he Cancer Genome Atlas project identified 2 groups of endometrioid endometrial cancers (ECs) with high mutation frequency: an ultramutated group (7% of all tumors) that harbored mutations in the exonuclease domain of polymerase e (POLE), and a hypermutated group (28% of tumors) with microsatellite instability (MSI), the majority of which harbored MLH1 promoter methylation. 1 The ultramutated POLE group exhibited an extremely high mutation rate (232 × 10 −6 mutations/Mb) with a unique nucleotide change spectrum of increased C→A transversion frequency, whereas the hypermutated MSI group exhibited mutation rates of 18 × 10 −6 mutations/Mb with variable length of DNA microsatellites due to an underlying deficiency in mismatch DNA repair. [1][2][3] Mismatch DNA repair deficiency induces singlebase mismatches that lead to point mutations in coding regions of genes, as well as insertions or deletions that lead to frame-shift mutations.It has been suggested that hypermutated tumors may harbor more tumor-specific neoantigens and increased amounts of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). 3-7 Therefore, we assessed whether POLE and MSI ECs harbor more neoantigens and TILs than the comparatively hypomutated microsatellitestable (MSS) ECs. Methods Prediction of HLA Type and Neoantigen LoadInference of HLA type was performed using the POLY-SOLVER (polymorphic loci resolver) tool. 5 For prediction of neoantigen load, the Sage Bionetworks' Synapse resource (https://www.synapse.org and Lawrence et al 8 ) and the Net-MHCpan tool (version 2.4) 9 were used (eMethods in the Supplement).IMPORTANCE Immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy has shown benefit in various cancers, but their potential in endometrial cancer (EC) is unknown.OBSERVATIONS Prediction of neoantigen load was performed using sequencing data from the Cancer Genome Atlas data set. Evaluation of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and PD-1 and PD-L1 expression was performed in 63 patients with EC referred to our institution. The predicted median (range) neoantigen load (predicted neoepitopes per sample

Context.— Perinatal death is an increasingly important problem as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, but the mechanism of death has been unclear. Objective.— To evaluate the role of the placenta in causing stillbirth and neonatal death following maternal infection with COVID-19 and confirmed placental positivity for SARS-CoV-2. Design.— Case-based retrospective clinico-pathological analysis by a multinational group of 44 perinatal specialists from 12 countries of placental and autopsy pathology findings from 64 stillborns and 4 neonatal deaths having placentas testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 following delivery to mothers with COVID-19. Results.— All 68 placentas had increased fibrin deposition and villous trophoblast necrosis and 66 had chronic histiocytic intervillositis, the three findings constituting SARS-CoV-2 placentitis. Sixty-three placentas had massive perivillous fibrin deposition. Severe destructive placental disease from SARS-CoV-2 placentitis averaged 77.7% tissue involvement. Other findings included multiple intervillous thrombi (37%; 25/68) and chronic villitis (32%; 22/68). The majority (19, 63%) of the 30 autopsies revealed no significant fetal abnormalities except for intrauterine hypoxia and asphyxia. Among all 68 cases, SARS-CoV-2 was detected from a body specimen in 16 of 28 cases tested, most frequently from nasopharyngeal swabs. Four autopsied stillborns had SARS-CoV-2 identified in internal organs. Conclusions.— The pathology abnormalities composing SARS-CoV-2 placentitis cause widespread and severe placental destruction resulting in placental malperfusion and insufficiency. In these cases, intrauterine and perinatal death likely results directly from placental insufficiency and fetal hypoxic-ischemic injury. There was no evidence that SARS-CoV-2 involvement of the fetus had a role in causing these deaths.

Human papillomavirus-negative keratinizing vulvar cancers typically harbor TP53 mutations as do their precursors, differentiated vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia. However, atypical verruciform proliferations are also associated with these malignancies and their pathogenesis is poorly understood. This study compared 11 atypical verruciform lesions, including atypical verruciform hyperplasia, vulvar acanthosis with altered differentiation, and verruciform lichen simplex chronicus, with 14 human papillomavirus-negative keratinizing squamous cell carcinomas. Extracted tissue DNA was subjected to targeted massively parallel sequencing of the exonic regions of 300 genes. Eight (73%) and six (55%) of eleven atypical verruciform lesions contained mutations in PIK3CA and ARID2, respectively. No TP53 mutations were identified. Eleven (79%) and five (36%) of fourteen keratinizing squamous cell carcinomas tested contained TP53 and CDKN2A mutations, respectively. Keratinizing squamous cell carcinomas displayed the majority of copy number variations with some variations (7p gain and 8p loss) shared by some cases in both groups. One patient developed atypical verruciform lesions with PIK3CA mutations followed by a keratinizing carcinoma with mutations in both PIK3CA and TP53. This study, for the first time segregates atypical verruciform lesions by virtue of a unique genotype (PIK3CA mutant/TP53 wild type) illustrating an example of progression to a TP53-mutated keratinizing carcinoma. The findings indicate that although PIK3CA mutations are found in <10% of vulvar squamous cell carcinomas, they may be specific for a particular pathway involving atypical verruciform lesions, which could function as either a direct precursor or a risk factor for vulvar squamous cell carcinoma. Given the presence of a molecular signature, we propose the term 'differentiated exophytic vulvar intraepithelial lesion' for this group. Whether they function as direct precursors to a less common form of squamous cell carcinoma will require further study, but carcinomas associated with these lesions might warrant testing for PIK3CA mutations to address this question.

We identified unique ALK rearrangements in a subset of patients with peritoneal mesothelioma, each lacking asbestos fibers, therapeutic radiation, and cytogenetic and molecular alterations typically found in these tumors. Identification of clinically actionable ALK rearrangements may represent a novel pathogenetic mechanism of malignant peritoneal mesothelioma with promise for targeted therapy.

Context.–Case reports and rare case series have demonstrated variable placental pathology in the setting of maternal severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. In rare small studies demonstrating infection of the placental parenchyma, histologic manifestations have included variable degrees of histiocytic intervillositis, perivillous fibrin deposition, and syncytiotrophoblast necrosis. Objective.–To characterize the placental pathological features of SARS-CoV-2 infected placentas, irrespective of fetal-maternal transmission, and to examine the frequency of C4d activation in such cases. Design.–Retrospective study of seven placentas from mothers with active SARS-CoV-2 infection and placental infection as demonstrated by RNA in situ hybridization. Results.–Six placentas were from live-born neonates (5 singletons, 1 non-fused diamniotic-dichorionic twin placenta), and one was from a stillbirth. Five of the eight neonates (including the stillbirth) tested negative for SARS-CoV-2, and all were negative for neonatal infection. The remaining three neonates were well at time of discharge. All placentas were positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection by RNA in situ hybridization and demonstrated variable degrees of histiocytic intervillositis, perivillous fibrin deposition, and trophoblast necrosis. Three cases demonstrated features of fetal vascular malperfusion. CD68 highlighted intervillous histiocytes. C4d expression was present along the villous borders in 6 of 7 cases. Conclusions.–SARS-CoV-2 placentitis is defined by the triad of histiocytic intervillositis, perivillous fibrin deposition, and trophoblast necrosis. The features may occur in cases without confirmed transplacental transmission. The damage caused by SARS-CoV-2 placentitis is likely mediated by complement activation.

Universal screening for Lynch syndrome through mismatch repair (MMR) immunohistochemistry (IHC) on tumor samples has brought to light several heterogenous MMR staining patterns. At our institution, a prospective study of universal Lynch syndrome screening using MMR IHC on 125 endometrial cancers (EC) led to the identification of subclonal loss of MMR protein expression within the tumor (n=9). We also interrogated the MMR staining patterns in MMR-deficient EC with concurrent endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia (EIN; n=14) and all mixed-type ECs (n=14) to look for concordant or discordant profiles between the various components. MLH1 promoter methylation and microsatellite instability testing was performed on discordant subclones. Abrupt and complete subclonal loss of MMR expression was identified in 9 cases (7.2%; 7 subclonal MLH1/PMS2 loss, 1 subclonal loss of MLH1 and complete loss of PMS2, and 1 subclonal MSH6 loss). All subclonal MLH1 losses were associated with epigenetic silencing. In cases with concomitant EIN (n=14), 7 cases showed concordant MMR IHC between EC and EIN, and 4 cases showed MMR protein loss confined to the EC. The remaining 3 cases demonstrated subclonal staining in the EIN. In mixed tumors (n=14), subclonal or total MMR IHC deficiency was confined to endometrioid components. In summary, discrete subclonal loss of MMR protein expression occurs in up to 7.2% of EC and, in our experience, only in endometrioid components. Importantly, subclonal MLH1 MMR defects appear to be a biological phenomenon that can be explained by methylation and somatic events, without evidence of underlying germline alterations.

Although consensus has yet to be reached on universal mismatch-repair (MMR) protein immunohistochemical (IHC) screening for Lynch syndrome (LS) in endometrial cancer (EC), an increasing number of institutions have adopted universal screening protocols similar to those used for colorectal carcinoma. Here we describe our institution's experience with a prospective universal screening protocol in which all ECs resected over a period of 19 months (n=242) were screened for MLH1, PMS2, MSH2, and MSH6 deficiencies using IHC, followed by MLH1 promoter methylation testing when appropriate. When consent was obtained, tumor samples underwent next-generation sequencing. A total of 11 unmethylated MMR-deficient cases (4.5% of cohort) were identified through IHC screening. Germline testing was performed in 10 cases and confirmed LS in 4 patients (1.7% of cohort). Of our 4 confirmed LS cases, 1 did not meet traditional LS screening criteria (eg, age below 50 y, Revised Bethesda criteria). In addition, universal screening identified 6 germline-negative MMR-deficient nonmethylated cases, 4 of which occurred in women older than 50. Although our next-generation sequencing data suggest somatic mutations in 4 of these cases, it is possible that these cases may represent cases of "Lynch-like syndrome." We conclude that a subset of LS cases could be missed using traditional screening guidelines. The value of screening for Lynch-like syndrome has yet to be determined. Although the cost-effectiveness of universal screening in EC has yet to be elucidated, we conclude that universal IHC screening is currently a reasonable, and arguably superior, approach to screening for LS.

Patients with EMPD in this series have a high rate of recurrence. Many undergo multi-modal therapy often with multiple providers. However, patients experience relatively long disease-free intervals with a low rate of associated malignancy. We propose an algorithm for management that focuses on symptom control and minimizing morbidity of treatment intervention once invasive disease has been excluded.