjective EIN criteria did not show significant superiority over WHO instead. Further studies are necessary to determine if subjective EIN system should replace WHO system in the routine diagnosis of EH.

Endometrial hyperplasia and the risk of coexistent cancer: WHO versus EIN criteria

Endometrial hyperplasia (EH) is classified into benign and precancerous according to two different histomorphological systems: the World Health Organisation (WHO) system (based on the subjective evaluation of cytological atypia) and the endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia (EIN) system (based on a combination of several parameters that are assessable subjectively, or objectively through computerised analysis). The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends use of the EIN system. Nonetheless, a higher prognostic value for EIN criteria was demonstrated only with the objective assessment, which is not routinely applicable. The aim of this study was to evaluate which of the subjective classifications of EH (WHO or EIN) has better prognostic value, by assessing the risk of coexistent cancer. Electronic databases were searched for relevant articles from the inception of the databases to July 2018. All studies assessing the presence of cancer on hysterectomy specimens after a preoperative histological diagnosis of EH were included. Odds ratios (ORs), sensitivity and specificity were calculated with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Sixteen cohort studies and three case-control studies, assessing 2582 EHs, were included. The WHO criteria showed an OR of 11.15 (95% CI 7.65-16.24), a sensitivity of 0.86 (95% CI 0.82-0.90) and a specificity of 0.67 (95% CI 0.64-0.70) for coexistent cancer. The subjective EIN system showed a similar OR (11.85, 95% CI 4.91-28.62; P = 0.90), higher sensitivity (0.98, 95% CI 0.94-0.99), and lower specificity (0.29, 95% CI 0.24-0.34). The WHO system and the subjective EIN system have similar prognostic values. However, the EIN criteria appear to be more sensitive and thus more suitable for selecting women who need to be treated, whereas the WHO criteria, based on cytological atypia, seem to be more specific for lesions at higher risk of cancer. Therefore, integration of the EIN system with cytological atypia should be considered.

Loss of PTEN expression as diagnostic marker of endometrial precancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Endometrial hyperplasia may be either a benign proliferation or a premalignant lesion. In order to differentiate these two conditions, two possible histologic classifications can be used: the World Health Organization (WHO) classification and the endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia (EIN) classification. The 2017 European Society of Gynaecological Oncology guidelines recommend the use of immunohistochemistry for tumor suppressor protein phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) to improve the differential diagnosis. Nonetheless, its diagnostic accuracy has never been defined. We aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of immunohistochemistry for PTEN in the differential diagnosis between benign and premalignant endometrial hyperplasia.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Electronic databases were searched from their inception to May 2018 for studies assessing immunohistochemical expression of PTEN in endometrial hyperplasia specimens. PTEN status ("loss" or "presence") was the index test; histological diagnosis ("precancer" or "benign") was the reference standard. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratios (LR+, LR-), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and area under the curve (AUC) on summary receiver operating characteristic curves were calculated (95% CI), with a subgroup analysis based on the histologic classification adopted (WHO vs EIN).

RESULTS

Twenty-seven observational studies with 1736 cases of endometrial hyperplasia were included. Pooled estimates showed low diagnostic accuracy: sensitivity 54% (95% CI 50%-59%), specificity 66% (63%-69%), LR+ 1.55 (1.29-1.87), LR- 0.72 (0.62-0.83), DOR 3.56 (2.02-6.28), AUC 0.657. When the WHO subgroup was compared with the EIN subgroup, higher accuracy (AUC 0.694 vs. 0.621), and higher heterogeneity in all analyses, were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Immunohistochemistry for PTEN showed low diagnostic usefulness in the differential diagnosis between benign and premalignant endometrial hyperplasia. In the absence of further evidence, the recommendation about its use should be reconsidered.