Browsing by Author "Hou, Tieying"

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    AB025. Evaluation of potential therapeutic immunohistochemical targets with experimental or FDA-approved therapies in thymic epithelial tumor microarrays
    (AME, 2023-12-30) Ardeshir-Larijani, Fatemeh; Loehrer, Patrick J.; Maniar, Rohan; Hou, Tieying; DeBrock, Victoria; Mesa, Hector; Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine
    Background: Thymus epithelial tumors (TETs) are rare malignancies of the anterior mediastinum. The current standard of care for metastatic TETs is a combination of platinum-based chemotherapy. Here, we have evaluated the experimental and FDA-approved makers in a large TET tissue array with the hope of identifying a new therapeutic option. Methods: A tissue microarray (TMA) containing ninety malignant thymic tumors (A, AB, B1 and B2, n=62, B2/B3 and B3, n=16, and thymic carcinoma, n=12) and seven normal adult thymus were assembled. The protein expressions of GLUT1, TROP2, PSMA, ROS1, ALK, HER2, and PDL-1 were tested with immunohistochemical assays. Expression was quantified using a “staining score (SS)”, which is a 0–3 numerical score that results from the product of the intensity of expression: 0= negative, 1= weak, 2= moderate, 3= strong, and the area of expression in fractions of a percent (0= no expression, 1= 100% area). Expression of HER2 and PDL-1 was quantified according to existing guidelines [HER2 score and combined positive score (CPS)]. Results: Trop-2 had the highest expression in thymic carcinoma (TC) (100%, SS 2.6±0.6) followed by thymoma B2/B3 (78%, SS 1.3±1.3), types A/AB/B1 (54%, SS 1.1±1.1) (P=0.01). In TC, all patients with squamous histology had immunohistochemistry (IHC) SS of 3. Patients with thymoma who had Trop-2 expression experienced significantly worse survival [hazard ratio (HR): 3.3, P=0.008]. GLUT1 was highly expressed in TC (81.8%, SS: 2.1±1, TC vs. normal thymus, P=0.0003). PDL-1 was expressed in all TET tissues (mean, 2.5–52 CPS). No significant expression of ALK, ROS1, or HER2 observed in normal thymus or TETs. Conclusions: Trop-2 expression is a prognostic marker in TETs. High expression of Trop-2 protein in thymoma and TC appears a promising therapeutic target for Trop-2 antibody-drug conjugates.
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    Cytomorphology and clinicopathologic correlation of TFE3‐rearranged renal cell carcinoma
    (Wiley, 2025) Hou, Tieying; Lin, Xiaoqi; Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine
    Background: TFE3-rearranged renal cell carcinoma (TFE3-rRCC) harbors gene fusions involving TFE3 with one of many different partner genes. Because of their diverse morphologies, the differential diagnosis is broad and challenging. Publications focusing on the cytomorphology of TFE3-rRCC are sparse. Methods: Fifteen cytology cases of TFE3-rRCC from 12 patients were retrieved, comprising seven primary kidney cases and eight metastatic cases. Results: Cytology smears showed tumor cells with moderate granular or vacuolated cytoplasm, arranged in diverse patterns, such as three-dimensional clusters, nested/sheeted formations, isolated cells, papillary, and tubular/acinar structures. The tumor cells exhibited enlarged eccentric, round or oval nuclei, possibly situated peripherally, with small to prominent nucleoli and irregular nuclear membranes. Macrophages, hyalinized globules, or necrosis were occasionally seen. Core and cell block histology often showed papillae with surface-oriented nuclei. Tumor cells were also arranged in nested, sheeted, and tubular patterns. Tumor cells were immunoreactive to TFE3 (100%), AMACR (100%), PAX8 (88%), and CD10 (83%) and showed focal staining for CA9 (64%), CK7 (20%), and CD117 (25%). TFE3 rearrangement was confirmed in 13 of 15 cases through fluorescence in situ hybridization or RNA fusion next-generation sequencing testing. Metastasis was observed in nine of 12 patients (80%), with retroperitoneal lymph nodes being the most common site, followed by distant lymph nodes, lung, brain, adrenal gland, and bone. Six patients (50%) underwent nephrectomy alone, two patients (17%) received chemotherapy alone, and four patients (33%) received combined nephrectomy and chemotherapy. Conclusions: Timely recognition of TFE3-rRCC's distinct cytomorphologic and histomorphologic features is essential for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.
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    Invasive Fungal Infections of the Head and Neck: A Tertiary Hospital Experience
    (MDPI, 2024-06-23) Hou, Tieying; Bell, W. Robert; Mesa, Hector; Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine
    From the existing millions of fungal species, only a few cause disease. In this study, we investigated invasive fungal infections in the head and neck (H&N) over a 19-year period (2005 to 2024) at a large academic healthcare system. Among the 413 documented fungal H&N infections, 336 were noninvasive, and 77 were invasive. The highest incidence of invasive infections occurred in the sinonasal cavities, with a 15-fold difference compared to other sites. Most infections affected adults over 40 years old. The most common organisms were Mucorales (51%), hyaline molds (29%), and Candida (11%). Risk factors included malignancy, transplant, diabetes, and illicit drug use. Mortality was high in patients with malignancy and/or transplant. Infections affecting the mandible were usually a complication of osteoradionecrosis and were associated with the coinfection of Candida and Actinomyces. At other sites, infections were rare and were usually the result of penetrating injuries or immunosuppression. Treatment typically involved a combination of antifungals and surgical procedures.
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    Isolated Kaposi sarcoma of the upper aerodigestive tract in immunocompetent individuals, an underrecognized entity with favorable prognosis
    (Sage, 2022-09-15) Shabaan, Abdelrahman; Alkashash, Ahmad; Hou, Tieying; Saeed, Omer; Yesensky, Jessica; Roshal, Anna; Mesa, Hector; Otolaryngology -- Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine
    Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is a rare vascular neoplasm that most commonly arises in the setting of immunosuppression, in areas with high prevalence of Human Herpesvirus-8 infection, and when both situations coexist. Most cases affect the skin, isolated involvement of the upper respiratory tract without skin involvement is extremely rare with only a few cases reported in the literature. We present a case of isolated nasopharyngeal KS in an immunocompetent patient who achieved remission after multimodality therapy. Recent advances in KS-therapy are discussed.
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    Morphologic Changes in the Thymus Following Chemotherapy for Anterior Mediastinal Germ Cell Tumors: A Study of 91 Cases Emphasizing Pseudoneoplastic Features
    (Allen Press, 2023) Hou, Tieying; Levy, David R.; Ulbright, Thomas M.; Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine
    Context: The interpretation of postchemotherapy resections of anterior mediastinal germ cell tumors plays a critical role in determining future patient management and prognosis. Treatment-related changes in the thymus may mimic residual teratoma or microcystic-pattern yolk sac tumor. There is limited extant information concerning therapy-related pseudoneoplastic thymic alterations. Objective: To provide diagnostic assistance to distinguish nonneoplastic thymic abnormalities secondary to chemotherapy from residual germ cell tumor. Design: We retrospectively reviewed 91 resections of primary anterior mediastinal germ cell tumors with recognizable thymic gland following cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Results: The cohort included 90 men and 1 woman (median age, 29 years). A spectrum of thymic epithelial alterations occurred, including cystic change (macrocysts [n = 21] or microcysts [n = 20]); hyperplasia with reactive atypia (n = 8); ciliated, mucinous, or columnar cell metaplasia (n = 3); and mature squamous metaplasia (n = 2). These changes were similar to so-called acquired multilocular thymic cysts, were often contiguous with and adjacent to normal thymic epithelium, and lacked the neoplastic-type atypia seen in teratomatous elements in this setting. In 1 case, confluent microcysts closely mimicked the appearance of yolk sac tumor but lacked other distinctive features of that neoplasm and its characteristic immunoreactivity. Conclusions: Recognition of therapy-induced thymic changes is important to avoid misinterpretation as residual teratoma or yolk sac tumor. Continuity with and proximity to benign thymic epithelium, absence of neoplastic-type atypia, and awareness of this phenomenon are important in avoiding this pitfall.
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    Multifocal C-cell Hyperplasia and Marked Hypercalcitoninemia in a Diabetic Patient Treated With Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Agonist With Concurrent Multinodular Goiter and Hyperparathyroidism
    (Springer Nature, 2023-01-05) Zou, Sifan; McDow, Alexandria D.; Saeed, Zeb; Hou, Tieying; Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine
    Thyroid C-cell hyperplasia (CCH) is divided into physiologic or reactive CCH and neoplastic CCH. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 Ra) is a group of medications used to treat type 2 diabetes that has documented C-cell stimulation effect in rodents, leading to subsequent CCH and medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) in rats and/or mice. Currently, there is no sufficient evidence supporting the association between GLP-1 Ra and human thyroid CCH and/or MTC. Here, we present a case of significant hypercalcitoninemia in a 53-year-old diabetic male patient receiving GLP-1 Ra treatment with concurrent multinodular goiter and hyperparathyroidism. Total thyroidectomy and central neck dissection revealed multifocal CCH involving bilateral thyroid lobes and several negative lymph nodes. Subsequent genetic testing did not detect germline mutation of RET gene. However, due to marked hypercalcitoninemia and massive thyromegaly, unsampled medullary thyroid microcarcinoma cannot be completely ruled out. The patient's postsurgical calcitonin level was back to normal. Our case indicates the significant clinical value of monitoring serum calcitonin levels in patients receiving GLP-1 Ra, especially in presence of other thyroid and/or parathyroid pathology that may be associated with increased calcitonin and/or CCH. Literature regarding the association between GLP-1 Ra and CCH is also reviewed.
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    SiGra: single-cell spatial elucidation through an image-augmented graph transformer
    (Springer Nature, 2023-09-12) Tang, Ziyang; Li, Zuotian; Hou, Tieying; Zhang, Tonglin; Yang, Baijian; Su, Jing; Song, Qianqian; Biostatistics and Health Data Science, School of Medicine
    Recent advances in high-throughput molecular imaging have pushed spatial transcriptomics technologies to subcellular resolution, which surpasses the limitations of both single-cell RNA-seq and array-based spatial profiling. The multichannel immunohistochemistry images in such data provide rich information on the cell types, functions, and morphologies of cellular compartments. In this work, we developed a method, single-cell spatial elucidation through image-augmented Graph transformer (SiGra), to leverage such imaging information for revealing spatial domains and enhancing substantially sparse and noisy transcriptomics data. SiGra applies hybrid graph transformers over a single-cell spatial graph. SiGra outperforms state-of-the-art methods on both single-cell and spot-level spatial transcriptomics data from complex tissues. The inclusion of immunohistochemistry images improves the model performance by 37% (95% CI: 27-50%). SiGra improves the characterization of intratumor heterogeneity and intercellular communication and recovers the known microscopic anatomy. Overall, SiGra effectively integrates different spatial modality data to gain deep insights into spatial cellular ecosystems.