Efficacy of low-dose 5-fluorouracil/cisplatin therapy for invasive extramammary Paget’s disease

Efficacy of low-dose 5-fluorouracil/cisplatin therapy for invasive extramammary Paget’s disease

Extramammary Paget's disease (EMPD) is one of the cutaneous adenocarcinomas. The effective chemotherapy for advanced EMPD has not been established. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of combination 5‐fluorouracil (500 mg/body, 7 days/week) and cisplatin (5 mg/body 5 days/week) for invasive EMPD. Seventeen EMPD patients with multiple metastases who visited our dermatology clinic between October 2004 and May 2016 (mean age, 76.9 years; 10 men, seven women) were retrospectively analyzed. Eight EMPD patients underwent low‐dose 5‐fluorouracil/cisplatin therapy and nine patients chose best supportive care. The average number of treatment cycles was 12.3. All patients had a confirmed response, four (50%) showed a partial response, two (25%) stable disease and two progressive disease. The median times to progression‐free and overall survival were 25.0 and 77.4 weeks, respectively. There was no severe (grade 3 and 4) adverse event. Although not significant, the survival of the patients treated with low‐dose 5‐fluorouracil/cisplatin therapy showed a trend toward improved survival as compared with best supportive care (P = 0.08, log–rank test). This regimen had low risk and relatively high disease control rate, suggesting that this regimen be recommended as one of the treatment options for advanced EMPD.

Genito-Urinary Extramammary Pagets disease: Recognition and outcomes of distinct histological subtypes

Genito-Urinary Extramammary Pagets disease: Recognition and outcomes of distinct histological subtypes

Introduction & Objectives: Genito-Urinary Extramammary Pagets Disease (EMPD) is a rare neoplasm that occurs in regions abundant in apocrine glands, or as a secondary intraepithelial spread of EMPD associated with another underlying carcinoma. The former occurs on peno-scrotal skin and can be in-situ or invasive. The latter occurs primarily on the inner precpuce or glans. Management and prognosis differ between these subtypes.

Extramammary Paget Disease of the Vulva: A Case Series Examining Treatment, Recurrence, and Malignant Transformation.

Extramammary Paget Disease of the Vulva: A Case Series Examining Treatment, Recurrence, and Malignant Transformation.

Patients with EMPD in this series have a high rate of recurrence. Many undergo multi-modal therapy often with multiple providers. However, patients experience relatively long disease-free intervals with a low rate of associated malignancy. We propose an algorithm for management that focuses on symptom control and minimizing morbidity of treatment intervention once invasive disease has been excluded.

Extramammary Paget disease of the vulva: immunohistochemical analysis of neoangiogenesis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers expression

Extramammary Paget disease of the vulva: immunohistochemical analysis of neoangiogenesis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers expression

Extra-mammary Paget’s disease of the vulva (EMPDV) is an infrequent chronic disease that often recurs. The aim of the study was to assess the presence of neoangiogenesis and the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers in EMPDV, and their potential correlation with stromal invasion. All the women consecutively treated for EMPDV at our Institute, between January 2011 and December 2014, were studied for neoangiogenesis, analysed by microvessel density (MVD) using antibodies against CD31 and CD34. Immunohistochemical expression of E- / N-cadherin, β-catenin and SLUG was also evaluated. In each slide, three fields with the highest number of capillaries and small venules were identified at low power. In these three fields, the highest vessel density (HVD) and the average vessel density (AVD) at 200× and 400× magnification were counted. Immunohistochemical reactions for non-vascular markers were semiquantitatively scored by two pathologists, using a three-tier scale. Seventeen cases of EMPDV (including 10 cases of invasive disease) were included. The AVD at 200× and 400× and the HVD at 400× magnification were significantly associated with invasive EMPDV (p = 0.02, 0.03, 0.03 respectively). No significant correlation between MVD, EMT-markers expression and risk of recurrence was detected. These results indicate that MVD, as a measure of neoangiogenesis, may be associated with histological progression of EMPDV. EMT could also be linked to an invasive potential of EMPDV but larger series are required to confirm this hypothesis.

Intraoperative Immunostaining for Cytokeratin-7 During Mohs Micrographic Surgery Demonstrates Low Local Recurrence Rates in Extramammary Paget's Disease

Intraoperative Immunostaining for Cytokeratin-7 During Mohs Micrographic Surgery Demonstrates Low Local Recurrence Rates in Extramammary Paget's Disease

Extramammary Paget’s disease (EMPD) is a rare intraepithelial malignancy typically occurring in the groin and axillary regions. Given its indolent growth pattern and clinical resemblance to inflammatory skin conditions, diagnosis of EMPD is often delayed. Reported recurrence rates for standard surgical treatments including wide local excision, vulvectomy, and abdominoperineal resection are high, ranging from 22% to 60% in the largest retrospective cohort of patients with EMPD treated with Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) demonstrating local recurrence rates of 26% overall, 16% for primary disease, 50% for recurrent disease, and a salvage rate for recurrent disease after MMS (overall cure rate) of 100%

The authors hypothesize that the increased recurrence rates for EMPD after MMS, as compared to other types of skin cancer, are due to difficulties in recognizing tumor cells on routine hematoxylin and eosin staining. Indeed, the authors have previously shown a case of EMPD in the axilla with irregular yet contiguous finger-like microscopic extensions that were not seen on H&E but identified on sections stained for cytokeratin-7(CK-7). The use of intra-operative immunohistochemistry for CK-7 during MMS for EMPD is described in case studies and small single-center cross-sectional studies.

Paget's Disease of the Vulva

Paget's Disease of the Vulva

Caucasian postmenopausal women are found to be more prone to Paget’s disease of the vulva. Symptoms include long-standing tenderness and itching, irritation, and burning sensation. Usually, symptoms are present for 2 years or even more before a diagnosis made. The lesions may be painful at times; however, some individuals are asymptomatic during diagnosis.

Though the appearance of the rash can create confusion with other similar vulvar rashes, biopsy typically provides a confirmation of the diagnosis. When Paget’s disease of the vulva is suspected, colonoscopy or cystoscopy is done as an additional diagnostic measure to look for cancers in the colon or bladder, respectively, if urinary or bowel symptoms are present.

Patients' Experiences with Extramammary Paget's Disease: an Online Pilot Study Querying a Patient Support Group

Patients' Experiences with Extramammary Paget's Disease: an Online Pilot Study Querying a Patient Support Group

Forty-two patients completed the survey. At a mean age of 64 years, patients most commonly developed rash, pruritus, or erythema in the genital and perianal regions. Patients presented to their primary care physician, gynecologist, or dermatologist and were initially treated with topical agents for benign diagnoses. After failing conservative treatments, patients underwent biopsy by a dermatologist or gynecologist and were diagnosed with EMPD on average 21 months after the onset of symptoms. Wide local and Mohs excisions were the most frequently administered treatments with positive margins reported in 43% of patients. Fewer patients underwent non-invasive treatment with Imiquimod cream and radiation. In total, 29% of patients developed regional recurrence and distant disease. There was wide variation regarding medical specialties involved, diagnostic evaluation, treatment, and clinical follow up.

Conclusions

This study provides a novel view of the varied clinical and pathological details from patients treated across varying institutions and medical specialties. This study will hopefully educate providers of the overall disease process of EMPD and encourage the development of standardized treatment recommendations.

Automated video-mosaicking approach for confocal microscopic imaging in vivo: an approach to address challenges in imaging living tissue and extend field of view

Automated video-mosaicking approach for confocal microscopic imaging in vivo: an approach to address challenges in imaging living tissue and extend field of view

We describe a computer vision-based mosaicking method for in vivovideos of reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM). RCM is a microscopic imaging technique, which enables the users to rapidly examine tissue in vivo. Providing resolution at cellular-level morphology, RCM imaging combined with mosaicking has shown to be highly sensitive and specific for non-invasively guiding skin cancer diagnosis. However, current RCM mosaicking techniques with existing microscopes have been limited to two-dimensional sequences of individual still images, acquired in a highly controlled manner, and along a specific predefined raster path, covering a limited area. The recent advent of smaller handheld microscopes is enabling acquisition of videos, acquired in a relatively uncontrolled manner and along an ad-hoc arbitrarily free-form, non-rastered path. Mosaicking of video-images (video-mosaicking) is necessary to display large areas of tissue. Our video-mosaicking methods addresses this need. The method can handle unique challenges encountered during video capture such as motion blur artifacts due to rapid motion of the microscope over the imaged area, warping in frames due to changes in contact angle and varying resolution with depth. We present test examples of video-mosaics of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers, to demonstrate potential clinical utility.

Chemokine Receptors CXCR4 and CXCR7 are Associated with Tumor Aggressiveness and Prognosis in Extramammary Paget Disease

Chemokine Receptors CXCR4 and CXCR7 are Associated with Tumor Aggressiveness and Prognosis in Extramammary Paget Disease

Chemokines are involved in many aspects of oncogenesis, including regulation of cancer cell growth, dissemination and host-tumor response. However, the potential of the chemokine receptors, CXCR4 and CXCR7, in serving as biomarkers in extramammary Paget's disease (EMPD) has been rarely examined. Expressions of CXCR4 and CXCR7 were evaluated in 92 EMPD specimens by immunohistochemistry. High expression of CXCR4 and CXCR7 were both correlated with regional lymph node metastasis and presence of lymphovascular invasion. High expression of CXCR7 also correlated with the depth of invasion. The prognostic value of these two chemokines were also investigated in progression-free survival (PFS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS). Both high expression of CXCR4 and CXCR7 were indicative of shorter PFS and CSS. In the combined prognostic model, concomitant high expression of CXCR4 and CXCR7 were suggestive of poor prognosis compared with the other two groups. In the multivariate analysis, depth of invasion, combined prognostic model and regional lymph node metastasis at diagnosis were the independent prognostic factors for EMPD patients for PFS, and the former two factors independently impacted CSS. Our results demonstrated that CXCR4 and CXCR7 can be used as prognostic biomarkers and prediction of aggressiveness of EMPD. Therapy targeting CXCR4 and CXCR7 may helpful to prevent EMPD progression and improve the prognosis of EMPD.

Spectrum of Changes in Anogenital Mammary-like Glands in Primary Extramammary (Anogenital) Paget Disease and Their Possible Role in the Pathogenesis of the Disease

Spectrum of Changes in Anogenital Mammary-like Glands in Primary Extramammary (Anogenital) Paget Disease and Their Possible Role in the Pathogenesis of the Disease

To determine whether a subset of primary extramammary Paget disease (EMPD) may originate in anogenital mammary-like glands (AGMLG), the authors studied 181 specimens of EMPD, detailing alterations in AGMLG. The latter were identified in 33 specimens from 31 patients. All patients were women, ranging in age from 38 to 93 years (median, 65 y). However, by analogy with mammary Paget disease, rare cases of primary EMPD may originate in AGMLG with a subsequent upward migration of the neoplastic cells into the epidermis and possible later breach through the basal membrane. Usual ductal hyperplasia and atypical duct hyperplasia can then be regarded as earlier precursor lesions, linking both ends of the spectrum.

GATA3 is a sensitive marker for primary genital extramammary paget disease: an immunohistochemical study of 72 cases with comparison to gross cystic disease fluid protein 15

GATA3 is a sensitive marker for primary genital extramammary paget disease: an immunohistochemical study of 72 cases with comparison to gross cystic disease fluid protein 15

GATA-binding protein 3 (GATA3) has been identified as a sensitive marker for breast carcinoma but its sensitivity in primary genital extramammary Paget diseases (EMPDs) has not been well studied. Positive GATA3 staining was seen in all 71 (100%) intraepithelial diseases, 25/26 (96%; female 10/10, male 15/16) invasive adenocarcinomas and 14/15 (93%; female 3/3, male 11/12) metastatic adenocarcinomas, respectively. Positive GCDFP15 staining was seen in 46/71 (65%; female 28/34 or 82%, male 18/37 or 49%) intraepithelial diseases, 20/26 (77%; female 9/10, male 11/16) invasive adenocarcinomas, and 12/15 (80%; female 2/3, male 10/12) metastatic adenocarcinomas, respectively (GATA3 versus GCDFP15: p < 0.01 for both intraepithelial disease and invasive adenocarcinoma, p = 0.28 for metastatic adenocarcinoma). In positive-stained cases, GATA3 stained more tumor cells than GCDFP15 (79% versus 25% for intraepithelial disease, 71% vs 34% for invasive adenocarcinoma, 73% vs 50% for metastatic adenocarcinoma, p < 0.01 for all 3 components).

Usefulness of Mapping Biopsy in the Treatment of Penoscrotal Extramammary Paget’s Disease

Usefulness of Mapping Biopsy in the Treatment of Penoscrotal  Extramammary Paget’s Disease

Park et al. report their experience in the management of extramammary Paget’s Disease (EMPD) of the penoscrotal region and specifically compare outcomes among cohorts of men with the disease who either did or did not undergo mapping biopsies prior to their definitive surgical procedure. The rationale for the study and this comparison is that Paget’s disease initially spreads insidiously through the epidermis, sometimes in a single-cell fashion, and establishing the diagnosis can be very difficult subsequent to intraoperative frozen sections. Thus, several studies have described the use of outpatient mapping biopsies under more permanent section pathology techniques to facilitate the diagnosis and to ‘clear’ the surgical margins (references 19–21 in the article). This should theoretically lead to a lower incidence of positive frozen section margins intraoperatively, a lower incidence of positive permanent section margins, and lower recurrence rates for patients.

Reflectance confocal microscopy can spare biopsies in previously treated patients with extramammary Paget disease

Reflectance confocal microscopy can spare biopsies in previously treated patients with extramammary Paget disease

Extramammary Paget disease or EMPD is a rare skin cancer that presents with a red patch in the vulva or anus in women, and in the scrotum, penis and anus in men. Diagnosing EMPD is challenging because the entire area affected by the disease is not visible with the naked eye, or can be misdiagnosed with other skin conditions such as infection or inflammation. This is particularly important when monitoring treatment response, as treatments can irritate the skin and look identical (red patch) to residual EMPD.

Reflectance confocal microscopy or RCM is an imaging system which uses a light source that does not damage the skin and that allows to see cells on the superficial layers on the skin. RCM has been used to diagnose EMPD as one can see the cancer cells in the skin in real time.

Extramammary Paget`s Disease: A Real Challenge for Geriatricians

Extramammary Paget`s Disease: A Real Challenge for Geriatricians

Extramammary Paget’s Disease (EMPD) is a rare intraepithelial adenocarcinoma. It mostly affects women in their seventies. EMPD develops principally in the apocrine genital, anal, and axillary zones [1]. We conducted a retrospective study at the University Hospital of Reims over a period of 20 years (1994- 2014). 9 patients were included of which 7 were female. The median age of onset was 78 years (60-91). The diagnosis time ranged from a few months to 5 years prior to diagnosis. Vulvar localization remains by far the most common localization. 6 patients, all females, had pruritus (vulvar); 2 (22%) felt pain from the lesions.

Topical Imiquimod in Treating Patients With Recurrent Paget's Disease of the Vulva

Topical Imiquimod in Treating Patients With Recurrent Paget's Disease of the Vulva

Biological therapies, such as imiquimod, may stimulate the immune system in different ways and stop tumor cells from growing. Applying topical imiquimod to the vulva may be an effective treatment for recurrent Paget's disease. This clinical trial is studying how well topical imiquimod works in treating patients with recurrent Paget's disease of the vulva.

Podoplanin expression in peritumoral keratinocytes predicts aggressive behavior in extramammary Paget's disease.

Podoplanin expression in peritumoral keratinocytes predicts aggressive behavior in extramammary Paget's disease.

Recent studies have demonstrated podoplanin expression in several tumors, which has been associated with lymph node metastasis and poor prognosis. Podoplanin expression in peritumoral cells such as cancer-associated fibroblasts also correlates with tumor progression in several cancers. However, podoplanin expression and its association with extramammary Paget's disease (EMPD) remain unclear.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we examined whether the presence of podoplanin expression in tumor cells or peritumoral basal keratinocytes correlated with aggressive behavior in patients with EMPD and investigated the mechanisms of podoplanin-mediated tumor invasion in this disorder.

Tumor Wide Horizontal Invasion Predicts Local Recurrence for Scrotal Extramammary Paget’s Disease

Tumor Wide Horizontal Invasion Predicts Local Recurrence for Scrotal Extramammary Paget’s Disease

Extramammary Paget’s disease (EMPD) is a rare malignancy, and little was known about its prognostic factors and optimal treatment. In the current study, we aimed to discuss clinical and pathological features of scrotal EMPD and determine the prognostic factors for cancer-specific survival and local recurrence. A total of 206 patients with scrotal EMPD lesions surgically treated at our institute were studied. All clinical and pathological data were reviewed. Immunohistochemical staining of TP53 and Ki67 was examined as well. At the last follow-up, 175 patients (84.95%) were alive. Twelve patients (5.83%) had died of the disease due to distant metastases. Fifteen patients (7.28%) developed local recurrences of scrotal EMPD. Ki67 expression was significantly elevated in patients with wide horizontal invasion (P = 0.003). In univariate analysis, high invasion level, presence of nodule, presence of lymphovascular invasion, adnexa invasion, lymph node metastasis and high p53 expression were significant factors for poor cancer-specific survival. In multivariate analysis, high p53 expression was significantly correlated with poor cancer-specific survival. Wide horizontal invasion was independently correlated with local recurrence-free survival of scrotal EMPD. In conclusion, wide horizontal invasion is an independent risk factor for local recurrence-free survival in the patients with scrotal EMPD.

Mechanisms of immune evasion in extramammary Paget disease

Mechanisms of immune evasion in extramammary Paget disease

mmune evasion by cancer is a well-recognized mechanism that promotes tumour growth and metastases which in recent years has been shown to be amenable to therapeutic exploitation. Extramammary Paget disease (EMPD) is a rare form of skin cancer affecting apocrine glands in anogenital regions. The prognosis of the disease is good if treated early by surgical removal of the tissue, with a 5-year survival rate close to 95%.[1] The prognosis is worse for invasive disease, partly due to the lack of definitive treatment options in this setting.[2] Understanding the mechanisms of EMPD evolution has the potential to identify new treatment targets for this entity. In this edition of the BJD, Fujimura et al.[3] have looked into a suspected link between Langerhans cells (LCs) and regulatory T-cell (Treg) activity in EMPD that could contribute to the immunosuppressive environment that supports tumour growth and invasion by immune evasion.

Serum cytokeratin 19 fragment 21-1 is a useful tumor marker for the assessment of extramammary Paget's disease.

Serum cytokeratin 19 fragment 21-1 is a useful tumor marker for the assessment of extramammary Paget's disease.

Cytokeratin 19 fragment 21-1 (CYFRA 21-1) has been used as a tumor marker for several malignancies. However, to date, no studies have assessed whether CYFRA 21-1 could be a useful marker for extramammary Paget's disease (EMPD). The present study aimed to evaluate the significance of CYFRA 21-1 as a serum tumor marker for EMPD progression. Concentrations of serum CYFRA 21-1 and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in 13 cases of EMPD were measured prior to undergoing treatment at Sapporo Medical University Hospital from January 2014 to May 2016. Four of the 13 patients had lymph node metastases at diagnosis, but none had distant metastases. Immunohistochemistry indicated that all 13 primary tumors and four metastatic tumors in lymph nodes were positive for cytokeratin 19. Although none of the 13 patients showed high serum CEA levels, six patients (46.2%) had elevated serum CYFRA 21-1. Furthermore, CYFRA 21-1 was reduced in association with post-treatment tumor reduction in all six patients. Among these six patients, four developed recurrence and metastasis during the follow-up period. CYFRA 21-1 was re-elevated in all four of these patients; however, serum CEA was elevated only in the patient with distant metastasis. These results suggest that CYFRA 21-1 is more sensitive compared with CEA, and can be useful as a tumor marker for evaluating tumor progression and treatment efficacy in patients with EMPD.