Desmoid tumour in familial adenomatous polyposis patients: responses to treatments

Surgical Decision-Making in Familial Adenomatous Polyposis

Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is an autosomal dominant disorder affecting patients with germline mutations of the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) tumor suppressor gene. The surgical treatment of colorectal disease in FAP, which has the goal of colorectal cancer prevention, varies based on both patient and disease factors but can include the following: total colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis, proctocolectomy with stapled or hand-sewn ileal pouch-anal anastomosis, or total proctocolectomy with end ileostomy. The operative options and extent of resection, as well as the use of endoscopy and chemoprevention for the management of polyposis, will be discussed in detail in this article. In addition, commonly debated management decisions related to the treatment of patients with FAP, including the timing of prophylactic colorectal resections for patients with FAP and management of the polyp burden in the rectum, will be discussed. Finally, genotype considerations and the impact of desmoid disease on operative decisions in the setting of FAP will also be reviewed.

Desmoid Tumors in Familial Adenomatous Polyposis Patients: Favorable Outcomes with Multidisciplinary Management

OBJECTIVE

In this study, we aimed to describe the clinical features, management, and outcomes of desmoid tumors (DTs) in familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) patients at a high-volume sarcoma center.

METHODS

Consecutive patients with FAP and DTs were identified from our institutional databases (1985-2021). Patient demographics, treatment, and outcomes were described. Categorical data were compared using Fisher's exact test, and Kaplan-Meier curves were used to estimate progression-free survival (PFS).

RESULTS

Forty-five patients with 67 DTs were identified: 39 mesenteric or retroperitoneal (58.2%), 17 abdominal wall (25.4%), 4 extremity (6%), 4 breast (6%) and 3 back (4.4%). Severe DT symptoms were present in 12 patients (26.7%). Initial treatments per tumor were observation in 30 (44.8%) DTs, chemotherapy in 15 (22.4%) DTs, surgery in 10 (14.9%) DTs, and other systemic therapies in 10 (14.9%) DTs. The majority of DTs remained stable with observation or a single intervention (77.8%). Median PFS was 23.4 years (95% confidence interval 7.6-39.2). In the 12 severely symptomatic patients, four patients required more than two interventions for DT control. At a median follow-up of 6.0 years (range 0.7-35.8 years), 33 (73.3%) patients were alive with disease, 7 (15.6%) were alive without disease, and 5 (11.1%) died of other causes. No patients died of DT-related complications.

CONCLUSIONS

The majority of DTs in FAP patients remained stable with observation or a single intervention. There were no DT-related deaths; however, 12 of 45 patients (26.7%) experienced significant tumor morbidity and required more interventions for disease control. Further studies on quality of life are required.

Gardner syndrome: A case report

BACKGROUND

Gardner syndrome (GS) is a rare autosomal dominant hereditary disorder. Since GS often has multi-system involvement with diverse clinical manifestations, misdiagnosis is common. Herein we report a case of GS.

CASE SUMMARY

A 38 year-old women presented with intermittent abdominal distension, nausea, and vomiting for 15 mo, which was aggravated for 1 wk. Related tests showed gastrointestinal adenoma and multiple desmoid tumors in the abdominal wall and abdominal cavity, and gene sequencing confirmed the diagnosis of GS. The patient underwent endoscopic intestinal polypectomy and symptomatic treatment, and her symptoms were relieved. Later, the patient's symptoms recurred and became worse than before. Gastrointestinal anastomosis was performed, and the patient had no postoperative discomfort. Finally, her condition improved.

CONCLUSION

The clinical manifestations of GS are varied, and the appearance of extraenteral manifestations before intestinal polyps is very important for the early identification of such patients, so as to achieve early treatment and improve the prognosis.

Surgical management of abdominal desmoids: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Desmoid tumours are benign fibromatous tumours arising from dysregulated myofibroblast proliferation within musculoaponeurotic structures. They can occur sporadically but more commonly are associated with genetic syndromes such as familial adenomatous polyposis [1] (FAP). Mutations in either the Wnt, β-catenin or APC genes are 'key' triggers for the development of these tumours [5]. Classically, these tumours do not metastasise; however, they are associated with significant morbidity and mortality due to their infiltrative pattern and/or local invasion. Historically, surgical resection was the cornerstone of treatment. There remains paucity of data regarding outcomes following the surgical management of abdominal desmoid tumours in terms of success, recurrence and morbidity.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this review was to assess the current evidence for surgical management of abdominal desmoid tumours in terms of success, recurrence and morbidity.

METHODS

A systematic search of articles in PubMed, EMBASE and The Cochrane Library databases was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines for the period from January 2000 to November 2020.

RESULTS

Twenty-three studies were included, of which, 749 patients had surgical resection (696 for primary and 53 for recurrent desmoids), 243 patients (18.8%) were medically managed and 353 patients (27.3%) underwent surveillance. Median follow-up was 51.4 months (range 1-372). Six-hundred and ninety-six of the 749 resections (92.9%) underwent primary desmoid resection, with the remaining 53 (7.1%) undergoing resection for recurrence. One-hundred and two surgically managed patients (19%) developed a (re)recurrence, with mesenteric involvement the commonest site for recurrence (55%). When comparing recurrence post-surgery to progression following medical therapy, there was a trend towards better outcomes with surgery, with 25% of surgical patients having a recurrence versus 50.5% having progression with medical therapy [OR 0.40 (95% CI 0.06-2.70), p = 0.35]. Major morbidity following surgery was 4.4% (n = 33) with 2% (n = 14) mortality within 30 days of resection.

CONCLUSION

The management of desmoids has considerable heterogeneity. Surgical resection for abdominal desmoids remains a valid treatment option in highly selective cases where negative margins can be obtained, with low major morbidity and/or mortality.

The epidemiology of desmoid tumors in Denmark

INTRODUCTION/AIM

The epidemiology, demographic, clinical, treatment, and healthcare resource utilization (HRU) characteristics of desmoid tumor (DT) patients treated at two sarcoma centers in Denmark is described.

METHODS

Using Danish health registers, we studied DT patients treated at two sarcoma centers between 2009 and 2018. For each patient, ten persons from the general population were randomly matched on birth year, sex, and region of residence.

RESULTS

Of the 179 DT patients identified, 76% were female and the median patient age was 38 years at diagnosis (interquartile range: 31-50). An average annual incidence of DTs over the study period was 3.2 per 1000,000 individuals with the observed annual incidence of DTs ranging from 2.2 (2011) to 4.3 (2017) per 1000,000 individuals. No notable linear time trend in incidence was observed. Anatomical DT sites included extra-abdominal (49%), abdominal wall (40%), and intra-abdominal or retroperitoneal areas (8%). In total, 56% of patients were initially treated surgically. However, while 75% of patients diagnosed with DT between 2009 and 2014 were initially treated surgically, this was true for only 32% of patients diagnosed with DT between 2015 and 2018. A total of 56% of DT patients used chemotherapeutic agents, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, NSAIDs, opioids, antidepressants, or steroids at some point during the three years before their DT diagnoses. In contrast, 70% of surgically treated and 63% of non-surgically treated patients used one of these drugs in the subsequent three years, including NSAIDs (45% surgical vs. 33% non-surgical), opioids (39% surgical vs. 27% non-surgical), and steroids (22% surgical vs. 18% non-surgical). The average number of inpatient and outpatient visits, days of hospitalization, and additional surgical procedures were higher among DT patients than the comparison cohort.

CONCLUSION

DTs are rare but have a large impact on patients' health, HRU, and medication utilization.

Primary extradural tumors of the spinal column: A comprehensive treatment guide for the spine surgeon based on the 5th Edition of the World Health Organization bone and soft-tissue tumor classification

BACKGROUND

In 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) published the 5th version of the soft tissue and bone tumor classification. Based on this novel classification system, we reviewed the current knowledge on all tumor entities with spinal manifestations, their biologic behavior, and most importantly the appropriate treatment options as well as surgical approaches.

METHODS

All tumor entities were extracted from the WHO Soft-Tissue and Bone Tumor Classification (5th Edition). PubMed and Google Scholar were searched for the published cases of spinal tumor manifestations for each entity, and the following characteristics were extracted: Growth pattern, ability to metastasize, peak age, incidence, treatment, type of surgical resection indicated, recurrence rate, risk factors, 5-year survival rate, key molecular or genetic alterations, and possible associated tumor syndromes. Surgical treatment strategies as well as nonsurgical treatment recommendations are presented based on the biologic behavior of each lesion.

RESULTS

Out of 163 primary tumor entities of bone and soft tissue, 92 lesions have been reported along the spinal axis. Of these 92 entities, 54 have the potential to metastasize. The peak age ranges from conatal lesions to 72 years. For each tumor entity, we present recommended surgical treatment strategies based on the ability to locally destruct tissue, to grow, recur after resection, undergo malignant transformation as well as survival rates. In addition, potential systemic treatment recommendations for each tumor entity are outlined.

CONCLUSION

Based on the 5th Edition of the WHO bone and soft tumor classification, we identified 92 out of 163 tumor entities, which potentially can have spinal manifestations. Exact preoperative tissue diagnosis and interdisciplinary case discussions are crucial. Surgical resection is indicated in a significant subset of patients and has to be tailored to the specific biologic behavior of the targeted tumor entity based on the considerations outlined in detail in this article.

Japanese Society for Cancer of the Colon and Rectum (JSCCR) guidelines 2020 for the Clinical Practice of Hereditary Colorectal Cancer

Hereditary colorectal cancer (HCRC) accounts for < 5% of all colorectal cancer cases. Some of the unique characteristics commonly encountered in HCRC cases include early age of onset, synchronous/metachronous cancer occurrence, and multiple cancers in other organs. These characteristics necessitate different management approaches, including diagnosis, treatment or surveillance, from sporadic colorectal cancer management. There are two representative HCRC, named familial adenomatous polyposis and Lynch syndrome. Other than these two HCRC syndromes, related disorders have also been reported. Several guidelines for hereditary disorders have already been published worldwide. In Japan, the first guideline for HCRC was prepared by the Japanese Society for Cancer of the Colon and Rectum (JSCCR), published in 2012 and revised in 2016. This revised version of the guideline was immediately translated into English and published in 2017. Since then, several new findings and novel disease concepts related to HCRC have been discovered. The currently diagnosed HCRC rate in daily clinical practice is relatively low; however, this is predicted to increase in the era of cancer genomic medicine, with the advancement of cancer multi-gene panel testing or whole genome testing, among others. Under these circumstances, the JSCCR guidelines 2020 for HCRC were prepared by consensus among members of the JSCCR HCRC Guideline Committee, based on a careful review of the evidence retrieved from literature searches, and considering the medical health insurance system and actual clinical practice settings in Japan. Herein, we present the English version of the JSCCR guidelines 2020 for HCRC.

The Role of Radiation Therapy for Symptomatic Desmoid Tumors

OPINION STATEMENT

Desmoid tumors have a variable clinical course that ranges from indolence or spontaneous regression to an aggressive pattern marked by local invasion. Up to half may remain stable or regress; watchful waiting is the preferred approach in the initial management of desmoid tumors. Symptomatic or progressive tumors or those that may affect adjacent critical structures require surgery, radiotherapy, or systemic therapy. Although radiotherapy effectively controls desmoid tumors in most cases, concerns regarding late toxicity exist. Definitive radiotherapy for macroscopic disease is indicated when a non-morbid complete surgical resection cannot be accomplished and provides similar control rates to surgery plus radiotherapy but avoids toxicity from combined-modality treatment (surgery and radiotherapy). Adjuvant radiotherapy can be considered for microscopically involved margins, particularly for recurrent cases or when a future recurrence may be challenging to treat. Large size, extremity site, and younger age are poor prognostic factors after radiotherapy. In the extremity, radiotherapy may have superior outcomes to surgery. Younger patients, especially children, are challenging to manage as they are at particular risk for late toxicity due to the number of potential years at risk. For patients under 20 years old, for whom a non-morbid complete resection is not possible, we recommend systemic therapy as the first line of treatment. Although the long-term efficacy of systemic therapy is unproven, this strategy allows additional time for growth and development prior to radiotherapy. In younger patients and those with axial desmoid tumors adjacent to critical organs, consideration should be given to using proton therapy as the dosimetric advantages may mitigate some of the toxicity associated with conventional radiotherapy.

Management of aggressive fibromatosis

Aggressive fibromatosis or desmoid tumor is a rare disease resulting from fibroblasts which do not metastasize. However, desmoid tumors belong to low-grade malignant tumors since they have high potential to infiltrate surrounding tissues, causing high local recurrence rates and may affect surrounding organs, threatening life quality and expectancy. Although surgery, watch and wait, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, high intensity focused ultrasound, ablation techniques or several agents have all been frequently investigated for the treatment of this type of disease, none are deemed as standard therapy for high recurrence rates that have been supported by any data. The present review retrieved literature on treatment options for desmoids to summarize the latest treatment modalities and refine their efficacy, as well as their side effects, in order to provide a more comprehensive treatment reference for clinicians.

Desmoid Tumors Characteristics, Clinical Management, Active Surveillance, and Description of Our FAP Case Series

(1) Background: desmoid tumors (DTs) are common in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). An active surveillance approach has been recently proposed as a valuable alternative to immediate treatment in some patients. However, no clear indication exists on which patients are suitable for active surveillance, how to establish the cut-off for an active treatment, and which imaging technique or predictive factors should be used during the surveillance period. (2) Results: we retrospectively analyzed 13 FAP patients with DTs. A surveillance protocol consisting of scheduled follow-up evaluations depending on tumor location and tissue thickening, abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan/Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allowed prompt intervention in 3/11 aggressive intra-abdominal DTs, while sparing further interventions in the remaining cases, despite worrisome features detected in three patients. Moreover, we identified a possible predictive marker of tumor aggressiveness, i.e., the "average monthly growth rate" (AMGR), which could distinguish patients with very aggressive/life-threatening tumor behavior (AMGR > 0.5) who need immediate active treatment, from those with stable DTs (AMGR < 0.1) in whom follow-up assessments could be delayed. (3) Conclusion: surveillance protocols may be a useful approach for DTs. Further studies on larger series are needed to confirm the usefulness of periodic CT scan/MRI and the value of AMGR as a prognostic tool to guide treatment strategies.

Long-term Outcomes of Oral Vinorelbine in Advanced, Progressive Desmoid Fibromatosis and Influence of CTNNB1 Mutational Status

PURPOSE

Desmoid-type fibromatosis (DF) are locally aggressive neoplasms, with a need for effective systemic treatment in case of progression to avoid the short- and long-term complications of local treatments.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

We retrospectively analyzed the outcomes of adult patients with DF treated with oral vinorelbine (90 mg once weekly) at Gustave Roussy Cancer Institute (Villejuif, Paris, France). Only patients with documented progressive disease according to RECIST v1.1 for more than 3 months (±2 weeks) before treatment initiation were included.

RESULTS

From 2009 to 2019, 90 out of 438 patients with DF were eligible for this analysis. Vinorelbine was given alone in 56 patients (62%), or concomitantly with endocrine therapy in 34 patients, for a median duration of 6.7 months. A partial response was observed in 29% and stable disease in another 57%. With a median follow-up of 52.4 months, the median time to treatment failure (TTF) was not reached. Progression-free rates at 6 and 12 months were 88.7% and 77.5%, respectively. Concomitant endocrine therapy was associated with longer TTF in women [HR, 2.16; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.06-4.37; P = 0.03). Among 64 patients with documented CTNNB1 mutational status, p.S45F or p.S45P mutations were associated with longer TTF compared with p.T41A or wild-type tumors (HR, 2.78; 95% CI, 1.23-6.27; P = 0.04). Toxicity profile was favorable, without grade 3-4 toxicity, except for one grade 3 neutropenia.

CONCLUSIONS

Oral vinorelbine is an effective, affordable, and well-tolerated regimen in patients with advanced, progressive DF. Prolonged activity was observed in patients with tumors harboring CTNNB1 p.S45F or p.S45P mutations.

The Management of Desmoid Tumors: A Retrospective Study of 30 Cases

Objectives

Desmoid tumor also called aggressive fibromatosis is a rare type of benign tumor. It is a mesenchymal malignancy without metastatic potential. The standard management is resection, but other options including observation may be discussed. Desmoid-type fibromatosis may occur throughout the body, but the abdominal wall is the most common site. The aim of our study was to assess the clinicoepidemiological profile, prognostic factors, and treatment outcome of desmoid tumors.

Methods

A monocentric retrospective study was conducted over a period of 19 years between February 2000 and November 2019 at the oncology department of Salah Azaïz Institute. Our study concerns 30 patients with desmoid tumor. All data regarding patients were obtained from the medical record.

Results

Thirty patients were included. The median age was 35 years with a female predominance (sex ratio = 0.07). A palpable mass was the most common complaint (n = 27). Median tumor size was 5 cm. The principal site of involvement was the abdominal wall (n = 14). Surgery was performed in 27 patients. The histopathology reports listed 14 (52%) cases with negative margins and 13 (48%) cases with positive margins. Radiation therapy was performed in 2 patients. One patient received tamoxifen. Local recurrence occurred in 11 patients. Two patients died of their desmoid tumor. Abdominal wall tumors have less risk of recurrence compared with other sites (p=0.047). Macroscopic margin involvement (R2) was the only prognostic factor influencing disease-free-survival (p=0.034).

Conclusion

Desmoid tumors are aggressive tumors with a tendency for local recurrence. Abdominal wall tumors have less risk of recurrence. Macroscopic margin involvement was the only prognostic factor that affects disease-free-survival.

Presentation and Follow-up of Familial Adenomatous Polyposis: Differences Between APC and MUTYH Mutations

BACKGROUND

Familial adenomatous polyposis is described as one of the common two types of genetic disorders: APC and MUTYH gene associated polyposis syndrome and the clinical differences between the two can sometimes be unclear.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective analysis and comparison was made of clinical, surgical, and histological criteria, mutation types and the long-term results of patients who underwent genetic analysis which resulted in the diagnosis of Familial Adenomatous Polyposis between 1984 and 2018.

RESULTS

Of the total 71 patients included in the study, 14 were identified with the MUTYH gene, and 57 with the APC mutation. In patients with the APC mutation, 63% had duodenal adenoma, 61% gastric polyp and 54% had desmoid tumor. Of the patients with the MUTYH mutation, 21% had duodenal adenoma and 21% were diagnosed with gastric polyps. In 21% of the patients with APC mutation, the polyp count was <100, and 64% of those with the MUTYH mutation had >100 polyps in the colon No statistical difference was determined between the groups in respect of the proportion of patients with >100 polyps.

CONCLUSION

The pre-operative genetic testing of patients with polyposis coli will be useful in determining the future clinical outcome and helpful in guiding an informed decision as to whether to apply surgical treatment. It is useful to determine the colonic and extra-colonic involvement of genetic mutation diseases in patients with Familial adenomatous polyposis.

Colorectal family polyadenomatous diseases. What management in 2020?

Nearly 5% of colorectal cancers are hereditary colorectal cancers, including adenomatous polyposis. The aim of this review was to highlight the current management of adenomatous polyposis. The two main genetic conditions responsible for adenomatous polyposis are familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) (caused by an autosomal dominant mutation of the APC gene) and MUTYH-associated polyposis (MAP) (caused by bi-allelic recessive mutations of the MUTYH (MutY human homolog) gene). FAP is characterized by the presence of >1000 polyps and a young age at diagnosis (mean age of 10). In the absence of screening, the risk of colorectal cancer at age 40 is 100%. It is recommended to start screening at the age of 10-12 years. For patients with FAP and MAP, it is also recommended to screen the upper gastrointestinal tract (stomach and duodenum). In FAP, prophylactic surgery aims to reduce the risk of death without impairment of patient quality of life. The best age for prophylactic surgery is not well-defined; in Europe, prophylactic surgery is usually performed at age 20 as the risk of cancer increases sharply during the third decade. There are three main surgical procedures employed: total colectomy with an ileorectal anastomosis, restorative coloproctectomy with a J pouch anastomosis and coloproctectomy with a stoma. Restorative coloproctectomy with J pouch anastomosis is the reference procedure; however, disease can vary in severity from one patient to another and this must be taken into account to decide which procedure should be performed. In conclusion, the management of adenomatous polyposis is complex but is well-defined by guidelines, particularly in France.

Familial Adenomatous Polyposis and Desmoid Tumor Treated with Multivisceral Transplantation and Kidney Autotransplantation: Case Report and Literature Review

Introduction

Desmoid tumours (DT) are commonly associated with Gardener's syndrome. Their surgical resection may be complicated by their close proximity to major vessels, multiple organ involvement, and frequent local recurrence. Multivisceral transplantation (MVTx) is an alternative treatment for patients with intestinal and liver failure. In patients with DT closely associated with renal structures but without end-stage kidney disease, concomitant excision of the patient's own kidney, ex vivo tumour resection with nephron-sparing surgery, or autotransplantation has been proposed.

Case Presentation

A 36-year-old Caucasian female weighing 60 kg with Gardener's syndrome with a history of abdominal surgery was presented to our department with progressive abdominal distention associated with paroxysmal pain. With the use of CT, the patient was diagnosed with a mass arising from the mesenterial region. The patient had normal kidney function and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. The patient was indicated for MVTx.

Management and Outcome

After 16 months on the waiting list, the patient received a multivisceral graft from a deceased donor. Following the restoration of graft vascular flow, the patient's right kidney was removed and the DT dissected ex vivo before autotransplantation into the right pelvic fossa. The patient received immunosuppressive, antithrombotic, and antibiotic treatment. There was no acute rejection, though the patient experienced pulmonary infection, dysphagia, and oesophageal reflux with fungal infection. The patient had required temporary dialysis for acute renal failure for 75 days. One year after the surgery, nausea and violent vomiting caused delayed gastric emptying caused by spastic pylorus. Clinical improvement was achieved using gastric peroral endoscopic myotomy (G-POEM).

Conclusion

MVTx with kidney autotransplantation is a feasible treatment option in patients with familiar adenomatous polyposis complicated by an abdominal DT. Precise tumour dissection with nephron-sparing surgery was carried ex vivo. G-POEM was used to relieve MVTx-related gastroparesis. The patient had no disease reoccurrence after one-year follow-up.

[Familial adenomatous polyposis, desmoid tumors and Gardner syndrome]

About 15 % of patients with familial adenomatous polyposis "PAF" develop one or more desmoid tumors in their lifetime. These are benign mesenchymal tumors with local aggressivity but with no potential for metastases. Most of the desmoids tumors result from a sporadic genetic anomaly in the β catenin gene. When related to familial adenomatous polyposis or "PAF", this mutation is not present, and the patients must be sent in genetic counselling. The PAF is a dominant autosomic illness related to a germinal mutation in the APC gene. Sometimes, these tumors can be the first manifestation of the illness. The diagnosis in a context of PAF can be easily done by imaging, but a pathological confirmation is needed. These tumors raise a therapeutic problem because of their heterogeneity and the absence of predictive biomarkers along illness evolution. The identification of prognostic biological and clinical factors would make easier the selection of patients requiring first-line treatment, as spontaneous remissions have also been observed in patients with FAP whom which an active surveillance could also be a valid therapeutic option. The particularity of desmoids tumors associated to PAF lies in their predominantly intra-abdominal location and the risk of complication. In the last ten years, surgery has largely given way to conservative treatments such as chemotherapy and more recently to tyrosine kinase inhibitors that have shown their efficacy with a significant improvement in progression-free survival of patients.

Familial Polyposis Coli: The Management of Desmoid Tumor Bleeding

Background

There is currently no standard treatment for desmoid tumors (DTs) associated with familial polyposis coli (FAP). Familial adenomatous polyposis in DT patients is sometimes a life-threatening condition.

Methods

We enrolled all consecutive patients with FAP treated at Unit of General Surgery and Transplant, University of Naples Federico II and evaluated the incidence of DTs on FAP between 1996 and 2016.

Results

We observed 45 consecutive patients with FAP; of these 5 were DT-FAP-associated. All 5 cases with FAP were young women, age 25 to 65 years, previously treated by colectomy. Of these, 4 patients presented a parietal localization and had been treated with a wide surgical exeresis; one patient had an intra-abdominal, mesenteric tumor that was unresectable at laparotomy. We performed CT-guided drainage, ureteral stenting, medical therapy (sulindac+tamoxifene), and chemotherapy (dacarba-zine+doxorubicine).All patients were alive and underwent follow-ups for 5 years post-surgery; only 1 patient with parietal localization showed a local relapse after 2 years.

Conclusions

We propose a modulated approach to the single patient with FAP, with surgery as treatment of choice for parietal localization disease and integrating different kinds of therapies (surgery alone or associated with RT, CT) for the intra-abdominal tumor.

Hereditary Cancer Syndromes-A Primer on Diagnosis and Management, Part 2: Gastrointestinal Cancer Syndromes

Hereditary causes due to mutations and defects in certain genes account for roughly 5% to 10% of all colorectal cancers. These inherited syndromes have been associated with a 60% to 100% lifetime risk for development of colorectal cancer, depending on the genetic syndrome, and many also carry an increased risk for multiple extracolonic malignancies. In this second part of a review series on hereditary cancer syndromes, the focus will be to provide guidance on the features and management of the most commonly encountered hereditary colorectal cancers and polyposis conditions including Lynch syndrome, familial adenomatous polyposis, MUTYH-associated polyposis, and hamartomatous polyposis.

Recurrent aggressive mesenteric desmoid tumor successfully treated with sorafenib: A case report and literature review

BACKGROUND

Desmoid tumors (DT) are locally advanced but histologically benign monoclonal neoplasms that can occur from any musculoaponeurotic structure. The aim of this report is to analyze a rare clinical case of an aggressive intra-abdominal DT successfully treated with sorafenib.

CASE SUMMARY

A 36-year-old man presented with increasing colicky abdominal pain and a self-palpable mass in his left abdomen. Fourteen years earlier he was diagnosed with a large intra-abdominal tumor, which adhered to the left colonic flexure, part of the major gastric curvature and the spleen. Subsequent exploratory laparotomy revealed a voluminous mass in the epigastrium, arising from the posterior surface of the stomach and invading the superior mesenteric vessels, transverse mesocolon and the small bowel mesentery. As the tumor was unresectable, a jejunojejunal bypass was performed. Traditional therapeutic interventions proved insufficient, and the patient was started on sorafenib with a subsequent full-disease response.

CONCLUSION

DT’s pathogenesis has been associated with mutations in the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene or beta-catenin gene CTNNB1, sex steroids or previous surgical trauma. Local treatment modalities, such as surgery or radiotherapy, are implemented in aggressively progressing or symptomatic patients. Sorafenib is a hopeful therapeutic option against DTs, while several pharmacological agents have been successfully used.

Targeted therapy of desmoid-type fibromatosis: mechanism, current situation, and future prospects

Desmoid-type fibromatosis (DF) is a rare monoclonal fibroblastic proliferation that is characterized by locally infiltrative but rarely metastatic lesions. Tyrosine kinase and γ-secretase inhibitors are primarily used in the targeted therapy of DF. The use of these drugs, however, is mainly based on the recommendations of retrospective studies with small sample sizes. Previous studies that focused on the mechanism, efficacy, and safety of targeted therapy for DF were reviewed to provide references for clinical applications and research. The efficacy and safety of targeted therapy were compared with those of other systemic therapy options. Targeted therapy does not provide considerable advantages in efficacy and safety over other medical treatments and is usually applied after the failure of antihormonal therapies, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and chemotherapy. Further studies are required to explore the mechanism, indications, and appropriate drug dosage of the targeted therapy of DF.

En bloc resection for intra-abdominal/retroperitoneal desmoid-type fibromatosis with adjacent organ involvement: A case series and literature review

Surgical treatment for intra-abdominal/retroperitoneal desmoid-type fibromatosis (IA/RPDF) is still controversial. Studies regarding en bloc resection in IA/RPDF with adjacent organ involvement are scanty. This study aims to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of en bloc resection in IA/RPDF with adjacent organ involvement. This retrospective clinical study included 21 patients who were diagnosed with IA/RPDF and underwent tumor resection at a single center between March 2013 and June 2018. All patients included in the study underwent surgery with curative intent, and IA/RPDF with adhesive organs was removed en bloc. The safety of surgical treatment was verified by the analysis of intraoperative bleeding, postoperative morbidity and perioperative mortality. The efficacy of surgical treatment was evaluated based on the status of tumor infiltration of adjacent organs and patient follow-up results. Complete macroscopic (R0 or R1) resection was achieved in all cases. A median of 2 (range, 1-7) organs were resected. The median operating time was 300 (90-650) minutes. The median intraoperative bleeding was 300 (20-4,500) milliliters. For postoperative pathological diagnosis at our center, tumor infiltrated at least one organ in each patient. Infiltration was noted in 45 resected organs (45/57, 78.9%). Grade III-V postoperative morbidity developed in one patient (4.8%). During the follow-up, one patient developed local recurrence. No DF-related death was noted during the follow-up. The 3-year disease-free survival rate was 94.1% (95% confidence interval: 83.6-100%). Therefore, en bloc resection of the tumor and involved adjacent organs is a safe and effective treatment modality for IA/RPDF.

Japanese Society for Cancer of the Colon and Rectum (JSCCR) Guidelines 2016 for the Clinical Practice of Hereditary Colorectal Cancer (Translated Version)

Hereditary colorectal cancer accounts for less than 5% of all colorectal cancer cases. Some of the unique characteristics that are commonly encountered in cases of hereditary colorectal cancer include early age at onset, synchronous/metachronous occurrence of the cancer, and association with multiple cancers in other organs, necessitating different management from sporadic colorectal cancer. While the diagnosis of familial adenomatous polyposis might be easy because usually 100 or more adenomas that develop in the colonic mucosa are in this condition, Lynch syndrome, which is the most commonly associated disease with hereditary colorectal cancer, is often missed in daily medical practice because of its relatively poorly defined clinical characteristics. In addition, the disease concept and diagnostic criteria for Lynch syndrome, which was once called hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer, have changed over time with continual research, thereby possibly creating confusion in clinical practice. Under these circumstances, the JSCCR Guideline Committee has developed the "JSCCR Guidelines 2016 for the Clinical Practice of Hereditary Colorectal Cancer (HCRC)," to allow delivery of appropriate medical care in daily practice to patients with familial adenomatous polyposis, Lynch syndrome, or other related diseases. The JSCCR Guidelines 2016 for HCRC were prepared by consensus reached among members of the JSCCR Guideline Committee, based on a careful review of the evidence retrieved from literature searches, and considering the medical health insurance system and actual clinical practice settings in Japan. Herein, we present the English version of the JSCCR Guidelines 2016 for HCRC.

Hereditary Colorectal Polyposis and Cancer Syndromes: A Primer on Diagnosis and Management

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the fourth most common cancer amongst men and women. Between 3 and 6% of all CRCs are attributed to well-defined inherited syndromes, including Lynch syndrome, familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), MUTYH-associated polyposis (MAP), and several hamartomatous polyposis conditions. Identification of these patients through family history and appropriate genetic testing can provide estimates of cancer risk that inform appropriate cancer screening, surveillance and/or preventative interventions. This narrative review examines the hereditary colorectal cancer and polyposis syndromes, their genetic basis, clinical management, and evidence supporting cancer screening.

Adult desmoid tumors: biology, management and ongoing trials

Purpose of review

To summarize the current knowledge about the biology and clinical management of adult desmoid tumors.

Recent findings

In the past decade, we have learned that desmoid tumors are driven by alterations of the Wnt/APC/β-catenin pathway, sporadic desmoid tumors are associated with somatic mutations of CTNNB1, and germline mutations of APC and somatic mutations of CTNNB1 are probably mutually exclusive. One-third of desmoid tumors are misdiagnosed; a second pathological opinion is therefore of major importance for desmoid tumor. Surgery is no longer regarded as the cornerstone of desmoid tumors; several retrospective studies have demonstrated the safety of a ‘wait and see’ policy in sporadic abdominal wall desmoid tumor. Desmoid tumors is no longer regarded as an absolute contraindication for pregnancy. At least two new investigational drugs targeting the Wnt/APC/β-catenin pathway are currently being developed.

Summary

The management of desmoid tumors requires multidisciplinary expertise by an experienced team. We must fully understand the physiopathology of the disease (factors influencing the natural history of the disease) and learn how to avoid desmoid tumors occurrence in patients with APC germline mutations, identify reliable prognostic/predictive factors and better assess the efficacy of systemic treatment.

Borderline Sarcomas and Smooth Muscle Tumours of Uncertain Malignant Potential

Borderline sarcomas and smooth muscle tumours of uncertain malignant potential (STUMP) have an unpredictable clinical behaviour with frequent local recurrences and rarely, metastases. We review the current management of common subtypes of borderline sarcomas and STUMP.

The treatment of desmoid tumors associated with familial adenomatous polyposis: the results of a Japanese multicenter observational study

PURPOSE

Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP)-associated desmoid tumor (DT) is sometimes life threatening. However, the optimal treatment for DTs has not been established. The aim of this study was to analyze the outcomes of surgical and pharmacological treatments for DT in Japanese FAP patients.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the data of 303 patients who underwent colectomy for FAP between 2000 and 2012. We analyzed 41 patients with DTs in which the location was apparent. The selection of treatment for intra-abdominal DTs was also evaluated according to Church's classification.

RESULTS

Surgery was frequently used to treat extra-abdominal DTs. Multimodal treatments, including surgery, and the administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, hormonal therapy, and chemotherapy were widely used for intra-abdominal DTs. The most effective pharmacological treatment was cytotoxic chemotherapy, which was associated with a response rate of 45.5% and a disease control rate of 72.7%. After a median follow-up period of 53.0 months, the 5-year DT-specific survival rate in patients with stage IV disease was 71.4%; in contrast, the rate in patients with other stages was 100%. Four-stage IV patients died of DT due to uncontrollable rapid progression. No cytotoxic chemotherapy was administered; however, incomplete resection was performed in three cases.

CONCLUSION

Our findings will provide clues that may help physicians in selecting the optimal strategy for this rare disease.

Management of Desmoids

Desmoid tumors are rare, comprising 3% of soft tissue tumors. Surgical resection has been the standard of care; however, this has begun to evolve into a movement of watchful waiting as observational studies have shown long-term stability of many tumors without treatment and even spontaneous regression in 5% to 10% of cases. When surgical therapy is used, wide local excision with microscopically negative margins is the goal of resection but should not be at the expense of organ or limb function. Recurrence rates after surgical resection are approximately 20%; a variety of multimodal therapies are useful in controlling disease.

Long-term outcome of sporadic and FAP-associated desmoid tumors treated with high-dose selective estrogen receptor modulators and sulindac: a single-center long-term observational study in 134 patients

Aim of this study is to evaluate the outcome of long-term conservative treatment with sulindac and high-dose selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) for sporadic and FAP-associated desmoid tumors. Desmoids are very rare tumors in the general population but occur frequently in FAP patients, being encountered in 23-38 %. Treatment of desmoids is still most controversial since response cannot be predicted and they are prone to develop recurrence. This study included all desmoid patients that were treated and followed at our institution and had completed at least 1 year of treatment. Response was defined as stable size or regression of desmoid size between two CT or MRI scans. A total of 134 patients were included. 64 (47.8 %) patients had a confirmed diagnosis of FAP, 69 (51.5 %) patients were sporadic. Overall 114 (85.1 %) patients showed regressive or stable desmoid size. Patients with previous history of multiple desmoid-related surgeries showed less-favorable response. The mean time to reach at least stable size was 14.9 (±9.1) months. After regression or stabilization, medication was tapered in 69 (60.5 %) of the treated patients with only one long-term recurrence after >10 years. The results of this study fortify the role of sulindac and high-dose SERMs as an effective and safe treatment for both, sporadic and FAP-associated desmoid tumors. While invasive treatment frequently results in high recurrence rates, high morbidity and high mortality, this conservative treatment is successful in most patients. The recurrence rate is negligible with no desmoid-related mortality in this large series. Therefore surgical resection, especially for mesenteric desmoids, should be deferred favoring this convincingly effective, well tolerated regimen.

Intra-Abdominal and Abdominal Wall Desmoid Fibromatosis

Desmoid fibromatosis is a rare but locally aggressive tumor comprised of myofibroblasts. Desmoids do not have the ability to metastasize but can cause significant morbidity and mortality by local invasion. These tumors may occur throughout the body, but are commonly found on the abdominal wall and within the intestinal mesentery. Desmoids in these areas may cause unique clinical problems for physicians and patients. Mutations in either the β-catenin or the APC genes are usually the cause for the development of these tumors with the former comprising the sporadic development of tumors and the latter being associated with familial adenomatous polyposis syndrome. Surgical resection with histologically negative margins has been the cornerstone of therapy for this disease, but this paradigm has begun to shift. It is now common to accept a microscopically positive margin after resection as recurrence rates may not be significantly affected. An even more radical evolution in management has been the recent movement towards “watchful waiting” when new desmoids are diagnosed. As the natural history of desmoids has become better understood, it is evident that some tumors will not grow and may even spontaneously regress sparing patients the morbidity of more aggressive therapy. Other modalities of treatment for desmoids include radiation and systemic therapy which both can be used adjuvantly or as definitive therapy and have shown durable response rates as single therapy regimens. The decision to use radiation and/or systemic therapies is often based on tumor biology, tumor location, surgical morbidity, and patient preference. Systemic therapy options have increased to include hormonal therapies, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and chemotherapy, as well as targeted therapies. Unfortunately, the rarity of this disease has resulted in a scarcity of randomized trials to evaluate any of these therapies emphasizing the need for this disease to be treated at high volume multidisciplinary institutions.