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Volume 58(2); March 2024
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Review
Exploring histological predictive biomarkers for immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy response in non–small cell lung cancer
Uiju Cho, Soyoung Im, Hyung Soon Park
J Pathol Transl Med. 2024;58(2):49-58.   Published online February 26, 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4132/jptm.2024.01.31
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AbstractAbstract PDF
Treatment challenges persist in advanced lung cancer despite the development of therapies beyond the traditional platinum-based chemotherapy. The early 2000s marked a shift to tyrosine kinase inhibitors targeting epidermal growth factor receptor, ushering in personalized genetic-based treatment. A further significant advance was the development of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), especially for non–small cell lung cancer. These target programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) and cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4, which enhanced the immune response against tumor cells. However, not all patients respond, and immune-related toxicities arise. This review emphasizes identifying biomarkers for ICI response prediction. While PD-L1 is a widely used, validated biomarker, its predictive accuracy is imperfect. Investigating tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, tertiary lymphoid structure, and emerging biomarkers such as high endothelial venule, Human leukocyte antigen class I, T-cell immunoreceptors with Ig and ITIM domains, and lymphocyte activation gene-3 counts is promising. Understanding and exploring additional predictive biomarkers for ICI response are crucial for enhancing patient stratification and overall care in lung cancer treatment.
Original Articles
Clinicopathological implications of immunohistochemical expression of TBX21, CXCR3, GATA3, CCR4, and TCF1 in nodal follicular helper T-cell lymphoma and peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified
Bogyeong Han, Sojung Lim, Jeemin Yim, Young Keun Song, Jiwon Koh, Sehui Kim, Cheol Lee, Young A Kim, Yoon Kyung Jeon
J Pathol Transl Med. 2024;58(2):59-71.   Published online January 22, 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4132/jptm.2024.01.04
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AbstractAbstract PDFSupplementary Material
Background
The classification of nodal peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) has evolved according to histology, cell-of-origin, and genetic alterations. However, the comprehensive expression pattern of follicular helper T-cell (Tfh) markers, T-cell factor-1 (TCF1), and Th1- and Th2-like molecules in nodal PTCL is unclear.
Methods
Eighty-two cases of nodal PTCL were classified into 53 angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphomas (AITLs)/nodal T-follicular helper cell lymphoma (nTFHL)-AI, 18 PTCLs-Tfh/nTFHL–not otherwise specified (NOS), and 11 PTCLs-NOS according to the revised 4th/5th World Health Organization classifications. Immunohistochemistry for TCF1, TBX21, CXCR3, GATA3, and CCR4 was performed.
Results
TCF1 was highly expressed in up to 68% of patients with nTFHL but also in 44% of patients with PTCL-NOS (p > .05). CXCR3 expression was higher in AITLs than in non-AITLs (p = .035), whereas GATA3 expression was higher in non-AITL than in AITL (p = .007) and in PTCL-Tfh compared to AITL (p = .010). Of the cases, 70% of AITL, 44% of PTCLTfh/ nTFHL-NOS, and 36% of PTCL-NOS were subclassified as the TBX21 subtype; and 15% of AITL, 38% of PTCL-Tfh/nTFHL-NOS, and 36% of PTCL-NOS were subclassified as the GATA3 subtype. The others were an unclassified subtype. CCR4 expression was associated with poor progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with PTCL-Tfh (p < .001) and nTFHL (p = .023). The GATA3 subtype showed poor overall survival in PTCL-NOS compared to TBX21 (p = .046) and tended to be associated with poor PFS in patients with non-AITL (p = .054).
Conclusions
The TBX21 subtype was more prevalent than the GATA3 subtype in AITL. The GATA3 subtype was associated with poor prognosis in patients with non-AITL and PTCL-NOS.
TRPS1 expression in non-melanocytic cutaneous neoplasms: an immunohistochemical analysis of 200 cases
Yi A. Liu, Phyu P. Aung, Yunyi Wang, Jing Ning, Priyadharsini Nagarajan, Jonathan L. Curry, Carlos A. Torres-Cabala, Doina Ivan, Victor G. Prieto, Qingqing Ding, Woo Cheal Cho
J Pathol Transl Med. 2024;58(2):72-80.   Published online February 26, 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4132/jptm.2024.01.23
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AbstractAbstract PDFSupplementary Material
Background
Although trichorhinophalangeal syndrome type 1 (TRPS1) was initially thought to be highly sensitive and specific for carcinomas and mesenchymal tumors of mammary origin, more recent data suggest its expression is not limited to breast neoplasms but also can be seen in other cutaneous neoplasms, such as extramammary Paget disease and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in situ.
Methods
Two-hundred cases of non-melanocytic cutaneous neoplasm, including basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) (n = 41), SCCs (n = 35), Merkel cell carcinomas (MCCs) (n = 25), and adnexal neoplasms (n = 99), were tested for TRPS1 expression using a monoclonal anti- TRPS1 rabbit anti-human antibody.
Results
TRPS1 expression was present in almost all cases of SCC (94%), with a median H-score of 200, while it was either absent or only focally present in most BCCs (90%), with a median H-score of 5. The difference between BCCs and SCCs in H-score was significant (p < .001). All MCCs (100%) lacked TRPS1 expression. TRPS1 expression was frequently seen in most adnexal neoplasms, benign and malignant, in variable intensity and proportion but was consistently absent in apocrine carcinomas. All endocrine mucin-producing sweat gland carcinomas (EMPSGCs) (100%, 6/6) showed diffuse and strong TRPS1 immunoreactivity, with a median H-score of 300, which was significantly different (p < .001) than that of BCCs.
Conclusions
Our study shows that TRPS1 may be an effective discriminatory marker for BCCs and SCCs. It also has a role in distinguishing BCCs from EMPSGCs.
Case Studies
A rare goblet cell adenocarcinoma arising from Barrett’s esophagus: the first reported case in the esophagus
Chi Eun Oh, Sung Eun Kim, Sun-Ju Oh
J Pathol Transl Med. 2024;58(2):81-86.   Published online January 8, 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4132/jptm.2023.12.26
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AbstractAbstract PDF
Goblet cell adenocarcinoma (GCA) is a rare and distinctive amphicrine tumor comprised of goblet-like mucinous cells and neuroendocrine cells. It is believed to originate from pluripotent stem cells located at the base of crypts. GCA predominantly arises from the appendix, with a few reported cases in extra-appendiceal locations such as the colorectum, small intestine, and stomach. In this case report, we present a unique instance of a 64-year-old male who initially received a diagnosis of neuroendocrine carcinoma in the distal esophagus based on biopsy but, following resection, was subsequently re-diagnosed with GCA arising from Barrett’s esophagus.
Fibrin-associated large B-cell lymphoma arising in an endovascular graft: first case report in Korea
Min Gyoung Pak, Mee Sook Roh
J Pathol Transl Med. 2024;58(2):87-90.   Published online January 24, 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4132/jptm.2023.12.28
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AbstractAbstract PDF
Fibrin-associated large B-cell lymphoma (FA-LBCL) is an extremely rare subtype of LBCL that consists of microscopic aggregates of atypical large B cells in the background of fibrin. Here, we report the first case of FA-LBCL in Korea. A 57-year-old male presented with a large amount of thrombus in the thoracic aorta during follow-up for graft replacement of the thoracoabdominal aorta 8 years prior. The removed thrombus, measuring 4.3 × 3.1 cm, histologically exhibited eosinophilic fibrinous material with several small clusters of atypical lymphoid cells at the periphery. The atypical cells were positive for CD20 by immunohistochemistry and for Epstein-Barr virus by in situ hybridization. The Ki-67 proliferation rate was 85%. The patient was still alive with no recurrence at the 7-year follow-up after thrombectomy. Although the diagnosis can be very difficult and challenging due to its paucicellular features, pathologists should be aware of FALBCL, which has likely been underestimated in routine evaluations of thrombi.
Malignant potential of neuroendocrine microtumor of the pancreas harboring high-grade transformation: lesson learned from a patient with von Hippel-Lindau syndrome
Jongwon Lee, Kyung Jin Lee, Dae Wook Hwang, Seung-Mo Hong
J Pathol Transl Med. 2024;58(2):91-97.   Published online March 13, 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4132/jptm.2024.02.13
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AbstractAbstract PDF
Pancreatic neuroendocrine microtumor (PNEMT) is a neuroendocrine tumor (NET) < 0.5 cm in diameter, and it is considered benign. We report a PNEMT with high-grade transformation (HGT). A man in his 60s with von Hippel-Lindau syndrome underwent surgical resection of a NET. A second sub-centimeter nodule with a nodule-in-nodule pattern was discovered. The 0.4 cm outer nodule contained clear columnar cells with round nuclei and indistinct nucleoli, while the 0.1 cm inner nodule had eosinophilic cells with an increased nuclear to cytoplasmic ratio, vesicular nuclei, and prominent nucleoli. Tumor cells in the outer and inner nodules were synaptophysin and chromogranin positive. Only the inner nodule was p53 positive, while the outer nodule was exclusively positive for carbonic anhydrase 9 and vimentin. The Ki-67 labeling indices for the outer and inner nodules were 2.1% (grade 1) and 44.3% (grade 3), respectively. This nodule was determined to be a PNEMT with HGT. Our findings suggest that a PNEMT may not always be benign and can undergo HGT.
Newsletter
What’s new in thyroid pathology 2024: updates from the new WHO classification and Bethesda system
Andrey Bychkov, Chan Kwon Jung
J Pathol Transl Med. 2024;58(2):98-101.   Published online March 13, 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4132/jptm.2024.03.06
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AbstractAbstract PDF
In line with the release of the 5th edition WHO Classification of Tumors of Endocrine Organs (2022) and the 3rd edition of the Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology (2023), the field of thyroid pathology and cytopathology has witnessed key transformations. This digest brings to the fore the refined terminologies, newly introduced categories, and contentious methodological considerations pivotal to the updated classification.

J Pathol Transl Med : Journal of Pathology and Translational Medicine