Thymic tumors are categorized as types A, AB, B1, B2, B3, and thymic carcinoma under the World Health Organization (WHO) classification. Thymomas are typically slow growing tumors that predominantly involve the surrounding structures through direct invasion, while thymic carcinomas tend to be more aggressive. A significant number of patients are asymptomatic and can present with metastases as the first presentation. The exact incidence of extrathoracic metastases from thymoma is not known. This study describes a series of 35 cases of histologically documented metastatic thymomas and thymic carcinomas at extrathoracic sites. These cases were classified according to the current World Health Organization (WHO) classification criteria, and we present their clinical data as well as discuss the differential diagnoses of these lesions. Our study shows that all types of thymic tumors, regardless of histologic type, can be associated with invasion and metastases to thoracic and extrathoracic sites. It is the most aggressive variant invading surrounding structures with metastases, 2 although embolic metastases of thymic carcinoma leading to extrathoracic metastases are very rare. 4 Since, thymic cancers invade locally, diagnoses of metastases are difficult. Locally advanced thymic tumors often present as pleural plaques, which can be misdiagnosed as lung metastases on imaging studies. Thus, it becomes very important to appropriately define metastases in these tumors. For this reason, we defined only lesions outside the thorax that were histologically similar to the primary thymic tumors as metastases.Although the exact incidence of extrathoracic metastases from thymoma is not known, in 1983, Ichino et al 5 documented 83 cases in the literature. However, most of the metastatic sites were not biopsied and histology was not available. In addition, the older literature does not make a distinction between epithelial lesions (true thymic tumors) and other neoplasms arising in the region of thymus. In any event, these studies suggest liver, bone, and lymph nodes as common sites of extrathoracic metastases of malignant thymoma. [4][5][6] Moreover,

Abstract:Purpose: Recurrence and death in a significant number of patients with ER-positive breast cancer occurs 10-20 years after diagnosis. Prognostic markers for late events have been more elusive. TFAP2C (AP2) regulates the expression of ER, the ER pioneer factors FOXA1 and GATA3, and controls ER-dependent transcription. The purpose of this investigation is to determine the long-term prognostic value of TFAP2C. markers. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to determine whether TFAP2C H-scores and other tumor markers were related to overall and disease-free survival in univariate and multivariable models.

This study shows that co-culture with monocyte-lineage cells induced prostate cancer cell invasion activity. PC-3 invasion and TF expression was induced in co-culture with U-937 cells and partially inhibited with TF neutralizing antibodies.