Frequency of Nucleophosmin 1 Expression by Immunohistochemistry in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Nucleophosmin (NPM1) mutation is one of the most common recurring genetic abnormalities seen in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Immunohistochemistry serves as a cost effective and simple surrogate testing method for detection of NPM1 mutation. This study was conducted to evaluate the frequency of aberrant cytoplasmic nucleophosmin 1 expression in leukemic blast cells on formalin fixed bone marrow trephine biopsy (BMB) sections and also to correlate this data with the reference molecular method (reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction; RT-PCR and gene sequencing), where available. Immunostains were performed using mouse anti-NPM1 monoclonal antibody on 71 paraffin embedded bone marrow biopsies (BMB) of patients with AML of any French-American-British (FAB) subtype. Results of immunohistochemistry (IHC) were then compared with the reference molecular method. The proportion of NPM1 expression by immunostaining in AML cases was found to be 17%. Twelve of the total 71 cases demonstrated cytoplasmic nucleophosmin (NPMc+) on immunostaining. Eleven of the positive cases that were correlated with the molecular standard demonstrated mutation in exon 12 of NPM1 gene. Cytoplasmic nucleophosmin expression by immunostaining was found to be in complete agreement with the standard molecular method. In a resource restricted setup, the information from this study might help in providing an inexpensive and accurate detection method to facilitate introduction of this marker in diagnostic and prognostic workup of AML especially in patients showing normal karyotype and no common recurrent translocations.

T790M mutation and clinical outcomes with osimertinib in patients with epidermal growth factor receptor-mutant nonsmall cell lung cancer

Introduction: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors TKIs) are highly effective in EGFR-mutant advanced lung cancer. The most common resistance mechanism to EGFR-TKI is the development of T790M mutation in Exon 20. Osimertinib, a highly selective EGFR-TKI, has been approved for use in patients who progress on the first-line TKI and harbor the T790M mutation. Objective: The primary objective is to prospectively study the incidence of T790M mutation in patients who progress on the first-line EGFR-TKI. Secondary objectives include clinical characteristics that predict for T790M mutation and outcomes with osimertinib. Materials and Methods: This single-center, prospective observational study included 90 patients who progressed on first-line EGFR TKI. All patients had DNA extracted from tissue re-biopsy or plasma circulating tumor DNA (re-biopsy was not feasible or inadequate). T790M mutation was detected using amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction, and patients harboring T790M mutation were started on osimertinib (80 mg once daily) until progression or unacceptable side effects. Results: At progression, T790M mutation was detected in 47/90 patients (52.2%). On binary logistic regression model analysis, variables that were independently predictive of the development of T790M were younger age (odds ratio [OR] 4.3, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.14–16.6, P = 0.031); nonerlotinib TKI use (OR 8.3, 95% CI 1.24–55.8, P = 0.029); and pure adenocarcinoma histology (OR 6.2, 95% CI 1.60–24.7, P = 0.008). Forty-six patients were started on osimertinib. The overall response rate and median progression-free survival were 65.21% and 12.45 months (standard deviation [SD] 1.03, 95% CI 10.41–14.48), respectively. Osimertinib was well tolerated with most toxicities being Grade 1 and 2 diarrhea and skin rash. Conclusions: In our prospective cohort, half of all patients had a T790M mutation at progression on the first-line EGFR TKI. Tissue biopsy is feasible in the majority of patients. Clinical outcomes with osimertinib were consistent with those reported.

Plasmablastic Lymphoma: A Clinicopathological Study from a Tertiary Care Cancer Center in South India

Background  Plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) is a rare aggressive B cell lymphoma that is commonly encountered in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). In this case series, we describe the clinicopathological features of cases of PBL seen at a tertiary care center in South India.

Materials and Methods  Medical records of patients diagnosed with PBL between January 2009 and November 2017 were reviewed. PBL was defined as per the World Health Organization 2016 classification for hematopoietic and lymphoid neoplasms. The slides were reviewed with hematoxylin and eosin along with immunohistochemistry (IHC) including CD45, CD20, PAX5, CD79a, CD3, CD5, CD138, MUMI, EMA, ALK, and Ki67. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) association was documented by rapid in situ hybridization (RISH) studies wherever possible. The demographic data, clinical presentation, treatment details, and outcomes are elaborated using descriptive statistics.

Results  During the study period, nine patients with PBL were identified. The median age at presentation was 47 years (range: 36–54 years). All patients had associated HIV/AIDS, eight (89%) had extranodal disease, and six (66%) had advanced clinical stage (stage III). All biopsies were positive for CD45, CD138, and MUM1, and negative for CD79a and T cell markers with a high Ki67 proliferation index (85–90%); CD20 was faint positive in one patient, and CD56 was positive in one (11%) patient. EBV-RISH was tested in two patients and was positive in one. Bone marrow was uninvolved in all the cases. At the time of last follow-up, three patients were alive. Treatment details were available in six patients. With frontline therapy, four patients achieved a complete remission (CR) and one patient developed progressive disease. Three of four patients in CR are alive till the last follow-up.

Conclusion  PBL is a rare form of lymphoma with predominant association with HIV, extranodal location, and characteristic IHC pattern.

A challenging case of anaplastic large-cell lymphoma with primary bony presentation

Anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (ALCL) is a distinct type of T-cell lymphoma showing varied clinicopathological features. The clinical entities identified are systemic and primary cutaneous types. ALK+ ALCL are more common in childhood with predominant nodal presentation. Extranodal involvement is commonly seen in the skin, bones, soft tissue, lung, liver, etc., Here, we present an intriguing case of ALK+ ALCL in an adult patient primarily presenting as multiple bony lytic lesions.

Multiplex Approach in Classification, Diagnosis, and Prognostication in Acute Myeloid Leukemia: An Experience from Tertiary Cancer Center in South India

Introduction:

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous group of disorders classified as per FAB subtypes and more recently by WHO by underlying genetic abnormalities.

Aims and Objectives:

This study aims to analyze the morphology, immunophenotype, cytogenetic and molecular abnormalities in around 200 patients of AML diagnosed over a period of 7 years at our institute and to determine relative frequency of various subtypes (based on FAB and WHO classification). An attempt to characterize the associations between hematological parameters, immunophenotype and these subtypes was also made.

Materials and Methods:

All cases diagnosed as AML on morphology, cytochemistry and/or immunophenotyping and tested for recurrent genetic abnormalities during period of Jan 2008-July 2014 were included in the study.

Results:

Age of presentation was younger in our AML patients as compared to western literature. Amongst FAB and WHO subtypes, M2 and t (15;17) PML-RARA were the most common groups respectively. As expected, CD33, CD13, were the most commonly expressed markers followed by HLA-DR, CD117, CD34 and CD14. Aberrant expression was seen in 62(41.6%) cases, most common was CD7 (15.4%), followed by CD56 (14.8%), CD19 (6.7%) and CD2 (4.7%). Significant associations between immunophenotypic markers and FAB subtypes as well as WHO subtypes were established.

Conclusion:

This is a hospital based study, giving a detailed account of frequencies of AML subtypes, hematological parameters and immunophenotypic markers in AML patients at our institute. Being a large and one of its kind study to establish significant associations between various haematological and immunophenotypic parameters with respective AML subtypes and genetic abnormalities, it might prove to be very useful in Indian setup where facilities for cytogenetic analysis are not available in many laboratories.

Clinical profile and outcomes of patients with Stage IV adenocarcinoma of lung: A tertiary cancer center experience

BACKGROUND

There is limited Indian data on clinical profile and treatment outcomes for patients with Stage IV adenocarcinoma of lung.

AIM

We aimed to prospectively study the clinical profile and treatment outcomes for patients with Stage IV adenocarcinoma of lung at a tertiary cancer center.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

One hundred and ninetyfour patients with Stage IV adenocarcinoma of lung were prospectively analyzed for demographic and molecular profile (epidermal growth factor receptor [EGFR] and echinodermal microtubuleassociated proteinlike 4anaplastic lymphoma kinase [EML4ALK] mutations). Patients with EGFR and EML4ALK mutations were treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Patients without these mutations were treated with standard chemotherapy regimens. Maintenance chemotherapy was offered to patients as per standard guidelines. Clinical outcomes measured were response rate (RR), progressionfree survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

Median age of patients was 56 years (range, 26-82) with a male:female ratio of 2.3:1. EGFR and ALK mutation testing was feasible in 169 (87.1%) and 164 (84.5%), respectively, and detected in 37.9% and 5.5% patients, respectively. Overall RR, PFS and OS of whole cohort were 44.3%, 6.9, and 15.5 months, respectively. PFS and OS of mutated group (EGFR, EML4ALK) were longer than nonmutated group (10.5 vs. 5.4 months, P < 0.0001 and 21.5 vs. 11 months, P = 0.0001, respectively). PFS and OS of patients who received pemetrexed maintenance were longer than those who did not receive maintenance (8.5 vs. 6.5 months, P = 0.1613 and 18.5 vs. 12.5 months, P = 0.0219, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Mutation testing at diagnosis is feasible in the vast majority of patients with Stage IV adenocarcinoma of the lung. Patients with EGFR or EML4ALK mutation and those who received pemetrexed maintenance had better clinical outcomes.

Acute Myeloid Leukaemia with Gene Mutation: A Correlation with Haematological and Immunophenotypic Characteristics and Our Experience in a Tertiary Care Cancer Center in South India

OBJECTIVE

Molecular genetic analysis of FLT3, NPM1, and CEBPA is already the standard of care in patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and represents the most frequent genetic alterations and important diagnostic and prognostic indicators. This study was undertaken to determine the frequency of FLT3 and NPM1 gene mutations in our institution and to characterize the association between gene mutations and haematological parameters as well as immunophenotypic features.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

Morphological, haematological and immunophenotypic characteristics of NPM1 and FLT3 mutations in 126 patients of de novo AML including adults and children were studied. Apart from the French American British (FAB) method for classification, blasts were assessed for cuplike morphology as per strict definition for cuplike nuclei, ≥10% blasts with nuclear invaginations ≥25% of the nuclear area.

RESULTS

FLT3 mutation in 31/126 (25%) and NPM1 mutation was found in 17/126 (13.4%) of the AML patients. 6 (5%) samples were positive for both NPM1 and FLT3/ITD mutations. Associations between the FLT3 and NPM1 gene mutations with haematological and immunophenotypic characteristics are reported.

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that presence of distinct morphology and haematological and immunophenotypic characteristics together may serve as important indicators and surrogate for NPM1 and FLT3/ITD mutations. Further, comprehensive studies on the biological effects of NPM1 and FLT3/ITD mutations and their interactions with other genetic alterations are needed to gain insight into the molecular mechanism of these mutations involved in the pathogenesis of AML.

Ewing's Sarcoma of the Calcaneum

Ewing's sarcoma of the calcaneum is rare. Radiological features of this tumor can be misinterpreted as other benign bone tumors due to its rarity. The overall prognosis of Ewing's sarcoma of calcaneum is inferior compared to other sites of this tumor. Hence, these tumors should have extensive radiological evaluation and histological confirmation as misdiagnosis and treatment delays will have detrimental outcomes.

[The transpleurodiaphragmatic laparoscopic approach of rear dome liver cysts]

The localizations of liver cysts in the posterior hepatic dome (segment VII) and the hydatid cysts in particular, difficult to approach in "conventional" open or laparoscopic surgery, with significant parietal sacrifices and "demolition", requires a secure atypical laparoscopic approaching way, with positive results for both patient and surgeon, with minimal impact, with social and professional reintegration and faster healing. Transpleurodiaphragmatic laparoscopic approach using "Device for aspiration of liver hydatid cyst or ovarian cyst (OSIM 120809/30.04.2008 Patent - Dan Sabau) asociated with the remarcable performances of the fragmentation device for hydatid cyst content (OSIM Patent no. 120810/30.04.2008 - Dan Sabau) is the best way to approach these problems, accessible for surgeons with minimum experience in laparoscopic and thoracic surgery. The relatively low number of cases allows only formulation of preliminary positive conclusions on the method, they will be validated by subsequent results.