News

Research Regarding Microcystic Adnexal Carcinomas Published

Research from the Department of Pathology was just published in Modern Pathology. The story, developed by a team of experts from the University of Michigan, focuses on next-generation sequencing within microcystic adnexal carcinomas and how they are affected by the oncogenic roles of P53 and JAK/STAT signaling.

Led by Drs. May Chan and Paul Harms, the publication also features prominent contributions from other Department faculty members, including Drs. Aleodor Andea, Rajiv Patel, Douglas Fullen, Noah Brown, Scott Tomlins, and Aaron Udager.

Microcystic adnexal carcinoma (MAC) is a locally aggressive cutaneous adnexcal carcinoma with deceptively bland histomorphology. "By targeted next-generation sequencing, we were able to characterize four molecular subclasses of MAC," says Dr. May Chan. She notes the four types, which are tumors with TP53 mutations which overexpress P53, tumors with JAK1 kinase insertions which overexpress phospho-STAT3, tumors with chromosomal gain of oncogenes, and tumors with unidentified genetic abberations.

"Our results support the use of P53 and phospho-STAT3 immunohistochemistry as adjunctive diagnostic tools when distinction between MAC and syringoma is difficult in limited biopsies," Dr. Chan concludes. The study also sheds light on the pathogenesis of MAC, which can arise from a relatively photo-protected progenitor population in the dermis, based on the lack of a UV signature in most of these tumors. "Finally, our findings suggest the potential for therapeutic targeting of P53 or the JAK/STAT pathway in unresectable MACs."

The full publication in Modern Pathology is accessible here.