Evaluating the Frequency of Histopathological Features of Oral and Cutaneous Lichen Planus Lesions: A Retrospective- Comparative Study

Background and Aim: Lichen planus (LP) is an immunological disease of skin and mucous membranes. Cutaneous and oral LP (CLP and OLP) have almost similar histopathological changes determined microscopically with symptoms such as basal cell layer degeneration, hyperkeratosis, band-like infiltration of lymphocytes, and saw tooth ridges. The present study aimed to determine the frequency and compare the histopathological features of OLP and CLP samples. Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive-analytical, and cross-sectional research performed on 91 paraffin-embedded tissue blocks (41 OLP lesions and 50 CLP lesions). The frequency of histopathological features was determined by an optical microscope, and data analysis was performed in SPSS version 21 using descriptive statistics (frequency and percentage) and Chi-square. Results: In this study, the frequency of LPs was higher in female subjects, compared to male participants. The frequency of histopathological features of hyperkeratosis, acanthosis, spongiosis, and epithelial hypertrophy was significantly higher in CLP samples, compared to OLP lesions (P<0.005). Meanwhile, the frequency of saw tooth ridges was higher in OLP lesions, compared to CLP samples (P<0.008). Moreover, there was a severe frequency of basal cell layer degeneration and the presence of civatte bodies (CBs) in most CLP lesions while they were moderate in most OLP samples. Conclusion: According to the results of the study, histopathological features of OLP and CLP lesions were not completely similar and had different frequencies in the two groups. It is recommended that more comprehensive studies be performed on these differences and their causes.

Stratification of Atypical Intraepithelial Prostatic Lesions Based on Basal Cell and Architectural Patterns

Objectives: High-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HPIN) and atypical cribriform lesion of the prostate are considered the precursors or associators of invasive prostate cancer (iPCa). Given loss of basal cells being the hallmark of iPCa, we hypothesized that a subset of these atypical intraepithelial lesions (AILs) with sparse basal cells can be classified as prostatic intraepithelial carcinoma (PIC) with frequent iPCa association and that different morphologic patterns of PIC are associated with specific Gleason (G) patterns and scores for iPCa. Methods: We stratified 153 foci of AILs from 110 patients based on the integrity of the basal cell layer and architectural patterns and their association with iPCa. Results: We demonstrated that AILs could be stratified into usual HPIN (intact basal cell layer and simple patterns) with low-risk of iPCa association and PIC (sparse basal cell layer) with high risk of iPCa association. Furthermore, PIC could be divided into low-grade (simple patterns and associated with G3 and G3/4 iPCa) and high-grade PIC (complex patterns and associated with G4 and G3/4/5 iPCa). Conclusions: Such stratification is of great clinical significance and instrumental to clinical patient management. It not only increases the predictability of AILs for iPCa but also accommodates a clinical scenario for lesions with features of intraductal carcinoma when iPCa is not found, particularly in biopsies.

Basal cell markers:34BE12 and p63, improving detection of basal cells in atypical prostatic lesions

Background: The diagnosis of prostatic pathology may be of challenging , as some difficult and suspected, atypical cases may lack basal cell layer by routine H&E sections . Antibodies against 34BE12(HMW-CK) and p63 aid the diagnosis of such cases , to distinguish benign from malignant prostatic lesions. Objective: to identify basal cells in atypical prostatic lesions ,and distinguish benign from malignant prostatic lesions. Type of the study: A retro-spective study. Methods: 115cases of paraffin embedded prostatic tissue blocks ,diagnosed as : 76 cases were benign prostatic hyperplasia( BPH) , 9 cases were high grade –prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HG-PIN) , and 30 cases were prostatic carcinoma(PCa) .Sections from each blocks were prepared for immunostaining with 34BE12 and p63. Results : basal cells were detected in cases of BPH , and HG-PIN , and absent in all cases of prostatic carcinoma ,using basal cell markers . Negative benign glands(>2) were found in 71.6% and 38.2% for BPH and 57.1% and 55.6% for HG-PIN immunostained with high molecular weight cytokeratin (34BE12) and p63 , respectively, and significantly reduced to 9.0% and 11.1% for BPH and HG-PIN, respectively with combined using of both markers .Conclusion : Combination of both basal cell markers (34BE12 , p63) improving basal cell detection in atypical ,suspected prostatic lesions and distinguish benign from malignant lesions.

Survivin and Sox9: Potential Stem Cell Markers in Canine Normal, Hyperplastic, and Neoplastic Canine Prostate

Canine prostatic carcinoma is a relevant model for human prostatic carcinoma. Survivin is proposed as a biomarker of malignancy in human prostatic cancer. Sox9 is a stem cell marker required for prostate development and expressed in several adult tissues. The aims of the present study were to evaluate the patterns and expression levels of 2 putative stem cell markers, survivin and Sox9, in canine benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostatic carcinoma to investigate their potential as stem cell markers. Immunohistochemistry with specific antibodies was performed on 3 samples of normal prostate gland, 18 samples of canine BPH, and 16 samples of prostatic carcinoma. The basal cell layer of normal and hyperplastic prostatic lobules had nuclear Sox9 immunolabeling and nuclear and rarely cytoplasmic survivin immunostaining, identifying them as potential stem cell markers. Significantly more frequent survivin and Sox9 expression (≥10% of nuclei) was observed in prostatic carcinoma as compared with BPH. The potential coexpression of survivin with Sox9, androgen receptor, and p63 was also investigated in selected BPH and prostatic carcinoma cases with immunofluorescence, and a partial colocalization was observed. Results indicate that Sox9 and survivin could be considered markers of stemness in canine prostate cells. Given its role in proliferation, cells in the basal cell layer with nuclear survivin expression are likely to be transit-amplifying cells that maintain some stem cell proprieties.