Several statistically significant associations appear to be present between cytomorphologic features and surgical diagnosis that may be used as clues to distinguish NIFTP, PTC, and FA on fine-needle aspiration. Although diagnostic confirmation of NIFTP must occur at the time of excision, similar to follicular neoplasms, the possibility of NIFTP may be raised preoperatively on cytology. Cancer Cytopathol 2017;125:378-88. © 2017 American Cancer Society.

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Type 2 3a-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3a-HSD) is a multi-functional enzyme that possesses 3a-, 17b-and 20a-HSD, as well as prostaglandin (PG) F synthase activities and catalyzes androgen, estrogen, progestin and PG metabolism. Type 2 3a-HSD was cloned from human prostate, is a member of the aldo-keto reductase (AKR) superfamily and was named AKR1C3. In androgen target tissues such as the prostate, AKR1C3 catalyzes the conversion of D 4 -androstene-3,17-dione to testosterone, 5a-dihydrotestosterone to 5a-androstane-3a,17b-diol (3a-diol), and 3a-diol to androsterone. Thus AKR1C3 may regulate the balance of androgens and hence transactivation of the androgen receptor in these tissues. Tissue distribution studies indicate that AKR1C3 transcripts are highly expressed in human prostate. To measure AKR1C3 protein expression and its distribution in the prostate, we raised a monoclonal antibody specifically recognizing AKR1C3. This antibody allowed us to distinguish AKR1C3 from other AKR1C family members in human tissues. Immunoblot analysis showed that this monoclonal antibody binds to one species of protein in primary cultures of prostate epithelial cells and in LNCaP prostate cancer cells. Immunohistochemistry with this antibody on human prostate detected strong nuclear immunoreactivity in normal stromal and smooth muscle cells, perineurial cells, urothelial (transitional) cells, and endothelial cells. Normal prostate epithelial cells were only faintly immunoreactive or negative. Positive immunoreactivity was demonstrated in primary prostatic adenocarcinoma in 9 of 11 cases. Variable increases in immunoreactivity for AKR1C3 was also demonstrated in non-neoplastic changes in the prostate including chronic inflammation, atrophy and urothelial (transitional) cell metaplasia. We conclude that elevated expression of AKR1C3 is highly associated with prostate carcinoma. Although the biological significance of elevated AKR1C3 in prostatic carcinoma is uncertain, AKR1C3 may be responsible for the trophic effects of androgens and/or PGs on prostatic epithelial cells.

Three proteins have been identified in mammals, GLI, GLI2, and GLI3, which share a highly conserved zinc finger domain with Drosophila Cubitus interruptus and are believed to function as transcription factors in the vertebrate Sonic hedgehog-Patched signaling pathway. To understand the role GLI plays in the Sonic hedgehogPatched pathway and mechanisms of GLI-induced transcriptional regulation, we have characterized its transcriptional regulatory properties and contributions of specific domains to transcriptional regulation. We have demonstrated that GLI activates expression of reporter constructs in HeLa cells in a concentration-dependent manner through the GLI consensus binding motif and that a GAL4 binding domain-GLI fusion protein activates reporter expression through the GAL4 DNA binding site. GLI-induced transcriptional activation requires the carboxyl-terminal amino acids 1020 -1091, which includes an 18-amino acid region highly similar to the ␣-helical herpes simplex viral protein 16 activation domain, including the consensus recognition element for the human TFIID TATA box-binding proteinassociated factor TAF II 31 and conservation of all three amino acid residues believed to contact directly chemically complementary residues in TAF II 31. The presence of this region in the GLI activation domain provides a mechanism for GLI-induced transcriptional regulation.

Background To the authors' knowledge, the question of whether human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is associated with outcomes in patients with sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma (SNSCC) is not well studied at this time. In the current study, the authors investigated patterns of HPV testing and its association with survival in patients with SNSCC using the National Cancer Data Base. Methods The authors selected all SNSCC cases diagnosed between 2010 and 2016. HPV testing practices, clinicodemographic factors, treatments, and survival were analyzed. Multivariable Cox regression and propensity score–matched survival analyses were performed. Results A total of 6458 SNSCC cases were identified. Of these, only 1523 cases (23.6%) were tested for HPV and included in the current study. The median patient age was 64 years and the majority had advanced stage tumors (overall AJCC stage III‐IV, 721 patients; 62.1%). HPV‐positive SNSCC comprised 31.5% (447 of 1418 cases) of the final study cohort. Among 15 hospitals that routinely tested nonoropharyngeal SCCs for HPV, the percentage of HPV‐positive SNSCCs was smaller (24.6%; P = .04). Patients with HPV‐positive SNSCC were younger (aged 60 years vs 65 years; P < .001), with tumors that were more likely to be high grade (55.3% vs 41.7%; P < .001), and attributed to the nasal cavity (62.2% vs 44.0%; P < .001). HPV‐positive SNSCC was associated with significantly improved overall survival in multivariable regression analysis (hazard ratio, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.28‐0.72 [P = .001]) and propensity score–matched (hazard ratio, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.38‐0.96 [P = .03]) analyses controlling for clinicodemographic and treatment factors. Conclusions Currently, only a minority of patients with SNSCC are tested for HPV. However, a sizable percentage of SNSCC cases may be HPV related; furthermore, HPV‐positive SNSCC is associated with improved overall survival. Routine HPV testing may be warranted in patients with SNSCC.