Clinical Sarcoma Research最新文献

Background: Primary pulmonary artery sarcomas are rare malignant vascular tumors and carry a very poor prognosis. Due to overlapping clinical and radiological features, the differentiation between pulmonary artery thromboembolism and pulmonary artery sarcoma can be challenging.

Case presentation: We herein present clinical, radiological and pathological features of primary pulmonary artery high grade sarcoma (angiosarcoma) in a 59-year-old male. The patient presented with a history of breathlessness on exertion of 2-months duration and was misdiagnosed as massive pulmonary thromboembolism on initial CT imaging.

Conclusion: Great similarity with significant degree of overlap in clinical and radiologic presentation makes differentiation of pulmonary artery sarcomas and thromboembolism a diagnostic challenge. Even though they are exceptionally rare, one should always consider it as differential diagnosis especially in cases with atypical clinical or imaging presentation.

Background: PRAME (preferentially expressed antigen in melanoma), a member of the cancer-testis antigen family, has been shown to have increased expression in solid tumors, including sarcoma, and PRAME-specific therapies are currently in development for other cancers such as melanoma.

Methods: To map the landscape of PRAME expression in sarcoma, we used publicly available data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE) projects and determined which sarcoma subtypes and subsets are associated with increased PRAME expression. We also analyzed how PRAME expression correlates with survival and expression of markers related to antigen presentation and T cell function. Furthermore, tumor and normal tissue expression comparisons were performed using data from the genotype-tissue expression (GTEx) project.

Results: We found that uterine carcinosarcoma highly overexpresses the PRAME antigen, and synovial sarcomas and multifocal leiomyosarcomas also show high expressions suggesting that PRAME may be an effective target of immunotherapies of these tumors. However, we also discovered that PRAME expression negatively correlates with genes involved in antigen presentation, and in synovial sarcoma MHC class I antigen presentation deficiencies are also present, potentially limiting the efficacy of immunotherapies of this malignancy.

Conclusions: We determined that uterine carcinosarcoma, synovial sarcoma, and leiomyosarcoma patients would potentially benefit from PRAME-specific immunotherapies. Tumor escape through loss of antigen presentation needs to be further studied.

Background: Leiomyosarcoma of the head and neck is a rare cancer with high local aggressiveness. Radical surgery and adjuvant treatment offer the best chance for cure, nonetheless 5-years recurrence rate remains high. Despite international guidelines are available for soft tissue sarcomas, no recommendations are specifically endorsed for leiomyosarcoma of the head and neck, due to the rarity of its presentation and consequently scarcity of data on long-term outcome.

Case presentation: A 50-year old woman, operated 10 years before for leiomyosarcoma of the nasal pit and with negative 5-years follow-up, was admitted to our ward for impairment of the hepatic function. Total-body CT scan detected multiple localizations at lungs, kidneys, pancreas, bones, muscles, lymph nodes and thyroid. The pathologic report after lung biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of metastasis from leiomyosarcoma and the patients was scheduled for first line chemo-radiotherapy.

Conclusions: Despite adequate primary treatment, distant and disseminated metastatic disease may be not excluded in leiomyosarcoma of the head and neck.

Background: Desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT) is a very rare mesenchymal tumor that mainly affects teenagers and young adults with a mean age at diagnosis around 20-25 years. Although initial management still needs standardization, many centers will use multimodal treatment including intensive chemotherapy, extensive surgical resection followed by radiotherapy. Despite this, prognosis remains very poor and the median overall survival is 25 months. Recurrent disease is mainly treated by chemotherapy. Recently, due to the unmet medical need for recurrent disease, targeted therapies were explored for DSRCT.

Methods: In this study, we assessed the response rate and progression free survival in nine cases of progressive DSRCT included in the OUTC's registry and treated with antiangiogenics targeted agents (sunitinib, sorafenib and bevacizumab). OUTC's, a French national registry, collects data about the use of off-label targeted therapy in sarcoma.

Results: Eight males and one woman were included, with median age at diagnosis of 27.3 years (range from 9 to 48 years). They received a mean 3 lines (2-5) of treatment before antiangiogenic agent initiation. Six patients received sunitinib, two received sorafenib and one bevacizumab. Median progression free survival was 3.1 months (range 2-5.5 months) and best response observed was 5.5 months stable disease. Most patients had manageable low-grade toxicities, mainly fatigue, abdominal pain and skin toxicity.

Conclusions: Despite very limited activity of antiangiogenics in our study, prospective collection of cases of these rare tumors together with molecular data should guide therapeutic decision and enhance outcome.

Background: Histone 3.3 (H3.3) hotspot mutations in bone tumors occur in the vast majority of giant cell tumors of bone (GCTBs; 96%), chondroblastomas (95%) and in a few cases of osteosarcomas. However, clinical presentation, histopathological features, and additional molecular characteristics of H3.3 mutant osteosarcomas are largely unknown.

Methods: In this multicentre, retrospective study, a total of 106 conventional high-grade osteosarcomas, across all age groups were re-examined for hotspot mutations in the H3.3 coding genes H3F3A and H3F3B. H3.3 mutant osteosarcomas were re-evaluated in a multidisciplinary manner and analyzed for genome-wide DNA-methylation patterns and DNA copy number aberrations alongside H3.3 wild-type osteosarcomas and H3F3A G34W/L mutant GCTBs.

Results: Six osteosarcomas (6/106) carried H3F3A hotspot mutations. No mutations were found in H3F3B. All patients with H3F3A mutant osteosarcoma were older than 30 years with a median age of 65 years. Copy number aberrations that are commonly encountered in high-grade osteosarcomas also occurred in H3F3A mutant osteosarcomas. Unlike a single osteosarcoma with a H3F3A K27M mutation, the DNA methylation profiles of H3F3A G34W/R mutant osteosarcomas were clearly different from H3.3 wild-type osteosarcomas, but more closely related to GCTBs. The most differentially methylated promoters between H3F3A G34W/R mutant and H3.3 wild-type osteosarcomas were in KLLN/PTEN (p < 0.00005) and HIST1H2BB (p < 0.0005).

Conclusions: H3.3 mutations in osteosarcomas may occur in H3F3A at mutational hotspots. They are overall rare, but become more frequent in osteosarcoma patients older than 30 years. Osteosarcomas carrying H3F3A G34W/R mutations are associated with epigenetic dysregulation of KLLN/PTEN and HIST1H2BB.

Background: Mutations in isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)1 or -2 are found in ~50% of conventional central chondrosarcomas and in up to 87% of their assumed benign precursors enchondromas. The mutant enzyme acquires the activity to convert α-ketoglutarate into the oncometabolite d-2-hydroxyglutarate (d-2-HG), which competitively inhibits α-ketoglutarate dependent enzymes such as histone- and DNA demethylases.

Methods: We therefore evaluated the effect of IDH1 or -2 mutations on histone modifications (H3K4me3, H3K9me3 and H3K27me3), chromatin remodeler ATRX expression, DNA modifications (5-hmC and 5-mC), and TET1 subcellular localization in a genotyped cohort (IDH, succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) and fumarate hydratase (FH)) of enchondromas and central chondrosarcomas (n = 101) using immunohistochemistry.

Results: IDH1 or -2 mutations were found in 60.8% of the central cartilaginous tumours, while mutations in FH and SDH were absent. The mutation status did not correlate with outcome. Chondrosarcomas are strongly positive for the histone modifications H3K4me3, H3K9me3 and H3K27me3, which was independent of the IDH1 or -2 mutation status. Two out of 36 chondrosarcomas (5.6%) show complete loss of ATRX. Levels of 5-hmC and 5-mC are highly variable in central cartilaginous tumours and are not associated with mutation status. In tumours with loss of 5-hmC, expression of TET1 was more prominent in the cytoplasm than the nucleus (p = 0.0001).

Conclusions: In summary, in central chondrosarcoma IDH1 or -2 mutations do not affect immunohistochemical levels of 5-hmC, 5mC, trimethylation of H3K4, -K9 and K27 and outcome, as compared to wildtype.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s13569-017-0067-5.].

Background: Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are rare tumours arising in mesenchymal tissues. Gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST) is the commonest STS and arises within the wall of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. While most GISTs occur in the stomach they do occur in all parts of the GI tract. As with other STS, it is important that GISTs are managed by expert teams, to ensure consistent and optimal treatment, as well as recruitment to clinical trials, and the ongoing accumulation of further knowledge of the disease. The development of appropriate guidance, by an experienced panel referring to the evidence available, is therefore a useful foundation on which to build progress in the field.

Methodology: British Sarcoma Group guidelines for the management of GIST were initially developed by a panel of physicians experienced in the management of GIST. This current version has been updated and amended with reference to other European and US guidance. We have received input from representatives of all diagnostic and treatment disciplines as well as patient representatives. Levels of evidence and strength of recommendation gradings are those used by ESMO adapted from those published by the Infectious Disease Society of America.

Conclusions: The guidelines cover aetiology, genetics and underlying molecular mechanisms, diagnosis and initial investigations, staging and risk stratification, surgery, neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapy, the management of advanced disease and follow-up. The importance of mutational analysis in guiding treatment is highlighted, since this can indicate the most effective treatment and avoid administration of ineffective drugs, emphasising the need for management in specialist centres.

Background: Cardiac tumors are a very rare entity. Leiomyosarcoma represents less than 1% of cases.

Case presentation: a 51-year-old woman diagnosed with primary left atrium leiomyosarcoma. She was treated by optimal surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy. She is still alive after a follow-up of 24 months without evidence of local or distant recurrence.

Conclusions: Cardiac leiomyosarcoma is a rare tumor with a dismal prognosis. Surgery is the mainstay of treatment. Adjuvant treatment is still controversial.

Background: The Italian Sarcoma Group (ISG) is a nonprofit group of professionals established in 1997 aimed to improve the quality of care and promote the independent research in sarcomas. The increased regulatory requirements, the chance to increase the number of trials with other cooperative groups and an interest from pharmaceutical companies in supporting independent research, generated the need of an internal service for research management.

Methods and results: In 2010, ISG implemented in its organization a Clinical Trial Unit (CTU). The CTU was appointed to fully manage Clinical Trial Operations, to guarantee regulation compliance and provide a central support to the investigators, fostering a collaboration both at national and international level. In 2016 ISG promoted 25 studies in about 120 centers, with a fivefold increase in the last 5 years: 68% were interventional and 32% observational. Nine of the 17 interventional studies (52%) were supported by pharmaceutical companies, while 4 (24%) were funded by European Commission within specific projects on sarcomas and 4 (24%) were supported by the ISG itself.

Conclusion: The contribution of ISG researchers to the international community was striking from the earliest years of the ISG creation. The challenges of the regulatory clinical research scenario, which imposes solid and hard-fast methodology with deep knowledge and expertise, highlighted the need to identify qualified and dedicated experts able to run and follow the multifaceted aspects of trials. Our analysis demonstrated how this model has led to a growth in competitiveness of the group. The collaboration between clinicians and CTU made possible to support the research with high scientific and ethical standards and to increase the number of trials, sites and overall enrolled patients. The reduced time for approvals, the continuous support to sites, the increased speed in data collection and analysis make the ISG research attractive for pharmaceutical industries, despite the problems that have characterized the independent research in the last years. The ability to fully manage and oversight Clinical Operations and the high quality of delivered services, have led the ISG to be recognized as a reliable partner and coordinator within the international sarcoma networks.