The increasing incidence of HPV-related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) observed in several developed countries has not yet been documented in Italy. To investigate changes in the epidemiology of HPV-related OPSCC we reviewed the HPV status of cases evaluated at our centre in northern Italy before and after 2010. The results were correlated with patient age, sex, oropharyngeal subsite (classified as palatine tonsil, tongue base, palatine arch/palate/uvula, posterior oropharyngeal wall, and oropharynx not otherwise specified), AJCC tumour stage, risk factor exposure (smoke, alcohol), disease history (recurrence, metastasis, second tumours), outcome and survival. Positivity for p16 and HR HPV DNA was required to classify HPV-related OPSCC. HPV-related tonsillar OPSCC increased significantly after 2010, while a non-significant reduction of HPV-related extra-tonsillar OPSCC was observed. Non-keratinising morphology was strongly associated with HPV positivity. HPV16 was the most common genotype; the frequency of other high-risk genotype infections decreased after 2010. At multivariate analysis, HPV status showed a significant association with better outcome. We documented an increase of HPV-related OPSCC in our Italian population, synchronous with the increase observed in several Western countries, which in recent years reached a prevalence similar to that reported in central European countries. Our results indicate that HPV infection in head and neck oncology is relevant in Italy and needs to be considered for accurate patient stratification.

The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is the most common extranodal site of occurrence of non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Most GI lymphomas are of B-cell lineage, while T-cell lymphomas are less frequent. The aim of our retrospective study was to depict the clinical–pathological profile of a series of patients affected by intestinal T-cell lymphomas (ITCL) and possibly define hallmarks of these neoplasms. A total of 28 patients were included: 17 enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphomas (EATL), 5 monomorphic epitheliotropic T-cell lymphomas (MEITL), 3 indolent T-cell lymphoproliferative disorders of the gastrointestinal tract (ITCLDGT), and 3 intestinal T-cell lymphomas not otherwise specified (ITCL-NOS). Celiac disease (CD) was diagnosed in around 70% of cases. Diagnosis of EATL showed a significant correlation with CD30 expression, whereas MEITL with angiotropism and CD56 positivity. ITCLDGT cases showed plasma cells infiltration. Peripheral lymphocytosis, the absence of a previous diagnosis of CD, an advanced Lugano clinical stage, and the histological subtype ITCL-NOS were significantly associated with worse survival at multivariate analysis. Our findings about the epidemiological, clinical, and histopathological features of ITCL were in line with the current knowledge. Reliable prognostic tools for these neoplasms are still lacking but according to our results lymphocytosis, diagnosis of CD, Lugano clinical stage, and histological subtype should be considered for patient stratification.

Primary cutaneous B-cell lymphomas (PCBCLs) account for 25% of all primary cutaneous lymphomas. Three major types are currently recognized by the WHO classification: primary cutaneous marginal zone B-cell lymphoma (PCMZL), primary cutaneous follicle centre lymphoma (PCFCL) (both considered indolent lymphomas) and primary cutaneous diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, leg-type (PCDLBCL-LT), which is, instead, a very aggressive disease. Nowadays, the PCBCL’s category also includes some rare entities such as intravascular B-cell lymphoma (IVBL) and the EBV+ mucocutaneous ulcer (EBVMCU). Furthermore, controversies still exist concerning the category of primary cutaneous diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (PCDLBCL), because some cases may present with clinical and histological features between PCFCL and PCDLBCL-LT. Therefore, some authors proposed introducing another category called PCDLBCL, not otherwise specified (NOS). Regardless, PCBCLs exhibit distinct features and differ in prognosis and treatment from their nodal/systemic counterparts. Therefore, clinicopathologic analysis is a key diagnostic element in the work-up of these lymphomas.

Epigenetic changes, including miRNAs deregulation, have been suggested to play a significant role in development of obliterative bronchiolitis (OB) in transplanted lungs. Many studies have tried to identify ideal candidate miRNAs and the downstream pathways implicated in the bronchiolar fibro-obliterative process. Several candidate miRNAs, previously indicated as possibly being associated with OB, were analyzed by combining the quantitative real time-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and in situ hybridization (ISH) of lung tissues of OB affected patients. Disease and OB-lesion-specific expression of miR-21-5p was confirmed and by computational analysis we were able to identify the network of genes most probably associated miR-21-5p in the context of OB fibrogenesis. Among all potentially associated genes, STAT3 had a very high probability score. Immunohistochemistry showed that STAT3/miR-21-5p were co-over expressed in OB lesions, thus, suggesting miR-21-5p could regulate STAT3 expression. However, miR-21-5p inhibition in cultures of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) derived myofibroblasts did not significantly affect STAT3 mRNA and protein expression levels. This study demonstrates the specificity of miR-21-5p over-expression in OB lesions and contributes to existing knowledge on the miR-21-5p downstream pathway. Activation of STAT3 is associated with miR-21-5p upregulation, however, STAT-3 network activation is most likely complex and miR-21-5p is not the sole regulator of STAT3.