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    May-Aug 2011

    Vol. 2

    Molecular Testing in Solid Tumours

    Laboratory Diagnosis of Malaria

    Purpose,Values and Aspirations

    Lab Diagnosis of Brucellosis

    4

    www.pathcarekenya.com

    for more information on the ser vices we offer,

    please visit our website ww w.pathcarekenya.com

    East AfricanPathology Forum

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    East African

    Dr Jane Mwangi Dr Kiran Radia

    [email protected]

    [email protected]

    [email protected]

    www.pathcarekenya.com

    Assistant Editor

    Benjamin Matheka

    Operations Manager

    Madhu Aggarwal

    Technical Manager

    Paul Okwach

    Financial Controller

    Charity Njuguna

    Marketing Manager

    Benjamin Matheka

    C.E.O/Chief Pathologist

    Dr Kishor MandaliyaCoast Pathologist

    Purpose, Va lues and Aspi ra tions Molecular Tes ting in Solid Tumours

    Laboratory Diagnosis of Malaria Laboratory Diagnosis of Brucellosis

    From the Editor

    Laboratory tests have become increasingly sophis-ticated in recent years and this has increased the

    importance of the laboratory in assisting cliniciansin diagnosis and management of patients.

    Molecular pathology is rapidly developing and anever-changing science. In this issue we have an

    article on molecular testing in solid tumours.Wetrust that you will find the information useful and

    that it will assist you in the understanding of the

    most modern techniques Pathcare has.

    Malaria continues to be a serious public healthproblem and our haematopathologist contributes a

    review on the laboratory diagnosis of malaria.

    The number of tests utilizing PCR-technology isgrowing at a spectacular rate.

    Brucellosis has for many years been a difficultdisease to diagnose, confirm cure and predictrelapses and has now also succumbed to the PCR

    wave. In this Forum we compare the use of conven-tional culture and serology for the diagnosis ofbrucellosis with the much more accurate and

    reproducible PCR-test.

    On the facing page you can read a statement about

    Pathcares Purpose, Values and Aspirations.This demonstrates the philosophy that underpins

    what we represent.

    E-mail

    East African

    laboratory tests in all the clinical settings viz. acute brucellosis, chronic

    infections, focal infections, follow-up of treatment and prediction of

    relapses.

    Blood culture: These tests take up to 7 days to produce a result, have a

    sensitivity of 74% in the acute phase but the sensitivity is significantly

    reducedin thefocaland chronicformsof thedisease.

    Serology tests have a poor sensitivity during the early stages of the

    disease due to low levels of antibodies. Serological methods lack

    specificity and titres often remain elevated for protracted periods after

    therapy even in cases of complete recovery. Less than 25% of patients

    show a significant rise in antibody titre during relapses. Serology has

    serious limitations, especially in chronic, relapsing and focal forms of

    disease.

    Laboratorytests

    Serology

    Culture of the organism poses a high risk of contagion to the

    laboratory staffandthereforeisnot performedatour laboratory.

    Ifbuffycoat samplesare used,PCRtests have

    been shown to have a 100% sensitivity and a

    100% specificity in acute, chronic, relapsing

    and focal forms of disease. PCR tests can

    predict therapeutic failure and relapses with

    almost 100%accuracy.

    PCRtestingcanalsobedoneafter6 weeksof

    effective treatment to ensure eradication of

    brucella and thereby prevent the high rate of

    recurrence.

    Polymerasechain reaction(PCR)

    It is t he re fore t he opinion of t his

    laboratory that PCR tests should replace

    t he c urrent serology t ests for t he

    diagnosisof brucellosis.

    Pathcare Kenya Limited staff attending to members of the public at the Westgate Shopping

    Mall where they offered free testing for blood glucose and bl ood groupPathcare staff speaking to a client on the services we offer after undertaking

    a free blood glucose and blood group test at the Westgate Shopping Mall

    112

    4

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    the laboratory diagnosis of brucellosis

    East African

    Brucellosis is an occupational hazard among farmers, herders,

    veterenariansand abattoir workers.

    After entering the body, the bacteria spread via the bloodstream to

    the liver, spleen, lymphnodes and bonemarrowwhere theymultiply

    in macrophages, which undergo generalised hyperplasia. This may

    lead to lymphadenopathy and hepatosplenomegaly (

    and , thedevelopmento f noncaseat inggranu lomas in the

    liver, spleen, lymph nodes and bone marrow or

    suppur at ive li ve r abs cesse s .

    The clinical symptoms of brucellosis are non-specific and several

    otherfebrilediseasesmaybe mimicked.Featuresofacutediseaseare

    variedand onset may be insidious. Acuteinfection canbe followedby

    chronic infection, relapses (undulating fever) or focal forms of

    infection. Features of chronic disease arevagueand maypersist or

    recurforyears.

    Therelapserateafterappropriateantibiotictherapycanbe ashigh as

    30%. I t i s therefore impor tant to evaluate the per formance of

    B. melitensis

    B. abortus)

    (B. abortus)

    (B. suis)

    Clinicalbackground

    Brucellosis is a febrile bacterial disease acquired from

    domestic animals and encountered worldwide.FourBrucella species, each with its own animal reservoir, cancause human disease i.e. B. abortus (cattle), B. suis(swine), B.melitensis (sheep and goats) and B. canis(dogs). Of the four, B. melitensis is the commonest causeof symptomatic disease in humans.

    Humans are infected with the bacteria through:

    Contact with infected blood or tissue;

    Ingestion of contaminated meat or milk;

    Inhalation of contaminated aerosols.

    Written & Compiled byDr Pierr Schoeman

    10 3

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    Gametocyte of P. falciparumin blood film

    Rapid diagnostic testP. falciparum in thinblood film

    9

    East AfricanEast African

    Fluorescence basedmicroscopytests:Acridine orange, a fluorescent dye, has affinity for nucleic acids. Thequantitativebuffycoatmethod(QBC)uses acridineorangeand a concentrationtechnique to enhance detection of the malaria parasite. An acridine orangecoated capillary filled with 50-100 l blood is centrifuged and the buffy layer isexamined under a fluorescent light microscope for the presence of red cellscontainingparasites.The sensitivityofthe QBCmethodhas beenreportedto bebetween55% togreaterthan90% (2).

    NewtestsReal time PCR has recently beenadapted to detect all four humanm a l a ri a p a r as i t e s w i t h 1 0 0 %sensitivity and specificity and allowquantification (5). The real time PCRassay offers a practical and clinicallyacceptable alternative for rapid andaccurate diagnosis of malariainfestations in patients presenting

    with symptoms of this disease andshould in future, when suitablecommercial kits are available, bei n c o rp o r at e d i n t o d i a g no s t i ca l go r it h ms a s a n a d ju n ct t omicroscopicand immunologicaltests.

    Ina diseaselike malariawheremisdiagnosisresultsin significantmorbidityandmortality and taking into account the limitations of the diagnostic tests, thefollowingissuggestedasa decisionchartfortreatment:

    SUSPECTED CLINICAL CASES

    Treatmentprotocol

    Treatmentprotocol

    Severe malaria Treatment

    protocolUncomplicated

    malariaTreat whileexcluding

    other disease

    P. falcipar um Non-

    falciparumHigh suspicion

    of malaria

    Look for otherdisease Review

    and repeatsmears Refer

    Microscopy / RDT

    Positive Negative

    References:

    1. MalariaWorkingPartyofthe GeneralHaematologyTaskForceof theBritishCommittee for Standards in Haematology.Thelaboratorydiagnosisof malaria.ClinLabHaem1997(19) 165-170.

    2. Hnscheid,T.Diagnosisofmalaria:areviewofalternativestoconventionalmicroscopy. ClinLabHaem1999 (21)235-245.

    3. http://www.wpro.who.int/sites/rdt/documents/TheUseof MalariaRapidDiagnosticTests.

    4. http://www.wpro.who.int/sites/rdt/documents/Malaria Diagnosis:Newperspectives:WHO2000.

    5. PerandinF.et al.Developmentof real-timePCRassayfordetectionof

    forroutineclinicaldiagnosis.JClinMicrobiol2004(42)1214-1219.

    6. http://rbm.who.int/wmr2005.WordMalariareport2005.Preparedby: RollBackMalaria.

    WorldHealth Organization.UNICEF.

    Plasmodium

    falciparum,Plasmodium vivax,and

    Plasmodiumovale

    In the past 2 decades the analysis of protein expression by

    immunohistochemical staining has become an integral tool for assessment

    of pathology specimens. More recently, molecular testing is being integrated

    intoveryspecificareasindiagnosticpathology.

    This overview will provide some examples of molecular tests in different

    stagesof clinicalapplicabilityin afew differentorgansystems.

    Colorectal adenocarcinomas arise through different genetic pathways and

    should no longer be considered one disease. The majority (85%) of

    colorectal cancers arise via the chromosomal instability pathway with

    dysfunction of the APC/Beta-catenin/WNT signalling pathway. However15% to 20% of colorectal cancers arise via the microsatellite instability

    pathway (MSI), owing to either a germline mutation (Lynch syndrome) or

    epigeneticgene silencingsecondary tohypermethylation.

    Four main proteins, MLH1, MSH2, MSH6 and PMS2 comprise the

    mismatchrepair complex.

    Carcinomas arising via the MSI pathway have characteristic pathologic

    features. Antibodies to the above proteins can be used to screen for

    Microsatelliteunstabletumours(MSI-H)(Seefigure1).

    MolecularPathology ofColorectal Adenocarcinoma:

    Molecular testing in anatomic pathology will almost certainly become

    critical for providing optimal patient care during the next 5 to 10years, asmore assays are developed that provide valuablediagnostic,prognostic and

    therapeut ic informat ion for patient management.

    Traditionally pathologists have relied on thehaematoxylin-e osin-stained

    slide to make a diagnosis. Prognostic indicators were limited to those thatcould be seen at the light microscopic level and included such variables asthe surgical margin status, lymph node metastasis and perineural and

    angiolymphatic invasion.

    Characteristic intact nuclear staining with MLH1 in a patient with amicrosatellite stable cancer. This pattern of staining would be present for all

    fourmismatchrepairproteinantibodies(MLH1,MSH2,MSH6,andPMS2).

    Figure1:

    15MSI-H

    2HNPCC

    methylation,

    CIMP+

    chromosomal

    instability

    85MSS/MSI-L

    Suchscreeningmethodscanidentifypatientswho shouldhaveadditional

    genetic testing and counselling. Molecular testing using a panel of

    microsatellite markers can detect MSI-H tumours. Most MSI-H colorectal

    cancersare sporadicandarisefromepigeneticgenesilencingof oneof the

    mismatch repair protein genes, most commonly . A minority of

    MSI-H colorectal cancers are inherited (hereditary non-polyposis

    colorectal cancer) and arise from germline mutation of one of the

    mismatch repair genes or .

    A subset of colorectal carcinomas (25%) has widespread aberrations in

    DNA methylation, including promoter silencing of genes that are

    important to tumour biology. Referred to as the CpG island methylator

    phenotype (CIMP) this includes most sporadic MSI-H cancers with

    methylation silencing of . CIMP testing can be done to detect

    abnormalDNAmethylation(SeeTable1).

    Breakdownofthe molecularpathogenesisof colorectalcancers.

    MLH1

    MLH1,MSH2,MSH6 PMS2

    MLH1

    Table1

    Written and Compiled by

    DrLindaSteyn

    4

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    otiuqsomselehponAairalamfonoitubirtsiD kcihtnietisarapairalaMblood film

    East African

    8

    East African

    the laboratory diagnosisof malaria

    Misdiagnosis of malaria results insignificant morbidity and mortality. Rapidand accurate detection, speciation andenumeration of malaria parasites has animportant role in addressing this and inpromoting rational use of increasingly

    costly drugs. The tests that are availabletoday include microscopy (thick smear,thin smear, fluorescence microscopy),antigen detection and detection ofparasites with the polymerase chainreaction(PCR).

    At PathCare we follow guidelines fordiagnosis of malaria as prepared by theMalaria Working Party of The GeneralHaematology Task Force of the BritishC o m m i tt e e f o r S t a n d a r d s i nHaematology. The recommendationsstate the following - both thick and thinblood films should be examined andmicroscopy may be supplemented by animmunological or fluorescence basedmethod(1).

    Written & Compiled byDrIllseLouw

    Interpretationof RDT's:

    Thick film and thin films:The thick film is used for the detection of the parasites and the thin film is usedfor species identification. When a minimum of 200 oil immersion fields (x100objective)is viewed ona thickfilm,approximately0.50l ofblood isexamined.The detection limit of a thick film is 5-20 parasites per l. When 100 oilimmersion fields (x100 objective) of a thin blood film are viewed, 0.005 l ofblood is examined. The detection limit of a thin blood film is 50-200 parasitesperl(2).

    RDTs generally achieve a sensitivity of >90% in the detection of atdensities above 100 parasites per l blood (4) and the specificity of RDT's isuniformly high (mostly >90%). Limitation of the tests include limited speciesidentification, false positive results which have been reported in patients withrheumatoid factor in kits testing for the HRP2 antigen (4), and HRP2 testsremaining positive for 7-14 days following chemotherapy in a proportion ofindividuals, even though these patients no longer have symptoms orparasitaemia(as assessedby bloodsmears),thus limitingthe useof theRDT'sinfollow-upof treatment(2).

    Kits that incorporate testing for both the panmalaria aldolase and HRP2, to

    detec t both and non- speci es , cannot di ffe rent ia tebetween and nor can they distinguish pure

    infectionsfrommixedinfectionsthatinclude (4)

    Immunologicaltests:Immunologicaltests formalariaarealso knownasrapid diagnostictests(RDTs).These tests are based on the detection of antigens derived from malariaparasites in lysed blood, using immunochromatographic methods. The three

    hcir-eniditsiheradetcetedylnommoceratahtsnegitnaprotein 2 (HRP2), a panspecific malaria aldolase and parasitespecific lactatedehydrogenase. The RDT currentlyin use at Pathcare detects the HRP2 of

    anda panspecificplasmodiumaldolase.

    Plasmodium falciparum

    P. falciparum

    P. falcipa rum

    P. fac ilpa rum falcipa rumP. vivax, P. ovale P. malariae,

    murapiclaf.Pmurapiclaf.P

    CONTROL LINE POSITIVE

    HRP2 line only positive

    infection orinfection plus

    infection with non-falciparumspecies of such low levels thatthe aldolase antigen does nottest positive

    P. falcip arum

    P. falcip arum

    HRP2 and aldolase linespositive

    or mixedinfection withP. falciparu m

    P. falciparum, vivax,ovale, malariae

    Aldolase line only positive

    infectionNon-falciparum

    Recent studies have shown that status, EGFR amplification and

    expression of were associated with outcome measures in

    wild-type patients treated with a cetuximab-based regimen. Subsequentstudieswill berequiredtoconfirmtheclinicalutilityof thesemarkers.

    Sequence electrophoretogram of the PCR product of exon 15

    showing two overlapping peaks at position 1799, which is diagnostic of

    aT Amutationatthisposition.

    Approximately 5% to 10% of breast cancers are caused by mutations inhigh penetrance breast cancer susceptibility genes and include

    and . These genes confer a high risk of breast and ovarian cancer.

    Two genes associated with rare cancer syndromes, and also

    conferaveryhighriskof breastcancer. associatedbreastcancers

    havedistinctmorphology,beingmoreoftenmedullary-like,triplenegative

    a nd sho wing a ba sa l p heno type. a nd c an cers a re a

    heterogenous group without a specific phenotype. At present the role of

    and in DNA repair is being exploited to develop novel

    therapies (Poly-ADP ribose polymerase inhibitors). A number ofl ow to

    dnaicol/senegtnartenepetaredom

    have also been identified but their role and contribution in breast cancer

    developmentisstillunderinvestigation.

    BRAF

    PTEN KRAS

    BRAF

    BRCA1

    BRCA2

    P 53 P TE N

    BRCA1

    BRCA2 BRCAX

    BRCA1 BRCA2

    9FGFR2, TNRC9, MAP3K LSP1

    Figure2

    MolecularPathology ofBreast Tumours

    The clinical detectionof colorectalcarcinoma withdeficient mismatchrepair

    functionis desirablefor3 reasons:

    1. Identification of Lynch syndrome (HNPCC). Confirmation of the

    germline mutation allows for the most accurate treatment and follow-up

    recommendations for the patient and allows predictive testing to be

    undertakenininterestedfamilymembers.

    2. Microsatellite instability is also a predictor of chemosensitivity including

    5-fluorouraciland irinotecan.

    3. MSI-Hcarcinomaisassociatedwitha morefavourableprognosis.

    Based on available evidence regarding risk and outcome, mismatch repair

    gene mutation carriers should be offered colonoscopy every 1 to 2 years

    beginningat20 to25 yearsofage.

    Subtotal colectomy is generally favoured for patients with known HNPCC-

    Lynch syndrome; however the potential benefit over colonoscopic

    surveillancehasnotbeenstudied.

    Approximately 20% of patients with colorectal cancer present withmetastatic disease and an additional 30% to 40% develop metastases

    during the course of their disease. Adjuvant therapy is usually used in

    patients with advanced stage disease. In particular epidermal growth factor

    receptor (EGFR) inhibitor therapies have emerged as effective treatments in

    a subset of patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma. Mounting

    evidence has shown that these therapies are ineffective in tumours with

    mutations of codons 12 and 13 of exon 2 of the gene (see Figure 2 ).

    Because of this compelling data the determination of mutation status

    isrecommendedin allpatientswith metastaticcolorectalcarcinomawhoare

    candidates for anti-EGFR therapy. However only half of these patients will

    benefitfrom treatment,suggestingthe needto identifyadditionalbiomarkers

    forcetuximab-based treatmentefficacy.

    KRASMutationtestinginColorectalCancer

    KRAS

    KRAS

    FromHistopathology 50:113-130,2007

    CIMP, CpG methylator phenotype; MSI-H, high frequency microsatellite instability; MSI-L low frequency microsatellite instability; MSS microsatellite

    stable

    Recently, a molecular-pathologic classification of colorectal carcinoma has been proposed that is based on the presence or absence of aneuploidy and the

    statusofmismatchrepairandmethylationpathways.(SeeTable2)

    MolecularPathologic Classificationof ColorectalCancer

    Table2

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    CIMP

    high

    CIMP

    high

    CIMP

    low

    CIMP

    negative

    CIMP

    negative

    Partial

    Methylation

    Microsatellite

    MSI-H

    MSS/MSI-L

    MSS/MSI-L

    MSS

    MSI-H

    Chromosomal

    Status

    Stable

    diploid

    Stable

    diploid

    Stable

    diploid

    Unstable

    diploid

    Unstable

    diploid

    Precursor

    Adenoma

    Adenoma

    Proportion

    12%

    8%

    20%

    57%

    3%

    5

    At the end of 2 004 3 .2 billion peoplelived in areas at risk of malaria t r a ns m i s s i o n . An estimated 350-500million clinical malaria episodes occurannually, most caused by P.falciparumand P. vivax. Falciparum malariacauses more than 1million deaths eachyear.About 60% of the malaria casesworldwide , about 75% of globalfalciparum malaria cases and 80% ofmalaria deaths occur in Africa south ofthe Sahara (6).

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    East African East African

    utilizes expression array analysis of 70 genes to identify patients with

    good and poor prognostic signatures. A further assay, PAM50 Assay

    basedonintrinsicsubtypeswillalsobe availablesoon.

    In brain tumours loss of 1p (short arm of chromosome 1) and 19q (long

    arm of chromosome 19) is associated with oligodendroglioma

    differentiation, being found in up to 80% of cases (See figure 4). This

    mutational profile has also been shown to correlate with responses tochemotherapy. Anaplastic oligodendrogliomas with combined allelic

    losses on 1p and 19q are typically sensitive to PCV chemotherapy.

    Longer survivals have also been reported in patients with 1p and 19q

    loss.

    (A) This anaplastic oligodendroglioma, grade III, is more crowded with

    more pleomorphic nuclei than the grade II oligodendrogliomas. Despite

    their pleomorphism, nuclei tend to be round. Mitotic figures are

    numerous.(H&E.)

    (B)Crowdedhyperchromaticnucleido notoverexpressp53.

    (C) Diffuse margin of this anaplastic oligodendroglioma in gliotic brain

    highlightsGFAP-negative branchingmicrovascular proliferations.

    (D) One of the deletions often found in oligodendrogliomas is on the short

    armofchromosome1 (1p).

    In this fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) preparation, the test probe

    for1p32is redand thereferenceprobe for1q42isgreen.Each nucleusis

    counterstained blue. The single red dot in each of the three whole nuclei

    demonstrates a deletion on 1p. The reference probe shows two green

    dots, reflecting a pair of chromosomes giving this signal, as expected in

    these diploid interphase nuclei. FISH preparation was contributed by Dr.

    Arie Perry, Division of Neuropathology, Department of Pathology,

    WashingtonUniversity Schoolof Medicine,

    St.Louis,Mo.

    From McKeever PE. New methods of brain tumour analysis. In: Mena H,

    SandbergG, eds.Dr.KennethM.EarleMemorialNeuropathologyReview.

    Washington,DC: ArmedForces Institute ofPathology,2004.

    Oligodendrogliomaand lossof1p and19q

    Figure4

    A

    B

    A

    C

    B

    D

    One of the most common applications of molecular pathology in solid

    tumours is to test for amplification of gene (See Figure 3).

    positive breast cancer is significantly correlated with several unfavourable

    pathologic tumour characteristics. Herceptin was developed as a biologic

    targetedtherapeuticagainstthe receptor.

    -positivebreast cancer.

    A: immunostain demonstrates intense membrane staining of alltum ou r c ells in a c hicken-wir e p attern in dic atin g p ro tein

    overexpression(3+).

    B: FISH assay using a dual probe system. Red signals denote gene

    copiesand greensignalsdenotecopiesof chromosome17. Theaverageratio

    of red to green signals per nucleus is >2.2; therefore, this tumour shows

    gene amplification.

    Two molecular tests are available that may aid in assessment of prognosis

    andthe prediction ofresponsetovarioustherapeuticmodalitiesin individual

    patients. Oncotype DX (Genomic Health Inc.) is based on the analysis of

    expression of 21 genes and provides a recurrence score that correlates with

    outcome.Mammaprint(Agendia)isa molecularprognostictestthat

    HER2 HER2

    HER2

    HER2

    HER2

    HER2

    HER2

    HER2

    Figure3

    Conclusion:

    Summaryof someofthecommonlyusedmoleculartestsin SolidTumours:

    The aboveoutlines afew examplesof howmolecular pathologyis incorporatedand usedin clinicaland pathologypractice.

    In the near feature, classification and diagnosis of most tumours through morphologic analysis will be supplemented by molecular information correlating to

    prognosisand targetedtherapy.

    References:

    1. BelezziAM,FrankelWL.Colorectalcancerdueto deficiencyinDNAmismatchrepairfunction.Areview.Adv.AnatPath.2009;16(6):405-417.

    2. ColemanWB,TsongalisGJ.MolecularPathology.Themolecularbasisofhumandisease.

    3. DabbsDJ.DiagnosticImmunohistochemistry.TheranosticandGenomicapplications.

    4. Hunt,Jennifer.Moleculartestingin solidtumours.AnOverview.ArchPatholLabMed.2008;132:164-167

    5. Hunt,Jennifer.Moleculartestingin anatomicpathologypractice.Areviewofbasicprinciples.ArchPatholLabMed.2007;132:248-260.

    6. OdzeRD,GoldblumJR.SurgicalPathologyofthe GItract,Liver,BiliarytractandPancreas

    7. PlesecTP,HuntJL. MutationTestinginColorectalCancer.AdvAnatPathol.2009;16(5):196-203.

    8. PuigPet al.Analysisof PTEN,BRAGandEFGRstatusindeterminingbenefitfromcetuximabtherapyinwild-typeKRASmetastaticcoloncancer.J

    ClinOncol.20091-8.

    9. TanasMR,GoldblumJR.Fluorescence in-situHybridizationintheDiagnosisofSofttissueNeoplasms:Areview.Adv.AnatPath.2009;

    16(6):383-391.

    10. TubbsRR,StolerMH.Celland TissueBasedMolecularPathology.OdzeRD, GoldblumJR.SurgicalPathologyof theGItract,Liver,Biliarytractand

    Pancreas

    KRAS

    Mo le cu lar H ae mat opa th ol og y M ol ecu la r Pa th ol og y of S of t Ti ss ue Tu mo ur s

    Molecular diagnostic techniques have become an important part of

    modern haematopathology as several entities in haematopoietic and

    lymphoid neoplasms are defined by their underlying molecular

    abnormalities. Molecular pathology is used for diagnosis (neoplastic vs.

    reactive), classification, prognosis and monitoring (response and early

    recurrence). In routine practice most B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders

    are diagnosed on the basis of morphologic and immunophenotypic

    findings without need for molecular analysis. However moleculartechniques can be of clinical utility in several settings. Clonality studies

    may be helpful in some cases. Several characteristic balanced

    translocations are associated with distinct B-cell lymphoproliferative

    disorders. Molecular studies to detect these translocations can therefore

    be valuable in cases in which the morphologic and phenotypic findings

    are not clearly diagnostic. Diagnosis of T-cell lymphoproliferative

    disorders can be aided by T-cell receptor rearrangement and several

    recurrentcytogeneticabnormalitieshave beendescribedin specifictypes

    of T-cell lymphoproliferative disorders that may offer additional

    assistanceindiagnosisorassessmentof prognosis.

    More than any subset of solid tumours, the diagnosis of soft tissue neoplasms

    (mesenchymal proliferations that occur in the extra-skeletal tissues of the body)

    has become heavily reliant on molecular analysis as an adjunct to light

    microscopic and immunohistochemical evaluation. This is because of the

    challenging nature of the discipline and the difficulty of sorting through

    diagnostic entities with overlapping histological and immunohistochemical

    features. In addition a number of difficult diagnostic entities have characteristic

    molecular alterations. Soft tissue tumours can be classified broadly into thoseneoplasms with complex and nonspecific cytogenetic and molecular genetic

    features and those harbouring relatively simple cytogenetic profiles with

    consistent and recurrent genetic aberrations. The most common

    morphological/immunohistochemical categories in which molecular testing is

    useful includes high grade round cell sarcomas, nonmyogenic spindle cell

    sarcomas, low grade myxoid neoplasms, adipocytic neoplasms and

    melanocyticneoplasms.

    ORGAN

    COLORECTUM

    COLORECTUM

    BREAST

    BREAST

    BREAST

    BREAST

    BREAST

    HAEMATOPATHOLOGY

    HAEMATOPATHOLOGY

    TEST

    R

    Prognosis

    Diagnostic

    Mammaprint

    APPLICATION

    6 7