J. Mol. Pathol., Volume 4, Issue 3 (September 2023) – 5 articles

Background: Burnout is increasingly being recognized as a contributory factor to the erosion of a positive psychological state. Studies have examined the relationship between burnout and various inflammatory markers such as IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-alpha. Burnout is also associated with increased systemic inflammation along a continuum of symptom severity. This protocol is for a scoping review looking at the link between burnout, inflammatory markers, and cardiovascular risks or diseases. Methods: This study will be based on the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses guidelines/checklists and the report of the review will be based on the same guideline. The study seeks to address the following principal questions. (i) What are the relevant inflammatory biomarkers that mediate cardiovascular risk factors in burnout? (ii) How do inflammatory biomarkers mediate cardiovascular risk factors in burnout? The outputs obtained from the literature search will be deduplicated using the Rayyan software. Results: We would create table summaries of findings to inform a narrative synthesis of the evidence from the papers included. Conclusion: The review article would help to concisely synthesize the available evidence on the relationship between burnout, inflammatory markers, and cardiovascular diseases. Full article

The study aimed to compare 15 cases of mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) and 15 cases of hyalinizing clear cell carcinoma (HCCC) using immunohistochemical staining and molecular analysis. Thirty samples were examined, and markers, including p63, CK5/6, SOX10, CK7, ATF1, and FISH probes specific to EWSR1 and MAML2, were used. Clear cell differentiation was observed in all MEC cases to some extent, with clear cell MEC showing the most prominent findings. Clear cell features were also present in conventional MEC, oncocytic MEC, and Warthin-like MEC, although to a lesser extent. The majority of cases were classified as low-grade MECs. MAML2 rearrangement was detected in all cases (except cases 11 and 14), while EWSR1 rearrangement was observed in a single case of clear cell MEC. These findings helped identify distinct subtypes within the mucoepidermoid carcinoma spectrum. The study emphasized the importance of utilizing immunohistochemical profiles, histopathological features, and molecular analysis for accurate diagnosis and classification of salivary gland neoplasms. HCCC was also discussed, and ATF1 was proposed as a marker to distinguish HCCC from morphologically similar neoplasms. The study concluded that a comprehensive approach combining immunohistochemistry, histopathology, and clinical correlation is essential for accurate diagnosis and classification, considering the variable expression of markers and potential overlap with other tumor types. Full article

Background: Understanding the distribution of HPV types in cervical cancer cases is crucial for evaluating the effectiveness of HPV screening and vaccination in reducing cervical cancer burden. This study aimed to assess genotype prevalence in the pre-vaccine era among 178 cervical cancer cases detected during a 20-year screening period in Northern Norway and compare the potential efficacy of HPV vaccines in preventing cervical cancer. Methods: A total of 181 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples from non-vaccinated women diagnosed with cervical cancer between 1995 and 2015 in Troms and Finnmark, Norway, were analyzed using a 45-type HPV DNA test. The results were compared to a 7-type HPV mRNA test targeting oncogenic types included in the nonavalent HPV vaccine. Results: Invalid HPV test results were observed in 1.7% (3/181) of the samples and were subsequently excluded from further analysis. Among the remaining cases, 92.7% (165/178) tested positive for HPV using any test combination. HPV DNA was detected in 159 cases (89.3%), while HPV mRNA was detected in 149 cases (83.7%). The most prevalent HPV types were 16 and 18, responsible for 70.8% of the cases, with the nonavalent vaccine types accounting for 86.6% of cases. HPV 35 was identified in eight cases (4.5%). Conclusion: The bivalent/quadrivalent HPV vaccines have the potential to prevent 76.4% (126/165) of HPV-positive cervical cancer cases, while the nonavalent vaccine could prevent 93.3% (154/165) of cases. Tailoring screening strategies to target HPV types with the highest oncogenic potential may improve cervical cancer detection and enable targeted interventions for high-risk individuals. The use of a 7-type HPV mRNA test holds promise as an advantageous approach. Full article

Foundation Medicine^® testing is a next-generation sequence (NGS)-based platform that allows clinicians to obtain the comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) of several cancers. By using NGS approaches, relevant genomic alterations can be identified in a short timeframe, providing guidance to diagnostic and therapeutic decisions. This study reports the implementation of three commercially available Foundation Medicine^® tests in a Portuguese institution and explores the genomic alterations identified. Data obtained from 72 patients tested with Foundation Medicine^® between July 2017 and December 2020 were analysed retrospectively. A total of 290 gene alterations were identified, and TP53 was the gene most frequently altered. Among the 67 successfully profiled samples, 37.3% presented a potentially actionable variation. Breast carcinoma represented the most frequent tumour-carrying variation that can be targeted using currently approved drugs. A limited number of potentially actionable variants using approved drugs was found in this study; however, the genomic information provided by Foundation Medicine^® may help clinicians in directing cancer patients into clinical trials or to off-label treatments. Full article

Colorectal cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers nowadays. In the metastatic setting, diagnosis and treatment have relied on tumor tissue analysis. However, the different limitations of this approach have recently opened the door to the introduction of liquid biopsy in the clinical setting. Liquid biopsy provides real-time information about the tumor and its heterogeneity in a simple, non-invasive, and repeatable way. There are several analytes that can be sought: exosomes, circulating tumor cells, and circulating tumor DNA, showing promising results in the areas of early detection, minimal residual disease, prognosis, or response to treatment. Here, we review the clinical applications of liquid biopsy in advanced colorectal cancer patients, focusing on metastatic diagnosis, prognostic assessment, drug sensitivity, treatment response, and acquired resistance monitoring. Full article