Molecular Characterization of Testicular Mesothelioma and the Role of Asbestos as a Causative Factor

Ashleigh Jean Hocking; Elaine May Thomas; Sarita Prabhakaran; Alexandra Jolley; Susan Lesley Woods; Matthew J Soeberg; Sonja Klebe

doi:10.5858/arpa.2022-0283-OA

Molecular Characterization of Testicular Mesothelioma and the Role of Asbestos as a Causative Factor

Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2023 Dec 1;147(12):1446-1450. doi: 10.5858/arpa.2022-0283-OA.

Authors

Ashleigh Jean Hocking¹, Elaine May Thomas², Sarita Prabhakaran¹, Alexandra Jolley³, Susan Lesley Woods^{2

4}, Matthew J Soeberg⁵, Sonja Klebe^{1

3}

Affiliations

¹ From the Department of Anatomical Pathology, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia (Hocking, Prabhakaran, Klebe).
² School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia (Thomas, Woods).
³ The Department of Surgical Pathology, South Australian Pathology at Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia (Jolley, Klebe).
⁴ Precision Medicine, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia (Woods).
⁵ Asbestos Diseases Research Institute, Bernie Banton Centre, Concord Hospital, Concord, Australia (Soeberg).

PMID: 36800547
DOI: 10.5858/arpa.2022-0283-OA

Abstract

Context.—: Mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis testis (TVT) is an extremely rare form of mesothelioma.

Objective.—: To compare the clinical and molecular characteristics of mesothelioma of the TVT with those of mesothelioma at other more common sites, including the relationship with exposure to asbestos.

Design.—: We present clinical and pathological data for 9 cases of primary TVT mesothelioma. We performed whole-genome sequencing on 3 cases for the first time.

Results.—: The majority (7 of 9 cases) of TVT mesotheliomas were epithelioid, with the remaining 2 cases showing biphasic morphology. Morphology and immunohistochemical profiles were indistinguishable from mesothelioma elsewhere. Asbestos exposure was documented for 7 of the 9 cases, with no information for 2 cases. The 3 TVT mesothelioma cases that underwent whole-genome sequencing displayed a mutational profile similar to that of mesothelioma at other sites, including NF2 and TP53 mutations.

Conclusions.—: The clinical and molecular profile of TVT mesothelioma is similar to that of mesothelioma elsewhere.

MeSH terms

Asbestos* / adverse effects
Humans
Male
Mesothelioma* / genetics
Mesothelioma, Malignant*
Testicular Neoplasms* / genetics
Testicular Neoplasms* / pathology

Substances

Asbestos