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Cheng TW, Hartsough E, Giubellino A. Sentinel lymph node assessment in melanoma: current state and future directions. Histopathology 2023; 83:669-684. [PMID: 37526026 DOI: 10.1111/his.15011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
Assessment of sentinel lymph node status is an important step in the evaluation of patients with melanoma for both prognosis and therapeutic management. Pathologists have an important role in this evaluation. The methodologies have varied over time, from the evaluation of dimensions of metastatic burden to determination of the location of the tumour deposits within the lymph node to precise cell counting. However, no single method of sentinel lymph node tumour burden measurement can currently be used as a sole independent predictor of prognosis. The management approach to sentinel lymph node-positive patients has also evolved over time, with a more conservative approach recently recognised for selected cases. This review gives an overview of past and current status in the field with a glimpse into future directions based on prior experiences and clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiffany W Cheng
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Emily Hartsough
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Alessio Giubellino
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
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El Sharouni MA, Laeijendecker AE, Suijkerbuijk KP, Witkamp AJ, Sigurdsson V, van Diest PJ, van Gils CH, Blokx WA. High discordance rate in assessing sentinel node positivity in cutaneous melanoma: Expert review may reduce unjustified adjuvant treatment. Eur J Cancer 2021; 149:105-113. [PMID: 33848712 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2021.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Revised: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Identification of sentinel node (SN) metastases can set the adjuvant systemic therapy indication for patients with stage III melanoma. Studies re-evaluating the diagnosis of initially positive SN biopsies are scarce. MATERIALS AND METHODS Dutch patients with melanoma who underwent SN biopsy between 2003 and 2014 were selected from PALGA, the Dutch Pathology Registry. Histopathological slides of SN-positive patients were retrieved for review. A random sample was reassessed by an expert melanoma pathologist. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) of patients who were misclassified (false-positive) was compared with those with a true positive SN status. For comparison, a group of SN-negative patients was included. Multivariable logistic analysis was performed to assess clinicopathological characteristics associated with misclassification of SN status. RESULTS Diagnosis was downgraded from melanoma metastasis to nodal nevus in 38 of the 322 reviewed patients (11.8%). Considering the inclusion criteria of phase III adjuvant trials, at least 4.3% of patients would have falsely qualified for adjuvant therapy. In multivariable analysis, patients with a low SN tumour burden and subcapsular SN tumour location had a significantly higher chance of being misclassified. The five-year RFS of the 38 downgraded patients was 86.7% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 72.6-96.6), similar to the 85.9% (95% CI = 84.9-86.8, p = 0.18) for 6413 SN-negative patients and better than the 53.2% (95% CI = 47.2-59.9, p = 0.009) of 284 patients who were truly SN positive upon review. CONCLUSION More than 10% of originally positive SN biopsies of patients with melanoma concern misclassified nodal nevi. We advocate that when adjuvant treatment is considered in patients with stage III melanoma, SN biopsies should be reassessed by an expert melanoma pathologist.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary-Ann El Sharouni
- Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Utrecht, University Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - Annelien E Laeijendecker
- Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Utrecht, University Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Karijn Pm Suijkerbuijk
- Department of Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Cancer Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Arjen J Witkamp
- Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, University Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Vigfús Sigurdsson
- Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Utrecht, University Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Paul J van Diest
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Utrecht, University Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Carla H van Gils
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, University Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Willeke Am Blokx
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Utrecht, University Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
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Rawson RV, Scolyer RA. From Breslow to BRAF and immunotherapy: evolving concepts in melanoma pathogenesis and disease progression and their implications for changing management over the last 50 years. Hum Pathol 2019; 95:149-160. [PMID: 31704364 DOI: 10.1016/j.humpath.2019.09.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2019] [Accepted: 09/11/2019] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Since it was first recognized as a disease entity more than two centuries ago, advanced melanoma has, until recently, followed a very aggressive and almost universally fatal clinical course. However, over the past 50 years crucial ground breaking research has greatly enhanced our understanding of the etiology, risk factors, genomic pathogenesis, immunological interactions, prognostic features and management of melanoma. It is this combined body of work which has culminated in the exciting improvements in patient outcomes for those with advanced melanoma over the last ten years. In this the 50th anniversary of Human Pathology, we highlight the key developments in melanoma over this period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert V Rawson
- Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, North Sydney, NSW, Australia; Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Tissue Pathology and Diagnostic Oncology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, 2020, NSW, Australia
| | - Richard A Scolyer
- Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, North Sydney, NSW, Australia; Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; New South Wales Health Pathology, Camperdown 2050, NSW, Australia; Tissue Pathology and Diagnostic Oncology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, 2020, NSW, Australia.
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Small and Isolated Immunohistochemistry-positive Cells in Melanoma Sentinel Lymph Nodes Are Associated With Disease-specific and Recurrence-free Survival Comparable to that of Sentinel Lymph Nodes Negative for Melanoma. Am J Surg Pathol 2019; 43:755-765. [DOI: 10.1097/pas.0000000000001229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Prognostic Significance of "Nonsolid" Microscopic Metastasis in Merkel Cell Carcinoma Sentinel Lymph Nodes. Am J Surg Pathol 2019; 43:907-919. [PMID: 31094923 DOI: 10.1097/pas.0000000000001277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Our recent work regarding Merkel cell carcinoma sentinel lymph node (SLN) metastasis found that "solid" pattern microscopic metastasis conferred worse prognosis than the "nonsolid" ones. The goals of the present study were to (1) compare the prognostic significance/outcomes of 2 diagnostic groups-patients with a nonsolid pattern of SLN metastasis and those with diagnostically negative SLN biopsies (SLNB), and (2) evaluate the durability of SLN metastasis after extensive sectioning. Five-level, step-wise sectioning at 250-μm intervals was performed in all SLN blocks with an immunohistochemical stain for CK20 on all levels. The presence and pattern of metastases were recorded and analyzed as were corresponding patient and tumor parameters. Median follow-up durations for all patients (n=38), positive SLNB (n=16) and negative SLNB (n=22) groups were 56.3, 50.4, and 66.8 months, respectively. Overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) did not differ between the 2 diagnostic groups (OS P=0.65, DSS P=0.37) but did differ by immune status (immunocompetent vs. immunosuppressed, OS P=0.03, DSS P=0.005) and primary tumor category (OS P<0.0001, DSS P=0.001). On deeper sectioning, all 16 diagnostically positive SLNB continued to show nonsolid microscopic metastasis, and 32% (7/22) diagnostically negative SLNB revealed nonsolid metastasis. DSS was worse for sinusoidal-pattern metastasis versus all others (P=0.02). Five of 38 patients (13%) died of disease; the only immunocompetent patient had sinusoidal-pattern metastasis discovered in a diagnostically negative SLNB. Our data suggest that outcome for nonsolid metastasis is similar to that of negative SLNB with the exception of the sinusoidal pattern, which was associated with worse outcome. Larger studies are warranted to quantify and compare microscopic metastatic tumor burden by pattern and confirm whether the sinusoidal pattern confers an intermediate prognostic risk between solid and other nonsolid microscopic metastases.
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Histopathologic review of negative sentinel lymph node biopsies in thin melanomas: an argument for the routine use of immunohistochemistry. Melanoma Res 2017; 27:369-376. [DOI: 10.1097/cmr.0000000000000361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
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Eigentler TK, Mühlenbein C, Follmann M, Schadendorf D, Garbe C. S3-Leitlinie Diagnostik, Therapie und Nachsorge des Melanoms - Update 2015/2016, Kurzversion 2.0. J Dtsch Dermatol Ges 2017; 15:e1-e41. [DOI: 10.1111/ddg.13247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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Haglund F, Garvin S, Ihre-Lundgren C, Nilsson IL, Hall E, Carling T, Höög A, Juhlin CC. Detailed Lymph Node Sectioning of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Specimen Increases the Number of pN1a Patients. Endocr Pathol 2016; 27:346-351. [PMID: 27251056 DOI: 10.1007/s12022-016-9438-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is a common endocrine malignancy, frequently presenting with lymph node metastasis at the time of diagnosis. Lymph node staging (N) partly determines treatment, follow-up, and prognosis. Since 2011, our institution has employed a more comprehensive histopathological work-up of lymph nodes in patients with PTC. We sought to retrospectively determine the value of serial lymph node level sectioning in PTCs with negative preoperative lymph node status (pN0) as a method to increase the sensitivity of detecting metastatic disease. We included all patients that underwent thyroidectomy and central neck dissection and subsequent comprehensive lymph node level sectioning due to PTC with an initial pN0 status between the years 2011 and 2015 at our institution. Sixty-seven cases of PTC with a median of 10 metastatic free lymph nodes identified per case were included. After serial lymph node sectioning of the central compartment, 11 cases (16 %) revealed lymph node metastasis, six of which (55 %) presented with a small primary tumor (<20 mm, T1). Of all T1 tumors with initial pN0 status, 18 % (T1a) and 9 % (T1b) reached a pN1 stage after comprehensive lymph node sectioning. Cases with altered lymph node status had a median of 15 identified lymph nodes as compared to ten in cases that remained negative. We conclude that comprehensive lymph node sectioning increased the sensitivity of detecting metastases in PTC and altered the pathological TNM staging (pTNM) for a significant number of patients. Although of limited prognostic significance, the method should be considered as an adjunct tool when assessing lymph node status of PTC as a part of the routine histological work-up to ensure an accurate cancer staging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Haglund
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Cancer Centre Karolinska, Karolinska Institutet, R8:04, 171 76, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Department of Pathology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Stina Garvin
- Department of Clinical Pathology and Clinical Genetics and Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Catharina Ihre-Lundgren
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet and the Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Inga-Lena Nilsson
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet and the Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Evelina Hall
- Department of Pathology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Tobias Carling
- Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Anders Höög
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Cancer Centre Karolinska, Karolinska Institutet, R8:04, 171 76, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Pathology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - C Christofer Juhlin
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Cancer Centre Karolinska, Karolinska Institutet, R8:04, 171 76, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Department of Pathology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
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Riber-Hansen R, Hamilton-Dutoit SJ, Steiniche T. Nodal distribution, stage migration due to diameter measurement and the prognostic significance of metastasis volume in melanoma sentinel lymph nodes: a validation study. APMIS 2014; 122:968-75. [DOI: 10.1111/apm.12240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2013] [Accepted: 12/02/2013] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Torben Steiniche
- Institute of Pathology; Aarhus University Hospital; Aarhus Denmark
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Pflugfelder A, Kochs C, Blum A, Capellaro M, Czeschik C, Dettenborn T, Dill D, Dippel E, Eigentler T, Feyer P, Follmann M, Frerich B, Ganten MK, Gärtner J, Gutzmer R, Hassel J, Hauschild A, Hohenberger P, Hübner J, Kaatz M, Kleeberg UR, Kölbl O, Kortmann RD, Krause-Bergmann A, Kurschat P, Leiter U, Link H, Loquai C, Löser C, Mackensen A, Meier F, Mohr P, Möhrle M, Nashan D, Reske S, Rose C, Sander C, Satzger I, Schiller M, Schlemmer HP, Strittmatter G, Sunderkötter C, Swoboda L, Trefzer U, Voltz R, Vordermark D, Weichenthal M, Werner A, Wesselmann S, Weyergraf AJ, Wick W, Garbe C, Schadendorf D. S3-guideline "diagnosis, therapy and follow-up of melanoma" -- short version. J Dtsch Dermatol Ges 2014; 11:563-602. [PMID: 23721604 DOI: 10.1111/ddg.12044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
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van der Ploeg APT, van Akkooi ACJ, Haydu LE, Scolyer RA, Murali R, Verhoef C, Thompson JF, Eggermont AMM. The prognostic significance of sentinel node tumour burden in melanoma patients: an international, multicenter study of 1539 sentinel node-positive melanoma patients. Eur J Cancer 2013; 50:111-20. [PMID: 24074765 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2013.08.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2013] [Accepted: 08/27/2013] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Sentinel node (SN) biopsy (SNB) and completion lymph node dissection (CLND) when SN-positive have become standard of care in most cancer centres for melanoma. Various SN tumour burden parameters are assessed to determine the heterogeneity of SN-positivity. The aim of the present study was to validate the prognostic significance of various SN tumour burden micromorphometric features and classification schemes in a large cohort of SN-positive melanoma patients. METHODS In 1539 SN-positive patients treated between 1993 and 2008 at 11 melanoma treatment centres in Europe and Australia, indices of SN tumour burden (intranodal location, tumour penetrative depth (TPD) and maximum size of SN tumour deposits) were evaluated. RESULTS Non-subcapsular location, increasing TPD and increasing maximum size were all predictive factors for non-SN (NSN) status and were independently associated with poorer melanoma-specific survival (MSS). Patients with subcapsular micrometastases <0.1mm in maximum dimension had the lowest frequency of NSN metastasis (5.5%). Despite differences in SN biopsy protocols and clinicopathologic features of the patient cohorts (between centres), most SN parameters remained predictive in individual centre populations. Maximum SN tumour size>1mm was the most reliable and consistent parameter independently associated with higher non-SN-positivity, poorer disease-free survival (DFS) and poorer MSS. CONCLUSIONS In this large retrospective, multicenter cohort study, several parameters of SN tumour burden including intranodal location, TPD and maximum size provided prognostic information, but their prognostic significance varied considerably between the different centres. This could be due to sample size limitations or to differences in SN detection, removal and examination techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Rajmohan Murali
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Cornelis Verhoef
- Erasmus University Medical Center, Daniel den Hoed Cancer Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Sentinel node biopsy (SNB) for primary melanoma is accepted worldwide as a diagnostic procedure. When sentinel node positive, the invasive completion lymph node dissection (CLND) is usually performed. Approximately 20% of CLND patients have nonsentinel node (NSN) metastases. The therapeutic benefit is unknown. This review analyzed the necessity of CLND in sentinel node positive patients. RECENT FINDINGS Prognosis of sentinel node positive patients is highly heterogeneous. The Rotterdam and Dewar criteria and S-classification are important sentinel node tumor burden criteria to stratify melanoma patients for prognosis and risk of NSN metastases. Patients with less than 0.1 mm metastases seem to have similar prognosis as sentinel node negative patients, especially when located in the subcapsular area. This depends on the use of an extensive sentinel node pathology protocol identifying possibly clinically irrelevant micrometastases. SUMMARY Consensus on the sentinel node pathology work-up and analysis protocols are crucial for correct risk stratification and for clinical decision-making. Primary and sentinel node tumor burden parameters and patient comorbidities should be taken into consideration when offering CLND to an individual patient. In the future, prospective studies such as the MSLT-II and the EORTC 1208 (Minitub) will provide answers to whether CLND has a therapeutic benefit and to which patients might safely be spared CLND.
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Kowalewska M, Radziszewski J, Goryca K, Bujko M, Oczko-Wojciechowska M, Jarzab M, Siedlecki JA, Bidzinski M. Estimation of groin recurrence risk in patients with squamous cell vulvar carcinoma by the assessment of marker gene expression in the lymph nodes. BMC Cancer 2012; 12:223. [PMID: 22673103 PMCID: PMC3414830 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2407-12-223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2011] [Accepted: 06/06/2012] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Regional lymph node (LN) status is a well-known prognostic factor for vulvar carcinoma (VC) patients. Although the reliable LN assessment in VC is crucial, it presents significant diagnostic problems. We aimed to identify specific mRNA markers of VC dissemination in the LN and to address the feasibility of predicting the risk of nodal recurrence by the patterns of gene expression. Methods Sentinel and inguinal LN samples from 20 patients who had undergone surgery for stage T1-3, N0-2, M0 primary vulvar squamous cell carcinoma were analyzed. Gene expression profiles were assessed in four metastatic [LN(+)] and four histologically negative [LN(−)] lymph node samples obtained from four VC patients, by the Affymetrix U133 Plus 2.0 gene expression microarrays. Of the set of genes of the highest expression in the metastatic LNs compared to LN(−), seven candidate marker genes were selected: PERP, S100A8, FABP5, SFN, CA12, JUP and CSTA, and the expression levels of these genes were further analyzed by the real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in 71 LN samples. Results All of the seven genes in question were significantly increased in LN(+) compared to LN(−) samples. In the initial validation of the seven putative markers of metastatic LN, the Cox proportional hazard model pointed to SFN, CA12 and JUP expression to significantly relate to the time to groin recurrence in VC patients. Conclusions Our findings first provided evidence that SFN, CA12 and JUP have a potential of marker genes for the prediction of the groin recurrence LN in VC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Kowalewska
- Department of Molecular Biology, Maria Sklodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Centre, Warsaw, Poland.
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Murali R, DeSilva C, McCarthy SW, Thompson JF, Scolyer RA. Sentinel lymph nodes containing very small (<0.1 mm) deposits of metastatic melanoma cannot be safely regarded as tumor-negative. Ann Surg Oncol 2012; 19:1089-99. [PMID: 22271204 DOI: 10.1245/s10434-011-2208-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2011] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Some authors have suggested that patients with very small (<0.1 mm) deposits of metastatic melanoma in sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) should be considered SLN-negative, whereas others have reported that such patients can have adverse long-term outcomes. The aims of the present study were to determine whether extensive sectioning of SLNs resulted in more accurate categorization of histologic features of tumor deposits and to assess prognostic associations of histologic parameters obtained using more intensive sectioning protocols. METHODS From patients with a single primary cutaneous melanoma who underwent SLN biopsy between 1991 and 2008, those in which the maximum size of the largest tumor deposit (MaxSize) in SLNs was <0.1 mm in the original sections were identified. Five batches of additional sections were cut from the SLN tissue blocks at intervals of 250 μm. The 1st batch was cut from the blocks without any trimming; these sections were therefore immediately adjacent to the original sections. Each batch included 5 sequential sections, the 1st and 5th stained with hematoxylin-eosin, and the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th stained immunohistochemically with S-100, HMB-45, and Melan-A, respectively. In each batch of sections, the following histologic features of tumor deposit(s) in the SLNs were evaluated: MaxSize; tumor penetrative depth (TPD) (defined as the maximum depth of tumor deposit(s) from the inner margin of the lymph node capsule), and intranodal location (classified as subcapsular if the tumor deposit(s) were confined to the subcapsular zone or parenchymal if there was any involvement of the nodal parenchyma beyond the subcapsular zone). The measured histologic parameters were compared in each batch of sections. The association of histologic parameters with overall survival was assessed for the parameters measured in each batch of sections. RESULTS There were 20 eligible patients (15 females, 5 males, median age 60 years). After a median follow-up duration of 40 months, 4 patients had died from melanoma and 2 patients of unknown causes. Completion lymph node dissection (CLND) was performed in 13 cases (65%) and was negative in all cases. Relative to the measured values on the original sections, all 3 parameters were upstaged in subsequent batches of sections, but no further upstaging of MaxSize, TPD, or location was seen beyond batch 3, batch 4, and batch 2, respectively. Increasing MaxSize was associated with significantly poorer overall survival in batches 1, 2, and 3. Parenchymal involvement was significantly associated with poorer survival in batches 2-5. TPD was not significantly associated with overall survival. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study indicate that very small (<0.1 mm) deposits of melanoma in SLNs may be associated with adverse clinical outcomes and that this is due, at least in part, to the underestimation of SLN tumor burden in the initial sections. Our evidence does not support clinical decision-making on the assumption that patients with very small melanoma deposits in SLNs have the same outcome as those who are SLN-negative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajmohan Murali
- Tissue Pathology and Diagnostic Oncology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, and Discipline of Pathology, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
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Spychała A, Murawa D, Korski K. The clinical importance of micrometastases within the lymphatic system in patients after total gastrectomy. Rep Pract Oncol Radiother 2011; 16:232-6. [PMID: 24376986 DOI: 10.1016/j.rpor.2011.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2011] [Revised: 06/25/2011] [Accepted: 08/18/2011] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In spite of radical gastrectomy with resection of the lymphatic system, where no metastases are found during histopathological examination, about 30% of patients have relapse of the neoplastic process. This situation may be caused by micrometastases or isolated neoplastic cells in the lymphatic system which were not identified during a standard histopathological examination. AIM The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical importance of micrometastases within the lymphatic system in patients with gastric cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS A group of 20 patients treated for gastric cancer were subjected to retrospective analysis. Of all the patients who underwent surgery, a group with tumours classified as T1 or T2 was selected. No metastases within the lymphatic system were found in the standard evaluation - N0 mark. Paraffin-embedded blocks of lymph nodes were cut and new specimens were made, which were then stained again by means of immunohistochemistry. Antibodies against cytokeratin AE1/AE3 were used. RESULTS A total of 319 lymph nodes were assessed in 20 patients in an H + E examination. After the immunohistochemical examination, micrometastases within the lymphatic system were found in 4 (20%) patients and isolated neoplastic cells in other 4 (20%) patients. CONCLUSION On the basis of numerous publications and our own material, we think that the presence of micrometastases may be related to a worse prognosis. The clinical importance of micrometastases within the lymphatic system in patients after total gastrectomy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dawid Murawa
- I Ward of Surgical Oncology, Greatpoland Cancer Center, Poznań, Poland
| | - Konstanty Korski
- Department of Pathology, Greatpoland Cancer Center, Poznań, Poland
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Factors Predicting Recurrence and Survival in Sentinel Lymph Node-Positive Melanoma Patients. Ann Surg 2011; 253:1155-64. [DOI: 10.1097/sla.0b013e318214beba] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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Murali R, Desilva C, Thompson JF, Scolyer RA. Non-Sentinel Node Risk Score (N-SNORE): a scoring system for accurately stratifying risk of non-sentinel node positivity in patients with cutaneous melanoma with positive sentinel lymph nodes. J Clin Oncol 2010; 28:4441-9. [PMID: 20823419 DOI: 10.1200/jco.2010.30.9567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Sentinel node (SN) biopsy allows identification of patients with melanoma at risk of further metastatic disease in regional non-sentinel nodes (NSN). We investigated clinicopathologic factors that predict NSN positivity in an attempt to identify patients who may be safely spared completion lymph node dissection (CLND). PATIENTS AND METHODS Clinicopathologic factors previously shown to be predictive of NSN positivity were analyzed in 409 patients with SN-positive disease (309 of whom underwent CLND) managed at a single melanoma center. A weighted score Non-Sentinel Node Risk Score [N-SNORE] incorporating predictive factors was derived, and the efficacy of N-SNORE at stratifying risk of NSN involvement was studied. RESULTS Factors independently predictive of NSN positivity included primary tumor regression, proportion of harvested SNs involved by melanoma (%PosSN), sex (trend), and SN tumor burden indices (maximum size of largest deposit [MaxSize], % cross-sectional area of SN occupied by tumor, tumor penetrative depth, intranodal location of tumor) and perinodal lymphatic invasion (PLI). Of SN tumor burden criteria, MaxSize was the strongest predictor. N-SNORE was the sum of scores for five parameters: sex (female = 0, male = 1), regression (absent = 0, present = 2), %PosSN (absent = 0, present = 2), MaxSize (≤ 0.5 mm = 0, 0.51 to 2.00 mm = 1, 2.01 to 10.00 mm = 2, > 10.00 mm = 3), and PLI (absent = 0, present = 3). N-SNOREs of 0, 1 to 3, 4 to 5, 6 to 7, and ≥ 8 were associated with very low (0%), low (5% to 10%), intermediate (15% to 20%), high (40% to 50%), and very high (70% to 80%) risks of NSN involvement. CONCLUSION A weighted score (N-SNORE) based on clinicopathologic characteristics accurately stratifies risk of NSN involvement in patients with melanoma. If validated in future studies, N-SNORE will better predict prognosis, aid in management decisions, and stratify patient groups for entry into clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajmohan Murali
- Tissue Pathology and Diagnostic Oncology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.
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van Akkooi ACJ, Verhoef C, Eggermont AMM. Importance of tumor load in the sentinel node in melanoma: clinical dilemmas. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2010; 7:446-54. [PMID: 20567244 DOI: 10.1038/nrclinonc.2010.100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
There are two hypotheses to explain melanoma dissemination: first, simultaneous lymphatic and hematogeneous spread, with regional lymph nodes as indicators of metastatic disease; and second, orderly progression, with regional lymph nodes as governors of metastatic disease. The sentinel node (SN) has been defined as the first draining lymph node from a tumor and is harvested with the use of the triple technique and is processed by an extensive pathology protocol. The SN status is a strong prognostic factor for survival (83-94% for SN negative, 56-75% SN-positive patients). False-negative rates are considerable (9-21%). Preliminary results of the MSLT-1 trial did not demonstrate a survival benefit for the SN procedure, although a subgroup analysis indicates a possible benefit. A mathematical model has demonstrated 24% prognostic false positivity. SN tumor burden represents a heterogeneous patient population and is classified most frequently with the Starz, Dewar or Rotterdam Criteria. A completion lymph-node dissection might not be indicated in all SN-positive patients. Patients classified with metastases <0.1 mm by the Rotterdam Criteria have excellent survival rates. Ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology is emerging as a staging tool for high-risk patients, but more research is necessary before this can change clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander C J van Akkooi
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Daniel den Hoed Cancer Center, Groene Hilledijk 301, Kamer A1-41, 3075 EA Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
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Oonk MH, van Hemel BM, Hollema H, de Hullu JA, Ansink AC, Vergote I, Verheijen RH, Maggioni A, Gaarenstroom KN, Baldwin PJ, van Dorst EB, van der Velden J, Hermans RH, van der Putten HW, Drouin P, Runnebaum IB, Sluiter WJ, van der Zee AG. Size of sentinel-node metastasis and chances of non-sentinel-node involvement and survival in early stage vulvar cancer: results from GROINSS-V, a multicentre observational study. Lancet Oncol 2010; 11:646-52. [PMID: 20537946 DOI: 10.1016/s1470-2045(10)70104-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 174] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Currently, all patients with vulvar cancer with a positive sentinel node undergo inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy, irrespective of the size of sentinel-node metastases. Our study aimed to assess the association between size of sentinel-node metastasis and risk of metastases in non-sentinel nodes, and risk of disease-specific survival in early stage vulvar cancer. METHODS In the GROningen INternational Study on Sentinel nodes in Vulvar cancer (GROINSS-V), sentinel-node detection was done in patients with T1-T2 (<4 cm) squamous-cell vulvar cancer, followed by inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy if metastatic disease was identified in the sentinel node, either by routine examination or pathological ultrastaging. For the present study, sentinel nodes were independently reviewed by two pathologists. FINDINGS Metastatic disease was identified in one or more sentinel nodes in 135 (33%) of 403 patients, and 115 (85%) of these patients had inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy. The risk of non-sentinel-node metastases was higher when the sentinel node was found to be positive with routine pathology than with ultrastaging (23 of 85 groins vs three of 56 groins, p=0.001). For this study, 723 sentinel nodes in 260 patients (2.8 sentinel nodes per patient) were reviewed. The proportion of patients with non-sentinel-node metastases increased with size of sentinel-node metastasis: one of 24 patients with individual tumour cells had a non-sentinel-node metastasis; two of 19 with metastases 2 mm or smaller; two of 15 with metastases larger than 2 mm to 5 mm; and ten of 21 with metastases larger than 5 mm. Disease-specific survival for patients with sentinel-node metastases larger than 2 mm was lower than for those with sentinel-node metastases 2 mm or smaller (69.5%vs 94.4%, p=0.001). INTERPRETATION Our data show that the risk of non-sentinel-node metastases increases with size of sentinel-node metastasis. No size cutoff seems to exist below which chances of non-sentinel-node metastases are close to zero. Therefore, all patients with sentinel-node metastases should have additional groin treatment. The prognosis for patients with sentinel-node metastasis larger than 2 mm is poor, and novel treatment regimens should be explored for these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maaike H Oonk
- University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
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Can histologic parameters of melanoma metastases in sentinel lymph nodes reliably select patients who can be safely spared completion lymph node dissection? Ann Surg 2010; 251:1188-9; author reply 1189-90. [PMID: 20485116 DOI: 10.1097/sla.0b013e3181e01503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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van Akkooi ACJ, Voit CA, Verhoef C, Eggermont AMM. New developments in sentinel node staging in melanoma: controversies and alternatives. Curr Opin Oncol 2010; 22:169-77. [DOI: 10.1097/cco.0b013e328337aa78] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Murali R, Thompson JF, Scolyer RA. Location of melanoma metastases in sentinel lymph nodes: what are the implications for histologic processing of sentinel lymph nodes in routine practice? Am J Surg Pathol 2010; 34:127-9; author reply 129-31. [PMID: 20035152 DOI: 10.1097/pas.0b013e3181c70ee8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Abstract
The pathologic evaluation of sentinel lymph nodes for melanoma metastases is not without significant challenges. It is affected by significant variation in approaches, which may compromise the final interpretation, leading to nonrepresentative spurious results. This article discusses various approaches along with recommended dos and don'ts for optimum evaluation of sentinel lymph nodes for melanoma metastases.
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25
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Jamieson GG, Thompson SK. Detection of lymph node metastases in oesophageal cancer. Br J Surg 2008; 96:21-5. [DOI: 10.1002/bjs.6411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Background
The importance of lymph node status in oesophageal cancer cannot be disputed. It is therefore surprising that no standardization exists in either terminology or methodology in lymph node analysis.
Methods
All online databases were searched to identify articles published from 1970 onwards. This was supplemented by hand searching references of retrieved articles.
Results and conclusion
Without accurate identification of lymph node metastases, patients cannot be staged properly, nor can best practice for the treatment of oesophageal cancer be determined. This review outlines the problem and proposes recommendations for standardization in terminology and methodology for the detection of lymph node metastases in oesophageal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- G G Jamieson
- Department of Surgery, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - S K Thompson
- Department of Surgery, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
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Scolyer RA, Murali R, McCarthy SW, Thompson JF. Pathologic examination of sentinel lymph nodes from melanoma patients. Semin Diagn Pathol 2008; 25:100-11. [PMID: 18697713 DOI: 10.1053/j.semdp.2008.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
In melanoma patients, the sentinel node biopsy (SNB) procedure is a highly accurate staging method, and the tumor-harboring status of the sentinel node (SN) is the most important prognostic factor for patients with early stage disease. For the SN to provide accurate prognostic information, however, it is essential that all "true" SNs are removed and examined diligently. Pathologists should examine multiple hematoxylin-eosin and immunohistochemically stained sections from each SN, but it is unclear from the currently available evidence what is the most appropriate sectioning and staining protocol. Relevant factors to consider include the accuracy of the procedure, the time, labor, and costs involved, and clinical follow-up data which are likely to vary between institutions; hence, individual protocols should be developed locally by pathologists in consultation with their surgical colleagues. At the Sydney Melanoma Unit, four sequential sections of both halves of each SN are examined. The first and fourth sections are stained with hematoxylin-eosin, the second section is stained for S-100 protein, and the third section is stained for HMB-45. Pathologists should not only identify the presence of melanoma metastases within the SN, but also record the size of the largest metastatic focus, tumor penetrative depth (measured from the inner margin of the node capsule to the deepest tumor cell within the SN), and the percentage nodal cross-sectional area involved (as measured on the slides). Potential diagnostic pitfalls in SN evaluation include the misinterpretation of nevus cells, macrophages, or antigen-presenting interdigitating dendritic cells as melanoma. Careful assessment of the morphologic characteristics of the cells and their immunohistochemical profile should prevent misdiagnosis. Routine frozen section examination of SNs from melanoma patients is not recommended. The utility of ultrasound to detect SN metastases (confirmed by fine needle biopsy) is currently being investigated. Whereas potentially this may avoid the need for formal sentinel lymphadenectomy and histopathologic evaluation in some patients, the lack of sensitivity of currently available ultrasound technologies to detect the small micrometastases (<2 mm in diameter), that are typically present in most melanoma patients with a positive SN, limits its current role. In the future, other techniques, such as the use of carbon particles or antimony analysis, may better localize the site of metastases within SNs and permit more focused and efficient pathologic examination of SNs. At present, the role of nonhistopathologic methods of SN evaluation, such as reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy, remains unclear, and these techniques require further evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard A Scolyer
- Department of Anatomical Pathology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.
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Murali R, Thompson JF, Scolyer RA. Sentinel lymph node biopsy for melanoma: aspects of pathologic assessment. Future Oncol 2008; 4:535-51. [DOI: 10.2217/14796694.4.4.535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy affords an accurate, minimally invasive means of staging and determining prognosis in patients with melanoma and for identifying those patients who may benefit from complete regional lymph node dissection. Careful and accurate histopathologic assessment of SLNs is critical to achieving optimal reliability of the technique. Micromorphometric parameters of melanoma deposits in SLNs have been shown to be predictive of regional non-SLN involvement and of clinical outcomes. Several non-histopathologic methods of SLN evaluation have been investigated, and while some of them show promise for the future, excision and histopathologic examination currently remains the gold standard for the evaluation of SLNs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajmohan Murali
- Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Department of Anatomical Pathology, Camperdown, Sydney, NSW 2050, Australia and, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney Melanoma Unit, Sydney Cancer Centre, Camperdown, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and, University of Sydney, Discipline of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - John F Thompson
- Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney Melanoma Unit, Sydney Cancer Centre, Camperdown, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia University of Sydney, Discipline of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Richard A Scolyer
- Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Department of Anatomical Pathology, Camperdown, Sydney, NSW 2050, Australia and, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney Melanoma Unit, Sydney Cancer Centre, Camperdown, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and, University of Sydney, Discipline of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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Visser M, Jiwa M, Horstman A, Brink AATP, Pol RP, van Diest P, Snijders PJF, Meijer CJLM. Intra-operative rapid diagnostic method based on CK19 mRNA expression for the detection of lymph node metastases in breast cancer. Int J Cancer 2008; 122:2562-7. [PMID: 18324628 PMCID: PMC2658031 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.23451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 146] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Staging by sentinel node (SN) biopsy is the standard procedure for clinically node-negative breast cancer patients. Intra-operative analysis of the SN allows immediate axillary lymph node (ALN) dissection in SN positive patients, but a quick, reliable and reproducible method is lacking. We tested the suitability of a quantitative cytokeratin 19 (CK19) mRNA one step nucleic acid amplification (OSNA#) technique (OSNA-CK19) for intra-operative SN analysis. OSNA-CK19 involves a short manual sample preparation step and subsequent fully automated amplification of CK19 mRNA based on reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification, with results available within 30–40 min. OSNA-CK19 was compared to histological staining (Hematoxylin&Eosin and CAM5.2 and CK19 immunostaining) of 346 frozen ALNs from 32 breast cancer patients, using half of the lymph node for each method. 267 samples were negative and 61 positive by both methods. Three samples were histology positive and OSNA-CK19 negative. Fifteen samples were histology negative and OSNA-CK19 positive, 11 of which had copy numbers close to the cut-off level of OSNA-CK19. Seven of these 15 samples were RT-PCR positive for epithelial markers and/or showed CK19 protein expression by Western blot suggesting the presence of tumor deposits in the lymph node part investigated by OSNA-CK19. Concordance with histology was 94.8%, and 96.8% after exclusion of the latter 7 discordant cases. Sensitivity was 95.3% and specificity was 94.7% before and 97.1% after discordant case investigation. Our results indicate that OSNA-CK19 can potentially be useful in an intra-operative clinical setting to detect SN tumor involvement in breast cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mike Visser
- Department of Pathology, VU Medical Center Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Riber-Hansen R, Sjoegren P, Hamilton-Dutoit SJ, Steiniche T. Extensive Pathological Analysis of Selected Melanoma Sentinel Lymph Nodes: High Metastasis Detection Rates at Reduced Workload. Ann Surg Oncol 2008; 15:1492-501. [DOI: 10.1245/s10434-008-9847-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2007] [Revised: 02/06/2008] [Accepted: 02/06/2008] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Thomsen JB, Christensen RK, Sørensen JA, Krogdahl A. Sentinel lymph nodes in cancer of the oral cavity: is central step-sectioning enough? J Oral Pathol Med 2007; 36:425-9. [PMID: 17617836 DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0714.2007.00538.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Extended histopathologic work-up has increased the detection of micrometastasis in sentinel lymph nodes in malignant melanoma and breast cancer. The aim of this study was to examine if (A) step-sectioning of the central 1000 microM at 250 microM levels with immunostaining were accurate when compared with (B) step-sectioning and immunostaining of the entire sentinel lymph node at 250 microM levels. METHODS Forty patients with T1/T2 cN0 oral cancer were enrolled. Three patients were excluded. In one patient no sentinel lymph node was identified. The remaining two had unidentified sentinel lymph nodes due to lymphoscintigraphic and surgical sampling error. The central 1000 microM of 147 sentinel lymph nodes were step-sectioned in 250-microm intervals and stained with hematoxylin and eosin and CK-KL1. All lymph nodes were recorded as negative or positive for macrometastases or micrometastases. After inclusion of the last patient the residual tissue of the lymph nodes was totally step-sectioned at 250-microm intervals and re-classified. The tumor deposits were divided into macrometastases and micrometastases and ITC. RESULTS Method (A) upstaged 17 lymph nodes and 11 patients compared with method (B), which upstaged 22 lymph nodes and 11 patients. Seven of the patients with positive lymph nodes did not change stage. However, four lymph nodes changed from micrometastases to macrometastases. One patient changed from a micrometastasis to four micrometastases. One pN2c patient with bilateral micrometastases did not change stage, but an additional ipsilateral lymph node with a micrometastasis was identified. CONCLUSION Larger tumor deposits and more metastases are identified by more extensive sectioning of the sentinel lymph nodes. None of the patients was false-negative due to histopathologic sampling error, but the results indicate that central step-sectioning of the central 1000 microM cannot completely be relied upon for accurate staging of the patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jørn Bo Thomsen
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Odense Uinversity Hospital, Odense C, Denmark.
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Mocellin S, Hoon DSB, Pilati P, Rossi CR, Nitti D. Sentinel lymph node molecular ultrastaging in patients with melanoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prognosis. J Clin Oncol 2007; 25:1588-95. [PMID: 17443001 DOI: 10.1200/jco.2006.09.4573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Molecular biology-based ultrastaging of cancer is already part of the standard management of patients with hematologic malignancies, whereas the evidence for solid tumors is much more debated. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) -based detection of melanoma cells in sentinel lymph nodes (SLN) of patients with melanoma represents an appealing prognostic tool. However, no consensus exists on the clinical implementation of this prognostic indicator for the management of these patients. METHODS Twenty-two studies enrolling 4,019 patients who underwent SLN biopsy for clinical stage I to II cutaneous melanoma were reviewed. Correlation of PCR status with TNM stage, disease recurrence rates, and survival was assessed by means of association statistics and formal meta-analysis, respectively. RESULTS PCR status correlated with both TNM stage (stage I to II v III; PCR positivity, 95.1% v 46.6%; P < .0001) and disease recurrence (PCR positive v negative; relapse rate, 16.8% v 8.7%; P < .0001). PCR positivity was also associated with worse overall (hazard ratio [HR], 5.08; 95% CI, 1.83 to 14.08; P = .002) and disease-free (HR, 3.41; 95% CI, 1.86 to 6.24; P < .0001) survival. Statistical heterogeneity was significant, underscoring the variability among overall effect estimates across studies; metaregression and subgroup analysis did not identify clear-cut sources of heterogeneity, although some study design variables were suggested as potential causes. CONCLUSION PCR status of SLN appears to have a clinically valuable prognostic power in patients with melanoma. Although the heterogeneity of the studies so far published warrants caution to avoid overestimating the favorable results of pooled data, our findings strongly support additional investigation in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Mocellin
- Surgery Branch, Department of Oncological & Surgical Sciences, University of Padova, Italy.
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Vuylsteke RJCLM, Molenkamp BG, van Leeuwen PAM, Meijer S, Wijnands PGJTB, Haanen JBAG, Scheper RJ, de Gruijl TD. Tumor-Specific CD8+ T Cell Reactivity in the Sentinel Lymph Node of GM-CSF–Treated Stage I Melanoma Patients is Associated with High Myeloid Dendritic Cell Content. Clin Cancer Res 2006; 12:2826-33. [PMID: 16675577 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-05-2431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Impaired immune functions in the sentinel lymph node (SLN) may facilitate early metastatic events during melanoma development. Local potentiation of tumor-specific T cell reactivity may be a valuable adjuvant treatment option. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN We examined the effect of locally administered granulocyte/macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) on the frequency of tumor-specific CD8+ T cells in the SLN and blood of patients with stage I melanoma. Twelve patients were randomly assigned to preoperative local administration of either recombinant human GM-CSF or NaCl 0.9%. CD8+ T cells from SLN and peripheral blood were tested for reactivity in an IFNgamma ELISPOT assay against the full-length MART-1 antigen and a number of HLA-A1, HLA-A2, and HLA-A3-restricted epitopes derived from a range of melanoma-associated antigens. RESULTS Melanoma-specific CD8+ T cell response rates in the SLN were one of six for the control group and four of six for the GM-CSF-administered group. Only one patient had detectable tumor-specific CD8+ T cells in the blood, but at lower frequencies than in the SLN. All patients with detectable tumor-specific CD8+ T cells had a percentage of CD1a+ SLN-dendritic cells (DC) above the median (i.e., 0.33%). This association between above median CD1a+ SLN-DC frequencies and tumor antigen-specific CD8+ T cell reactivity was significant in a two-sided Fisher's exact test (P = 0.015). CONCLUSIONS Locally primed antitumor T cell responses in the SLN are detectable as early as stage I of melanoma development and may be enhanced by GM-CSF-induced increases in SLN-DC frequencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronald J C L M Vuylsteke
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Pathology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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Johnson TM, Sondak VK, Bichakjian CK, Sabel MS. The role of sentinel lymph node biopsy for melanoma: evidence assessment. J Am Acad Dermatol 2005; 54:19-27. [PMID: 16384752 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2005.09.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2005] [Revised: 08/23/2005] [Accepted: 09/13/2005] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Timothy M Johnson
- Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
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Molenkamp BG, Vuylsteke RJCLM, van Leeuwen PAM, Meijer S, Vos W, Wijnands PGJTB, Scheper RJ, de Gruijl TD. Matched skin and sentinel lymph node samples of melanoma patients reveal exclusive migration of mature dendritic cells. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2005; 167:1301-7. [PMID: 16251414 PMCID: PMC1603792 DOI: 10.1016/s0002-9440(10)61217-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/11/2005] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Mature and immature myeloid dendritic cells (DCs) are thought to differentially modulate T-cell responses in secondary lymphoid tissues. Although mature DCs are believed to induce T-cell activation under proinflammatory conditions, immature DCs are believed to maintain a state of T-cell tolerance under steady state conditions. However, little is known about the actual activation state of human DCs under these different conditions. Here, we compare the frequency and activation state of human DCs between matched skin and sentinel lymph node (SLN) samples, after intradermal administration of either granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) or saline, at the excision site of stage I primary melanoma. Although DCs remained immature (CD1a+CD83-) and mostly situated in the epidermis of the saline-injected skin (fully consistent with a quiescent steady state), mature (CD1a+CD83+) DC frequencies significantly increased in the GM-CSF-injected skin and correlated with the number of mature DCs in the SLN, indicative of increased DC migration. Interestingly, irrespective of GM-CSF or saline administration, all CD1a+ myeloid DCs in the SLN were phenotypically mature (ie, CD83+). These data are indicative of migration of small numbers of phenotypically mature DCs to lymph nodes under steady state conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara G Molenkamp
- Vrije Universiteit Medical Center, Department of Surgical Oncology, PO Box 7057, 1007 MB Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Ulmer A, Fischer JR, Schanz S, Sotlar K, Breuninger H, Dietz K, Fierlbeck G, Klein CA. Detection of melanoma cells displaying multiple genomic changes in histopathologically negative sentinel lymph nodes. Clin Cancer Res 2005; 11:5425-32. [PMID: 16061857 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-04-1995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Improved detection of early-disseminated melanoma cells may eventually translate into more effective patient care. We present a novel strategy for detection of melanoma cells in sentinel lymph nodes and confirm their malignant descent by genomic characterization. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN In sentinel lymph nodes from 358 melanoma patients, we prospectively compared the rates of tumor cell detection between immunocytochemistry using HMB45 and Melan A antibodies on disaggregated lymph node samples and standard histopathology (H&E staining and immunostaining on tissue sections). Immunocytochemical melanoma cell detection was controlled by testing lymph node samples from 59 nonmelanoma patients and by isolation and comparative genomic analysis of 30 antigen-positive cells. RESULTS Of the 358 patients, 43 (12%) were positive by standard histopathology, whereas HMB45 immunocytochemistry detected 159 of 358 (44%) positive patients. None of the control samples reacted with the HMB45 antibody. Reexamination of samples that were classified as negative by histopathology revealed that extensive serial sectioning would be necessary to achieve sensitivity similar to HMB45 immunocytochemistry. Interestingly, both the number of immunocytochemically positive samples and the number of positive cells in the sentinel node correlated with the thickness of the primary tumor (r = 0.34; P = 0.001 and P < 0.0001, respectively). Twenty-four of 30 isolated immunocytochemically positive cells (80%) displayed chromosomal aberrations, some of which were isolated from histopathologically negative nodes. CONCLUSION Immunocytochemical detection of melanoma cells in sentinel lymph nodes is superior to standard histopathology. It remains to be determined whether the detection and genomic characterization of isolated melanoma cells in sentinel lymph nodes will provide relevant prognostic information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja Ulmer
- Universitäts-Hautklinik, Eberhard-Karls-Universität, Tübingen, Germany
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