Clinicopathologic and Molecular Characterization of Anorectal Neuroendocrine Carcinomas Reveals Human Papillomavirus, p53, and c-Myc as Alternative Mechanisms of Carcinogenesis

Abstract

Poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs) are rare malignant neoplasms with aggressive behavior. The diagnosis remains challenging due to ever-changing terminologies and morphologic overlaps with other disease entities. Herein, we seek to better define anorectal NECs by high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) status and molecular profiling. Fourteen cases, including 3 men and 11 women with a median age of 63 years, were included. High-risk HPV RNA in situ hybridization was diffusely positive (+) in 7 cases, focal rarely positive (+/−) in 2 cases, and completely negative (−) in 5 cases. By morphology, all HPV(−) NECs were large-cell type, 3 mixed with a tubular adenoma/dysplasia or invasive adenocarcinoma. HPV-related (+ or +/−) NECs were mostly small-cell type, 3 mixed with squamous dysplasia and/or squamous cell carcinoma. Immunohistochemically, all NECs were positive for at least 2 neuroendocrine markers. The HPV(−) NECs were also positive for CDX2, whereas all HPV-related NECs were negative or only focally positive for CDX2, p40, and p63. Overexpression of p53 was found in 3 HPV(−) and 2 HPV(+/−) NECs but not in any HPV(+) NECs. Molecular analysis revealed MYC gene amplification in 4 cases: 2 HPV(−), 1 HPV(+/−), and 1 HPV(+). This was confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization in all but 1 HPV(−) NEC, which showed polysomy 8 but no true MYC amplification. Interestingly, only 2 of the 4 MYC amplification–bearing cases, both p53 normal/wild-type, expressed c-Myc protein by immunohistochemistry. The other 2 cases, both p53 overexpressed, did not show c-Myc expression despite true MYC amplification. Our study demonstrates that anorectal NECs arise in HPV-dependent or -independent pathways, with heterogeneous expression of other lineage markers and different molecular signatures. Expressions of p53 and c-Myc proteins appear to be mutually exclusive regardless of HPV status, likely mediating alternative mechanisms of NEC carcinogenesis.