Esplenomegalia em cães: estudo retrospectivo

The aim of this study was to review the prevalence of canine splenic disorders by means of a retrospectiveanalysis of histological diagnosis after splenectomy. The results were confronted with laboratory findings, clinical signs and presence of cardiac arrhythmia and hemoperitoneum, in an attempt to establish the differentialdiagnosis of splenomegaly. One hundred and nine dogs assisted at the Veterinary Hospital of theSchool of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechny, University of São Paulo, were included in the retrospectivestudy, between 2002 and 2009. The average age was 10 years old ± 3, with no sexual predilection. Mixedbreed dogs was the most affected kind, and average weight was 22 kg ± 13. Overall, 52% (57/109) of dogswere splenectomized due to non-neoplastic diseases and 48% (52/109) to neoplastic diseases. Among thelatter, the most common diagnosis was hemangiosarcoma (28 dogs; 54%). Most frequent clinical signs includedanorexia, lethargy and vomiting. Results showed that dogs with low red blood cell count, low hematocritvalues and/or hemoperitoneum were more likely to have splenic malignant neoplasm. On the otherhand, sex, breed, size, age, cardiac arrhythmia and other laboratory parameters were not determining factorsin the differentiation of splenomegaly.

Hemangiossarcoma corneal em cão

Hemangiosarcoma is a malignant neoplasm and its corneal presentation is uncommon in the dog. The present work reports a case of primary corneal hemangiosarcoma on a mongrel female dog, 20kg, nine years old with a 2 month history of a mass with progressive growth in the right eye. The ophthalmic examination of the right eye showed blepharospasm, moderated conjunctival hyperemia and the presence of a reddish irregular nodule on the dorsal region of the cornea, occupying approximately 60% of the cornea. The ocular ultrasound revealed that the neoplasm affected only the cornea and the cytological examination diagnosed a malignant mesenchymal neoplasm. The patient was submitted to keratectomy followed by a third eyelid flap. The excised material was sent for histopathological analysis that diagnosed hemangiosarcoma. Fifteen days after surgery the third eyelid flap was removed and the ophthalmic examination revealed recurrence of the tumor, with the mass occupying the entire cornea and part of the bulbar conjunctiva. The patient was submitted to enucleation. No alterations were observed on the abdominal ultrasound and thoracic radiography, showing the primary characteristics of the disease. Two years after surgery the patient is clinically healthy, without any signs of recurrence or metastasis. Despite the surgical excision of the tumor with free margins, in cases of hemangiosarcoma with aggressive behavior, the enucleation should be considered as a viable option for a successfull therapeutic protocol and better prognosis of the patient.

Clinicopathological and immunohistochemical evaluation of oesophageal leiomyosarcoma in a dog

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Gingival squamous cell carcinoma: a case report

Squamous cell carcinoma is a malignant epithelial neoplasm characterized by variable clinical manifestations. When located in the gingiva, this neoplasm may mimic common inflammatory lesions. The aim of this study was to report a case of atypical squamous cell carcinoma, in which the patient had no risk factors for the development of this neoplasm. A 61 year old Caucasian female was seen with a 3 month history of a rapidly growing, painful nodule in the gingiva adjacent to tooth #11. Clinical examination revealed a proliferative lesion in the vestibular marginal gingiva of teeth #11 and #12, presenting with purulent exudation. Thus, in view of the clinical symptoms and differential diagnosis of an infectious granulomatous process and malignant neoplasm, an incisional biopsy was obtained from the lesion. The diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma was made and fourteen days after incisional biopsy, healing was found to be unsatisfactory. The patient was referred for treatment consisting of surgical excision of the tumour. A removable partial denture was fabricated for rehabilitation, one month after surgery of the maxilla; the patient was submitted to dissection of the regional lymph nodes and radiotherapy for an additional 3 months. Three years after the end of treatment, the patient continues to be followed-up and does not show any sign of recurrence. Gingival squamous cell carcinoma is a condition which chance of cure is higher when carcinomatous lesions are diagnosed and treated early. In this instance dentists play an important role in early detection of gingival squamous cell carcinoma.

Sarcoma histiocítico: análise molecular pela técnica de hibridação genômica comparativa, microRNA e imunoistoquímica

Pós-graduação em Patologia - FMB

Influência das células mioepiteliais neoplásicas benignas de adenoma pleomórfico na produção de MMPs -1, -2, - 8, -9 e -13 por células epiteliais malignas e sua possível relação com o índice de invasão

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Estudo comparativo da expressão da survivina na citologia esfoliativa da mucosa bucal de pacientes com carcinoma de células escamosas intra-bucal e fumantes crônicos

Survivin protein is an inhibitor of apoptosis that plays a role in cell cycle control and the mechanism of carcinogenesis. The aim of this study was to verify the clinic pathological correlation of survivin expression in exfoliative cytology of chronic smokers, mucosa of patients with intra-oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and also from mucosa after surgical removal of OSCC. Patients were divided in 03 groups: Group 1: 26 patients who smoked more than 20 cigarettes/day/10years with no history of oral malignant neoplasm, or any clinical sign visible at examination. Group 2: 26 patients who had OSCC and Group 3: 22 patients surgically treated of OSCC for at least 01 month. Immunohistochemistry of the smears from each group was analyzed by light microscopy to extent and intensity of survivin positive cells. Survivin expression was observed in 100% of cases in group 1, 88.5% in group 2 and 100% in group 3. Groups 1 and 3 showed cytoplasmic expression in 100% of the cases, while group 2 showed it in 87.5%. Cytoplasmic and nuclear expression was 7.69% observed only in group 2. The results were association with clinicopathological data by Fisher's exact test and it was significant to smoke cessation in group 2 on intensity (p=0.015) of survivin expression. The intensity of survivin expression was related to smoking cessation in group 2. Smoking history (pack/years) showed no influence survivin expression

Estudo comparativo da expressão da survivina na citologia esfoliativa da mucosa bucal de pacientes com carcinoma de células escamosas intra-bucal e fumantes crônicos

Survivin protein is an inhibitor of apoptosis that plays a role in cell cycle control and the mechanism of carcinogenesis. The aim of this study was to verify the clinic pathological correlation of survivin expression in exfoliative cytology of chronic smokers, mucosa of patients with intra-oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and also from mucosa after surgical removal of OSCC. Patients were divided in 03 groups: Group 1: 26 patients who smoked more than 20 cigarettes/day/10years with no history of oral malignant neoplasm, or any clinical sign visible at examination. Group 2: 26 patients who had OSCC and Group 3: 22 patients surgically treated of OSCC for at least 01 month. Immunohistochemistry of the smears from each group was analyzed by light microscopy to extent and intensity of survivin positive cells. Survivin expression was observed in 100% of cases in group 1, 88.5% in group 2 and 100% in group 3. Groups 1 and 3 showed cytoplasmic expression in 100% of the cases, while group 2 showed it in 87.5%. Cytoplasmic and nuclear expression was 7.69% observed only in group 2. The results were association with clinicopathological data by Fisher's exact test and it was significant to smoke cessation in group 2 on intensity (p=0.015) of survivin expression. The intensity of survivin expression was related to smoking cessation in group 2. Smoking history (pack/years) showed no influence survivin expression

Risk of late effects of treatment in children newly diagnosed with standard-risk acute lymphoblastic leukaemia: a report from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study cohort

BACKGROUND Treatment of patients with paediatric acute lymphoblastic leukaemia has evolved such that the risk of late effects in survivors treated in accordance with contemporary protocols could be different from that noted in those treated decades ago. We aimed to estimate the risk of late effects in children with standard-risk acute lymphoblastic leukaemia treated with contemporary protocols. METHODS We used data from similarly treated members of the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study cohort. The Childhood Cancer Survivor Study is a multicentre, North American study of 5-year survivors of childhood cancer diagnosed between 1970 and 1986. We included cohort members if they were aged 1·0-9·9 years at the time of diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and had received treatment consistent with contemporary standard-risk protocols for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. We calculated mortality rates and standardised mortality ratios, stratified by sex and survival time, after diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. We calculated standardised incidence ratios and absolute excess risk for subsequent neoplasms with age-specific, sex-specific, and calendar-year-specific rates from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program. Outcomes were compared with a sibling cohort and the general US population. FINDINGS We included 556 (13%) of 4329 cohort members treated for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Median follow-up of the survivors from 5 years after diagnosis was 18·4 years (range 0·0-33·0). 28 (5%) of 556 participants had died (standardised mortality ratio 3·5, 95% CI 2·3-5·0). 16 (57%) deaths were due to causes other than recurrence of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Six (1%) survivors developed a subsequent malignant neoplasm (standardised incidence ratio 2·6, 95% CI 1·0-5·7). 107 participants (95% CI 81-193) in each group would need to be followed-up for 1 year to observe one extra chronic health disorder in the survivor group compared with the sibling group. 415 participants (376-939) in each group would need to be followed-up for 1 year to observe one extra severe, life-threatening, or fatal disorder in the group of survivors. Survivors did not differ from siblings in their educational attainment, rate of marriage, or independent living. INTERPRETATION The prevalence of adverse long-term outcomes in children treated for standard risk acute lymphoblastic leukaemia according to contemporary protocols is low, but regular care from a knowledgeable primary-care practitioner is warranted. FUNDING National Cancer Institute, American Lebanese-Syrian Associated Charities, Swiss Cancer Research.

Cerebral High-grade Oligodendroglioma with Sarcomatous Transdifferentiation ("Oligosarcoma") in a Boxer Dog.

A 9-year-old Boxer dog was referred to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the University of Bern for a history of chronic neck pain and gait problems, which rapidly progressed to a non-ambulatory status. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination of the head revealed a large intra-axial space-occupying lesion that was divided in two portions interconnected by a thin isthmus at the level of the cerebellar tentorium. Histopathology revealed a biphasic malignant neoplasm composed of neuroepithelial and mesenchymal elements. The former displayed characteristics of conventional anaplastic oligodendroglioma involving brisk mitotic activity and glomeruloid microvascular proliferation on a background of a fibrillary round cells with "honeycomb-like" perinuclear vacuolation. Conversely, the sarcomatous moiety exhibited haphazard fascicles of spindle cells amidst an intricate mesh of pericellular basal lamina and broad bands of collagen. Both tumor cell populations immunoreacted for Olig-2 and – to a lesser extent – GFAP. In addition, the sarcomatous areas focally expressed vimentin, muscular actin, and smooth muscle actin. "Oligosarcoma" - an exquisitely uncommon pattern of oligodendroglial malignancy in humans - has not previously been reported to affect dogs, although oligodendroglioma is a common CNS tumor in this species. Whether canine oligosarcoma shares with its human counterpart not only morphological aspects, but also molecular signatures, clinical behavior and responsiveness to therapy merits further investigation. In humans, oligodendroglial differentiation tends to confer significant clinical advantage with respect to prognosis and adjuvant treatment options. The awareness of such hallmarks and the investigation of their impact on prognosis are crucial for improved therapeutical strategies in dogs.

Ramucirumab versus placebo as second-line treatment in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma following first-line therapy with sorafenib (REACH): a randomised, double-blind, multicentre, phase 3 trial

BACKGROUND VEGF and VEGF receptor-2-mediated angiogenesis contribute to hepatocellular carcinoma pathogenesis. Ramucirumab is a recombinant IgG1 monoclonal antibody and VEGF receptor-2 antagonist. We aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of ramucirumab in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma following first-line therapy with sorafenib. METHODS In this randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind, multicentre, phase 3 trial (REACH), patients were enrolled from 154 centres in 27 countries. Eligible patients were aged 18 years or older, had hepatocellular carcinoma with Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage C disease or stage B disease that was refractory or not amenable to locoregional therapy, had Child-Pugh A liver disease, an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 or 1, had previously received sorafenib (stopped because of progression or intolerance), and had adequate haematological and biochemical parameters. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive intravenous ramucirumab (8 mg/kg) or placebo every 2 weeks, plus best supportive care, until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, or death. Randomisation was stratified by geographic region and cause of liver disease with a stratified permuted block method. Patients, medical staff, investigators, and the funder were masked to treatment assignment. The primary endpoint was overall survival in the intention-to-treat population. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01140347. FINDINGS Between Nov 4, 2010, and April 18, 2013, 565 patients were enrolled, of whom 283 were assigned to ramucirumab and 282 were assigned to placebo. Median overall survival for the ramucirumab group was 9·2 months (95% CI 8·0-10·6) versus 7·6 months (6·0-9·3) for the placebo group (HR 0·87 [95% CI 0·72-1·05]; p=0·14). Grade 3 or greater adverse events occurring in 5% or more of patients in either treatment group were ascites (13 [5%] of 277 patients treated with ramucirumab vs 11 [4%] of 276 patients treated with placebo), hypertension (34 [12%] vs ten [4%]), asthenia (14 [5%] vs five [2%]), malignant neoplasm progression (18 [6%] vs 11 [4%]), increased aspartate aminotransferase concentration (15 [5%] vs 23 [8%]), thrombocytopenia (13 [5%] vs one [<1%]), hyperbilirubinaemia (three [1%] vs 13 [5%]), and increased blood bilirubin (five [2%] vs 14 [5%]). The most frequently reported (≥1%) treatment-emergent serious adverse event of any grade or grade 3 or more was malignant neoplasm progression. INTERPRETATION Second-line treatment with ramucirumab did not significantly improve survival over placebo in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. No new safety signals were noted in eligible patients and the safety profile is manageable. FUNDING Eli Lilly and Co.

Carcinoma da tiróide

Trabalho Final do Curso de Mestrado Integrado em Medicina, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 2014

Follicular dendritic cell sarcoma associated with Castelmans disease presenting in the oral cavity

Follicular dendritic cell sarcoma (FDCS) is a rare intermediate grade malignant neoplasm of reticular dendritic origin. Castleman’s disease (CD) represents a non-neoplastic lymphoproliferative disorder with various clinical and morphological features. FDCS has been reported to be associated with CD. In this article, we describe the first case of follicular dendritic cell sarcoma associated with Castleman’s disease presenting in the oral cavity. Copyright © 2005 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved.

Adenocarcinoma of colon differentiating as dome epithelium of gut-associated lymphoid tissue

Aims: An early adenocarcinoma of the ascending colon was confined to a mass of gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT). The first description of an adenocarcinoma of colon differentiating as dome epithelium is presented. Methods and results: A plaque-like carcinoma was identified opposite the ileocaecal valve in an asymptomatic 56-year-old man with a family history of colorectal cancer. Malignant epithelium was confined to a mass of GALT filling but limited to the submucosa, Characterization of the neoplasm was undertaken by means of mucin histochemistry, immunohistochemistry, electron microscopy and assessment of DNA microsatellite instability status. The malignant epithelium comprised well differentiated columnar cells with a microvillous brush border and expressing MUC1, but no goblet cells or expression of MUC2. The demonstration of focal clusters of intraepithelial B-lymphocytes supported the presence of functioning M-cells within the malignant neoplasm. The cancer was DNA microsatellite stable despite the finding of tumour infiltrating lymphocytes. Conclusions: There is evidence for the origin of colorectal neoplasia from dome epithelium in both experimental models and microreconstruction studies of early adenomas in nonpolypotic human colorectal mucose, It is suggested that the lymphocyte-rich subset of colorectal cancer that expresses MUC1 but not MUC2 may be differentiating as dome epithelium of gut-associated lymphoid tissue.

Predictors of caregiver burden across the home-based palliative care trajectory in Ontario, Canada

Family caregivers of patients enrolled in home-based palliative care programmes provide unpaid care and assistance with daily activities to terminally ill family members. Caregivers often experience caregiver burden, which is an important predictor of anxiety and depression that can extend into bereavement. We conducted a longitudinal, prospective cohort study to comprehensively assess modifiable and non-modifiable patient and caregiver factors that account for caregiver burden over the palliative care trajectory. Caregivers (n = 327) of patients with malignant neoplasm were recruited from two dedicated home-based palliative care programmes in Southern Ontario, Canada from 1 July 2010 to 31 August 2012. Data were obtained from bi-weekly telephone interviews with caregivers from study admission until death, and from palliative care programme and home-care agency databases. Information collected comprised patient and caregiver demographics, utilisation of privately and publicly financed resources, patient clinical status and caregiver burden. The average age of the caregivers was 59.0 years (SD: 13.2), and almost 70% were female. Caregiver burden increased over time in a non-linear fashion from study admission to patient death. Increased monthly unpaid care-giving time costs, monthly public personal support worker costs, emergency department visits and low patient functional status were associated with higher caregiver burden. Greater use of hospice care was associated with lower burden. Female caregivers tended to report more burden compared to men as death approached, and burden was higher when patients were male. Low patient functional status was the strongest predictor of burden. Understanding the influence of modifiable and non-modifiable factors on the experience of burden over the palliative trajectory is essential for the development and targeting of programmes and policies to support family caregivers and reduce burden. Supporting caregivers can have benefits such as improved caregiver health outcomes, and enhancing their ability to meet care-giving demands, thereby potentially allowing for longer patient care in the home setting.