Yu-Che Hsieh, Chien-Feng Li, Chung-Han Ho, Steven K Huang, Tzu-Chuan Huang, Yow-Ling Shiue
{"title":"Evaluation of Clinical and Prognostic Roles of CCL8 in Urinary Bladder Cancer and Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma.","authors":"Yu-Che Hsieh, Chien-Feng Li, Chung-Han Ho, Steven K Huang, Tzu-Chuan Huang, Yow-Ling Shiue","doi":"10.1097/PAI.0000000000001307","DOIUrl":"10.1097/PAI.0000000000001307","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study investigated the clinical and prognostic roles of C-C motif chemokine ligand 8 (CCL8) in urinary bladder urothelial carcinoma (UBUC) and upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) to refine patient classification and enhance treatment strategies in precision medicine. We conducted a transcriptomic analysis using the GSE32894 data set from the Gene Expression Omnibus, including data from 308 patients with UBUC. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical characteristics, pathologic details, and survival data of 295 patients with UBUC and 340 patients with UTUC who underwent definitive surgery between 1998 and 2004. Immunohistochemical evaluation was performed on tumor specimens to assess CCL8 expression. Statistical analyses were conducted using the χ 2 test, Kaplan-Meier survival curves, and Cox proportional hazards models. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that CCL8 expression was significantly upregulated in invasive UBUC. High CCL8 expression was associated with advanced tumor stage, nodal metastasis, high histologic grade, and poor prognosis in patients with UBUC and UTUC. Multivariate analysis identified high CCL8 expression as an independent predictor of disease-specific survival ( P <0.001) and metastasis-free survival ( P <0.001). In conclusion, high CCL8 expression negatively impacts the clinical outcomes and prognosis of patients with UBUC and UTUC. CCL8 has the potential to be a prognostic biomarker, aiding in patient stratification and treatment planning. Further multicenter studies with longer follow-up periods and functional validation are required to confirm these findings and fully understand the role of CCL8 in urothelial carcinoma.</p>","PeriodicalId":520562,"journal":{"name":"Applied immunohistochemistry & molecular morphology : AIMM","volume":" ","pages":"264-272"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146121781","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Huili Li, Ezra Baraban, Pedram Argani, Andres Matoso
{"title":"Renal Cell Carcinoma With Concurrent Loss of SMARCB1/INI-1 and Fumarate Hydratase By Immunohistochemistry: A Case Report With Review of the Literature.","authors":"Huili Li, Ezra Baraban, Pedram Argani, Andres Matoso","doi":"10.1097/PAI.0000000000001325","DOIUrl":"10.1097/PAI.0000000000001325","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Both SMARCB1(INI-1)-deficient and FH (fumarate hydratase)-deficient renal cell carcinoma (RCC) have a male predominance, potentially overlapping high-grade histologic features, and typically poor clinical outcomes. SMARCB1(INI-1) deficiency is the characteristic pathogenic alteration in medullary (or medullary-like) RCC, which is aggressively treated with chemotherapy, primarily platinum-based. In contrast, a distinct set of agents, such as the combination of bevacizumab and erlotinib, is the principal systemic therapy consideration for FH-deficient RCC. SMARCB1 (INI-1) is a core subunit of the SWI/SNF complex, regulating chromatin remodeling and gene transcription through epigenetics. The accumulation of fumarate, resulting from the loss of FH, can alter DNA methylation and promote a CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP), silencing tumor suppressor genes. Rare case reports of FH-deficient RCC with concurrent loss of SMARCB1 (INI-1) have been reported, which is likely due to secondary epigenetic silencing of SMARCB1 . Herein, we report a unique RCC case with concurrent loss of SMARCB1 (INI-1) and FH expression by immunohistochemistry. Molecular studies demonstrated a SMARCB1 mutation, but no FH mutation was identified. Relatively low FH transcription was detected in the case, which raises the possibility of a pathogenic loss of SMARCB1 (INI-1), accompanied by a potential secondary, epigenetic loss of FH expression. Therefore, FH loss by IHC does not necessarily always indicate a pathogenic FH mutation. Further molecular studies are critical in determining the underlying pathogenic mutation.</p>","PeriodicalId":520562,"journal":{"name":"Applied immunohistochemistry & molecular morphology : AIMM","volume":" ","pages":"289-292"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147849053","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mineui Hong, Soon Auck Hong, Ki Rim Lee, Jeong Won Kim, Joo Young Kim
{"title":"Talin-1, Vinculin, and FAK Expressions are Associated With Clinicopathological Behavior in Colorectal Cancer.","authors":"Mineui Hong, Soon Auck Hong, Ki Rim Lee, Jeong Won Kim, Joo Young Kim","doi":"10.1097/PAI.0000000000001310","DOIUrl":"10.1097/PAI.0000000000001310","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The dysregulation of cellular adhesion molecules can induce aggressive tumor behavior and malignant progression. Talin-1, vinculin, and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) are focal adhesion molecules whose expression has prognostic significance in various cancers. We evaluated talin-1, vinculin, and FAK expressions and their correlation with clinicopathological characteristics and prognostic significance in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). Low talin-1 expression was identified in 170 (54.0%) cases and was significantly correlated with large tumor size, high pT classification, perineural invasion, involved resection margin, high tumor stromal percentage (TSP), low Klintrup-Mäkinen (KM) grade, and low vinculin expression. Low vinculin expression was identified in 157 (49.8%) patients and was significantly associated with high pT classification, lymphovascular invasion, perineural invasion, lymph node metastasis, high TSP, and low KM grade. High FAK expression was identified in 158 (50.1%) cases and significantly correlated with perineural invasion. Patients with low talin-1 and vinculin expressions had significantly worse overall survival than patients with high expressions ( P <0.001 and P =0.041, respectively). High FAK expression was associated with poor overall survival in patients with CRC ( P =0.022). Low talin-1 expression was an independent poor prognostic factor in patients with CRC ( P <0.001). Low talin-1 and vinculin expressions and high FAK expression correlated with aggressive clinicopathological behaviors and poor overall survival in patients with CRC. Low talin-1 expression was identified as an independent poor prognostic factor and may be a useful therapeutic target in patients with CRC.</p>","PeriodicalId":520562,"journal":{"name":"Applied immunohistochemistry & molecular morphology : AIMM","volume":" ","pages":"273-280"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146159971","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Prognostic and Clinicopathological Evaluation of NOTCH-1 Expression in Endometrial Carcinoma.","authors":"Yeliz Arman Karakaya, Nursinem Alkan Vurgun","doi":"10.1097/PAI.0000000000001305","DOIUrl":"10.1097/PAI.0000000000001305","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and objective: </strong>Endometrial carcinoma (EC) is the most common gynecologic malignancy. NOTCH-1, a transmembrane receptor involved in cell fate regulation, may act as an oncogene or tumor suppressor depending on context. Although NOTCH signaling is implicated in many cancers, its role in EC remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between NOTCH-1 protein expression and a wide range of clinicopathological and immunohistochemical parameters, as well as its prognostic significance in EC.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 259 patients with EC were retrospectively analyzed. Immunohistochemical staining for NOTCH-1 was performed on tumor tissue sections. Associations between NOTCH-1 expression and clinicopathological features (age, tumor grade, FIGO stage, and invasion patterns) and immunohistochemical markers (ER, PR, p53, Ki-67, PTEN, CerbB2, and MSI) were evaluated.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>NOTCH-1 expression was positive in 37 (14.3%) cases. No significant association was found between NOTCH-1 expression and age, tumor grade, FIGO stage, or invasion-related parameters. However, PR positivity ( P =0.01) and high p53 expression ( P =0.01) were significantly more frequent in the NOTCH-1 positive group. There were no significant correlations with ER, Ki-67, PTEN, MSI, or CerbB2.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>NOTCH-1 expression was not associated with key clinicopathological or survival parameters in this cohort. While some molecular correlations were observed, NOTCH-1 does not appear to have strong prognostic utility in EC. Further research integrating molecular classification and long-term follow-up is needed to clarify its potential role in tumor biology.</p>","PeriodicalId":520562,"journal":{"name":"Applied immunohistochemistry & molecular morphology : AIMM","volume":" ","pages":"258-263"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146115364","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Daniella C Borges, Anaíra R G F Costa, Morun Bernardino Neto, Flávia S Matsuo, Marília F Andrade, João P S Servato, Adriano M Loyola, Sérgio V Cardoso, Alberto da Silva Moraes, Felipe A C da Luz, Paulo R de Faria
{"title":"Trimethylated H3K4 and Acetylated H3K14 Expression as Prognostic Markers in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.","authors":"Daniella C Borges, Anaíra R G F Costa, Morun Bernardino Neto, Flávia S Matsuo, Marília F Andrade, João P S Servato, Adriano M Loyola, Sérgio V Cardoso, Alberto da Silva Moraes, Felipe A C da Luz, Paulo R de Faria","doi":"10.1097/PAI.0000000000001304","DOIUrl":"10.1097/PAI.0000000000001304","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study investigated the immunohistochemical expression of histone post-translational modifications (HPTMs) H3K4me2, H3K4me3, and H3K14ac in OSCC and their relationship with metastasis and prognosis. Paraffin-embedded tissue samples of 90 OSCC patients were retrospectively retrieved and immunostained. The sample was divided into primary nonmetastatic (PNM) and primary metastatic (PM) tumors. Nuclear HPTM expression was digitally measured using the integrated optical density index (IOD), and expression levels were divided into low and high based on the median IOD values. Results: All tumor samples were positive. The median H3K14ac IOD was significantly higher in the PM than in the PNM group. High H3K4me2 expression was frequently observed in small and initial tumors, while high H3K4me3 was observed in recurrent OSCC. The ROC curves indicate that H3K14ac might be explored as a screening test for metastasis, showing a sensitivity of 0.81. High H3K4me3-expressing patients had lower survival probabilities and a 3-fold increased risk of death. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that methylation and acetylation of lysine residues 4 and 14 of histone H3 are potential biomarkers of OSCC prognosis and metastasis.</p>","PeriodicalId":520562,"journal":{"name":"Applied immunohistochemistry & molecular morphology : AIMM","volume":" ","pages":"248-257"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146159967","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Lixin Wang, Depeng Hu, Bugao Guan, Rongrong Sun, Xiaohong Li
{"title":"Clinicopathologic Features of Warthin-Like Subtype of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma.","authors":"Lixin Wang, Depeng Hu, Bugao Guan, Rongrong Sun, Xiaohong Li","doi":"10.1097/PAI.0000000000001331","DOIUrl":"10.1097/PAI.0000000000001331","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study aimed to explore the clinicopathological characteristics, immunophenotype, histologic occurrence, diagnosis, and differential diagnosis of the Warthin-like variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma. The clinical features, thyroid fine-needle aspiration cytology, histomorphology, and immunohistochemistry results of 4 cases of Warthin-like variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma were analyzed, and related published studies were reviewed. Three of the 4 patients were female and one male, aged 46 to 73 years, with a median age of 61.5 years. The tumors were 0.8 to 1.5 cm in size and gray-white, solid or partially cystic nodules with a hard texture. The microscopic examination revealed tumor cells in the context of Hashimoto thyroiditis, which were histologically similar to Warthin tumor of the salivary glands, with a large number of lymphocytes and some plasma cells in the papillary structure. The tumor cells had features typical of papillary carcinoma, with abundant and eosinophilic cytoplasm. The results of the immunohistochemical analysis were as follows: TTF-1, CK19, and galectin-3 were positive, whereas thyroglobulin and CD56 were negative. Warthin-like variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma is a rare thyroid malignancy. Its unique morphology is helpful for diagnosis and differential diagnosis, and its prognosis is relatively good.</p>","PeriodicalId":520562,"journal":{"name":"Applied immunohistochemistry & molecular morphology : AIMM","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148280697","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Megan L Troxell, Alex M Dussaq, Joanna Solarewicz, Taylor Salisbury, Kelly Young, Nancy Hsu, Phoebe Hammer, Cansu Karakas, Eric Ollila, Xiaoming Zhang, Maggie M Lam, Kelly Ernst, Robert B West, Kimberly H Allison, Gregory R Bean
{"title":"HER2 In Situ Hybridization: Validation and Implementation of Brightfield Assay in a US Academic Pathology Laboratory.","authors":"Megan L Troxell, Alex M Dussaq, Joanna Solarewicz, Taylor Salisbury, Kelly Young, Nancy Hsu, Phoebe Hammer, Cansu Karakas, Eric Ollila, Xiaoming Zhang, Maggie M Lam, Kelly Ernst, Robert B West, Kimberly H Allison, Gregory R Bean","doi":"10.1097/PAI.0000000000001328","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/PAI.0000000000001328","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Assessment of HER2 overexpression and gene (ERBB2) amplification remains an essential predictive test that determines tailored breast cancer therapy. Based on institutional needs, we recently validated the VENTANA HER2 Dual ISH DNA Probe Cocktail assay (DISH). Validation included testing 61 retrospective breast cancers, followed by 40 prospective cases (parallel testing). There was 99% concordance for binary positive/negative status when correlated with immunohistochemistry, and 87% concordance for exact ISH category (groups 1 to 5). We designed an online tool for automatic calculation of ratios and group assignment, with prompts for additional counting when needed. During the first year, 1286 DISH assays were performed, with 2.9% initial assay failures requiring repeat. Based on conservative guidelines in the first year, we sent confirmatory fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in 4% of cases; 9 cases (0.7%) had discordant DISH and FISH results, all of which were near a threshold (including \"low amplified\" results with HER2/CEP17 ≥2, average HER2/cell 4 to 6). The average turnaround time for HER2 DISH from ordering to finalization was 3.0 days, versus 4.8 days for FISH at our institution (37.5% improvement). We encountered occasional pitfalls, including zones lacking hybridization signals, and enhanced silver dust associated with anthracosis or tattoo pigment. We also observed differences across whole slide scanner platforms. HER2 DISH advantages included the ability of pathologists to directly score slides in correlation with morphology and immunohistochemistry, improved turnaround time, and greater automation for high-volume HER2 testing, as compared with FISH. In summary, we found HER2 DISH to be an accurate and practical alternative.</p>","PeriodicalId":520562,"journal":{"name":"Applied immunohistochemistry & molecular morphology : AIMM","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148221532","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Felipe Barreto Lemos, Paulo Tambasco De Oliveira, Flávia Caló de Aquino Xavier, Dandara Andrade De Santana, Braúlio Carneiro Júnior, Fernando Carlos Pinto de Queiroz Filho, Paulo Sérgio Flores, Victor Coutinho Bastos, Carolina Cavalieri Gomes, Jean Nunes Dos Santos
{"title":"Keratoameloblastoma of the Jaw Bones: Description of 2 Rare Cases and Cytokeratin Profile.","authors":"Felipe Barreto Lemos, Paulo Tambasco De Oliveira, Flávia Caló de Aquino Xavier, Dandara Andrade De Santana, Braúlio Carneiro Júnior, Fernando Carlos Pinto de Queiroz Filho, Paulo Sérgio Flores, Victor Coutinho Bastos, Carolina Cavalieri Gomes, Jean Nunes Dos Santos","doi":"10.1097/PAI.0000000000001329","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/PAI.0000000000001329","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Keratoameloblastoma is a rare keratinizing neoplasia characterized by ameloblastic differentiation, which histopathologically resembles an odontogenic keratocyst. In view of its expansive growth, surgical enucleation and resection are alternatives for treating keratoameloblastoma. The objective was to report 2 cases of keratoameloblastoma, highlighting their clinical, radiologic, and histopathologic features, as well as the immunohistochemical profile of cytokeratins. Clinicopathologic findings were described, and the cases were submitted to immunohistochemistry for cytokeratins (CK) 6, 7, 8, 10, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, and Ki-67. Both cases involved the jaws of adult men. Histologically, they showed fibrous stromal tissue permeated by keratinizing follicular cysts that formed central parakeratin plugs, features resembled ameloblastoma, and cystic formations resembled an odontogenic keratocyst. Variable positive labeling for all cytokeratins studied was observed, except for CK8 and CK18, which were negative. The Ki-67 proliferation index was low. Keratoameloblastoma is an expansive neoplasm with a low proliferation index. The cytokeratin profile generally follows that of ameloblastomas and odontogenic keratocysts. Both cases are under follow-up and show no recurrence after 4 years.</p>","PeriodicalId":520562,"journal":{"name":"Applied immunohistochemistry & molecular morphology : AIMM","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148207501","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}