This study was undertaken to investigate epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2)/neu expression in a cohort of apocrine carcinomas of the breast with emphasis on the classification of the breast tumors with apocrine morphology. In total, 55 breast carcinomas morphologically diagnosed as apocrine were evaluated for the steroid receptor expression profile characteristic of normal apocrine epithelium (androgen receptor positive/estrogen receptor (ER) negative/progesterone receptor (PR) negative), and for the expression of EGFR and Her-2/neu proteins, and the copy number ratios of the genes EGFR/CEP7 and HER-2/CEP17. On the basis of the results of steroid receptors expression, 38 (69%) cases were classified as pure apocrine carcinoma (androgen receptor positive/ER negative/PR negative), whereas 17 (31%) were re-classified as apocrine-like carcinomas because they did not have the characteristic steroid receptor expression profile. Her-2/neu overexpression was observed in 54% of the cases (57% pure apocrine carcinomas vs 47% apocrine-like carcinomas). HER-2/neu gene amplification was demonstrated in 52% of all cases (54% pure apocrine carcinomas vs 46% apocrine-like carcinomas). EGFR protein (scores 1 to 3 þ ) was detected in 62% of all cases and was expressed in a higher proportion of pure apocrine carcinomas than in the apocrine-like carcinomas group (76 vs 29%, P ¼ 0.006). In the pure apocrine carcinoma group, Her-2/ neu and EGFR protein expression were inversely correlated (P ¼ 0.006, r ¼ À0.499). EGFR gene amplification was observed in two pure apocrine carcinomas and one apocrine-like carcinoma. Polysomy 7 was commonly present in pure apocrine carcinomas (61 vs 27% of apocrine-like carcinomas; P ¼ 0.083) and showed a weak positive correlation with EGFR protein expression (P ¼ 0.025, r ¼ 0.326). Our study showed that apocrine breast carcinomas are molecularly diverse group of carcinomas. Strictly defined pure apocrine carcinomas are either HER-2-overexpressing breast carcinomas or triple-negative breast carcinomas, whereas apocrine-like carcinomas predominantly belong to the luminal phenotype. Pure apocrine carcinomas show consistent overexpression of either EGFR or HER-2/neu, which could have significant therapeutic implications.

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) is a severe and often fatal rodent-borne zoonosis. Maporal (MAP) virus is a newly discovered hantavirus that originally was isolated from an arboreal rice rat captured in central Venezuela. The results of this study indicate that MAP virus in the Syrian golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) can cause a disease that is clinically and pathologically remarkably similar to HPS. The similarities include the time course of clinical disease, presence of virus-specific IgG at the onset of clinical disease, subacute pneumonitis, rapid onset of diffuse alveolar edema in the absence of necrosis, hepatic-portal triaditis, mononuclear-cellular infiltrate in lung and liver, widespread distribution of hantaviral antigen in endothelial cells of the microvasculature of lung and other tissues, and variable lethality. These similarities suggest that the MAP virus-hamster system is a useful model for studies of the pathogenesis of HPS and for the evaluation of potential therapeutic agents.

Acquired cystic disease-associated renal cell carcinoma (ACD-RCC) is a recently described subtype of RCC found in individuals with ACD of the kidney. Because of underrecognition, information regarding this lesion is sparse but continues to accumulate with each new report. Herein, a thorough literature review amassing the current understanding of this unique neoplasm is presented. Discussion focuses on clinical features, pathogenesis, disease outcome, and relation to the duration of dialysis. The macroscopic and characteristic microscopic features are described with illustrations. Compared with previous opinion, compiled immunohistochemical data may now allow for recognition of a unique immunophenotypic pattern of ACD-RCC. Distinction of ACD-RCC from clear cell and papillary RCCs based on molecular genetic information is deliberated, including a summary of the most frequently detected cytogenetic abnormalities. The key morphologic and immunophenotypic patterns used to distinguish this entity from a comprehensive differential diagnosis are provided.

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OBJECTIVE-This study was undertaken to develop a representative murine model for human leiomyoma.STUDY DESIGN-Human fibroid tumor tissues were cut into small pieces and treated with medium alone, adenoviral-β-galactosidase, adenoviral-vascular endothelial growth factor-A, adenoviral-cyclooxygenase-2, or both adenoviral-vascular endothelial growth factor-A and adenoviral-cyclooxygenase-2. Tissue pieces were inserted subcutaneously in the flank of each severe combined immunodeficient mouse. The developed lesion was measured twice per week. Xenograft tissues were harvested after 30 days and analyzed.RESULTS-Tissue pieces transfected with both adenoviral-cyclooxygenase-2 and adenoviralvascular endothelial growth factor-A continued to grow up to 30 days postimplantation. The number of proliferating and apoptotic cells, as well as the expression of smooth muscle actin, desmin, vimentin, estrogen receptors, and progesterone receptors was similar between retrieved grafts from that group and the original patient tissue. Furthermore, hematoxylin and eosin and Masson's Trichrome stains confirmed this similarity.CONCLUSION-Human uterine leiomyoma xenografts, pretreated with both adenoviralcyclooxygenase-2 and adenoviral-vascular endothelial growth factor-A and implanted subcutaneously in severe combined immunodeficient mice, represent a novel model for human uterine leiomyoma. Uterine leiomyomas, commonly referred to as fibroids, are benign tumors that arise in the myometrial compartment of the uterus. 1 Leiomyomas are well-differentiated smooth muscle tumors with a relatively low mitotic index 1 ; tumors can become quite large and are usually multiple. Uterine leiomyomas are the most common gynecologic neoplasm, occurring in more than 70% of reproductive-age women. 1 When symptomatic, leiomyomas are associated with infertility, menorrhagia, and spontaneous abortion. They are the leading indication for hysterectomy in premenopausal women. 1 The high frequency of these tumors and lack of satisfactory nonsurgical and fertility-preserving treatments make uterine leiomyomas a significant reproductive health concern for women. 1 The underlying causes of uterine leiomyomas are poorly understood, as a result, in part, of the absence of a good model system with which to study these tumors. The only available animal model is the Eker rat in which both leiomyosarcomas and leiomyomas are observed. 2 Female Eker rats have uterine leiomyomas develop by 12 to 16 months of age with a frequency of about 65%. 2 The predisposing genetic alteration in these animals is an insertion of an endogenous retrovirus between exons 30 and 31 of the Tsc-2 gene, which inactivates the encoded tumor suppressor protein. This leads to the development of tumors in several different organs, such as the spleen, kidneys, lungs, and uterus. 2 Although the Eker rat has been valuable as an animal model for uterine leiomyoma, there are limitations regarding difficulty in breeding, low penetrance, high cost, and sarcoma-like histology that hinder its use as a...

Purpose: Can focal laser ablation (FLA) of the prostate preserve sexual and urinary function with low morbidity in men with low to intermediate-risk prostate cancer while providing adequate oncologic outcomes? Materials and methods: 120 patients with low to intermediate risk prostate cancer had transrectal FLA done. MRI thermometry controlled the ablation. Procedures were performed between 2013 and 2017. At 6 and 12 months, patients had clinical and MRI follow-up with biopsies of suspicious areas. Patients submitted the Sexual Health in Men (SHIM) survey to evaluate erectile function and the the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) to assess urinary continence and flow.. Multivariate logistic regression identified determinants of positive imaging and biopsies. Two-sided Wilcoxon signed rank test evaluated scores and laboratory values. Results:The median age was 64 and median PSA was 6.05 ng/mL. Eight (6.7%) of patients were African-American. The median follow up period was 34 months (from 17 to 55 months). Gleason score was 3+3 in 37 (30.8%), 3+4 in 56 (46.7%), and 4+3 in 27 (22.5%). AJCC tumor stage was T1c in 89 (74.2%), T2a in 26 (21.7%) and T2b in 5 (4.2%). Tumors were located in the peripheral zone in 108 (73%) of patients. Number of tumors treated were one in 72 (60%) of patients and 2 tumors in 47 (39.2%) of patients. One patient had 3 tumors treated. Twenty (17%) of men had additional oncologic therapy one year after FLA when biopsy confirmed cancer after an abnormal MRI. There was no difference between functional scores pre-and post-ablation.Median SHIM score at baseline was 24 vs 22 at one year (p=0.51) and the IPSS score was 6.5 at baseline and 6.0 at one year (p=0.12). The median PSA fell to 3.25 at 12 months (p<0.001). Tumor diameter above the median (Odds Ratio (OR), 3.36; 95% CI, 1.41-7.97) was the only significant predictor for a positive post-treatment MRI..

Andes virus and Choclo virus are agents of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. Andes virus in hamsters almost always causes a disease that is pathologically indistinguishable from fatal hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. The purpose of this study was to assess the pathogenicity of Choclo virus in hamsters. None of 18 hamsters infected with Choclo virus exhibited any symptom of disease. No evidence of inflammation or edema was found in the lungs of the 10 animals killed on days 7, 9, 11, 13, and 16 post-inoculation or in the lungs of the 8 animals killed on day 28 post-inoculation; however, hantavirus antigen was present in large numbers of endothelial cells in the microvasculature of the lungs of the animals killed on days 7, 9, 11, and 13 post-inoculation. These results suggest that infection in the microvasculature of lung tissue alone does not result in the life-threatening pulmonary edema in hamsters infected with Andes virus.

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