Undifferentiated carcinoma of the esophagus: a clinicopathological study of 16 cases

SMARCA4-Deficient Undifferentiated Esophageal Carcinoma: A Clinical Case Series and Literature Review

PURPOSE

Undifferentiated carcinoma of the esophagus (UEC) is a rare malignancy. Deficiency in SMARCA genes, critical for chromatin regulation, has been observed in cases of UEC. Research in UEC is sparse, however, and we present a case series along with a comprehensive review of the literature.

CASE SERIES

Case 1 is a 49-year-old female with abdominal pain and dysphagia and esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) showing a friable mass at the gastroesophageal (GE) junction. Biopsies showed a poorly differentiated neoplasm and immunohistochemistry showed loss for SMARCA4. With metastatic disease, she agreed to undergo palliative chemotherapy and radiation, passing away at 4 months. Case 2 is an 88-year-old male with dysphagia, nausea, vomiting, and distal esophageal mass with biopsy showing a malignancy with loss of SMARCA4 expression. Due to extensive metastases, he was counseled on hospice care. Case 3 is a 53-year-old male with extensive alcohol and smoking history presenting with hematemesis, passing away shortly. Posthumous histopathology consistent with undifferentiated SMARCA4-deficient carcinoma of the esophagus. Results of the literature review indicate a predilection towards males (75.0%) and a variable age range (39-88 years). Majority (76.2%) reported with a distal esophagus location. Metastatic disease was common at initial presentation. Median survival was 2.60 months. Some were managed with chemotherapy and radiation.

CONCLUSIONS

Research in SMARCA-deficient UEC is very limited. It is more common in men, age is variable, and associated with Barret's esophagus. Further research is necessary to better understand it and to establish treatment guidelines; however, it is clear that SMARCA4-deficient UEC carries a significantly poor prognosis.

SMARCA4-Deficient Undifferentiated Tumor of the Esophagus: Diagnostic Pitfalls in Immunohistochemical Profiles

SMARCA4-deficient undifferentiated tumors (SMARCA4-UT) are a newly described entity and are typically seen in the thoracic cavity. However, these tumors have been described in other body sites, including the esophagus. These tumors are rare, aggressive neoplasms, characterized by the loss of protein product of SMARCA4 (Brahma-related gene-1) and the preservation of INI1 (SMARCB1) expression. Here, we present two tumors of SMARCA4-UT of the esophagus with its microscopic appearance and immunohistochemical profile. We also include a literature review of SMARCA4-deficient tumors of the tubular gastrointestinal tract with their immunohistochemical and mismatch repair profiles for each specimen. Due to its non-specific histologic appearance and variable staining in expanded immunohistochemical panels, this tumor frequently overlaps with other tumor types, making the diagnosis of SMARCA4-UT challenging. These tumors are often associated with intestinal metaplasia of the esophagus and are thought to represent a high-grade undifferentiated transformation of a conventional esophageal adenocarcinoma. These tumors are typically associated with poor clinical outcomes and have poor response to conventional therapies. Currently, there are no standard guidelines for treatment of these tumors; however, palliative radiotherapy and systemic chemotherapy may provide benefit. More recently, immunotherapy and novel therapeutic targets have shown some promise for these patients.

Radiotherapy in the management of rare gastrointestinal cancers: A systematic review

The aim of this analysis is to assess radiotherapy's role and technical aspects in an array of rare gastrointestinal (GI) cancers for adult patients. Collection data pertaining to radiotherapy and digestive rare cancers were sourced from Medline, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library. Preoperative chemoradiotherapy improved outcomes for patients with esophageal undifferentiated carcinoma compared with esophageal salivary gland types of carcinomas. For rare gastric epithelial carcinoma, perioperative chemotherapy is the common treatment. Adjuvant chemoradiotherapy showed no benefice compared with adjuvant chemotherapy for duodenal adenocarcinoma. Small bowel sarcomas respond well to radiotherapy. By analogy to anal squamous cell carcinoma, exclusive chemoradiotherapy provided better outcomes for patients with rectal squamous cell carcinoma. For anal adenocarcinoma, neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, followed by radical surgery, was the most effective regimen. For pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, chemoradiotherapy can be a suitable option as postoperative or exclusive for unresectable/borderline disease. The stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) is a promising approach for hepatobiliary malignancy. Radiotherapy is a valuable option in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) for palliative intent, tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) resistant disease, and unresectable or residual disease. Involved field (IF) radiotherapy for digestive lymphoma provides good results, especially for gastric extranodal marginal zone lymphoma (MALT). In conclusion, radiotherapy is not an uncommon indication in this context. A multidisciplinary approach is needed for better management of digestive rare cancers.

Neoplastic and pre-neoplastic lesions of the oesophagus and gastro-oesophageal junction

Oesophageal and gastro-oesophageal junction (GOJ) neoplasms, and their predisposing conditions, may be encountered by the practicing pathologist both as biopsy samples and as surgical specimens in daily practice. Changes in incidence of oesophageal squamous cell carcinomas (such as a decrease in western countries) and in oesophageal and GOJ adenocarcinomas (such as a sharp increase in western countries) are being reported globally. New modes of treatment have changed our histologic reports as specific aspects must be detailed such as in post endoscopic resections or with regards to post neo-adjuvant therapy tumour regression grades. The main aim of this overview is therefore to provide an up-to-date, easily available and clear diagnostic approach to neoplastic and pre-neoplastic conditions of the oesophagus and GOJ, based on the most recent available guidelines and literature.

High Serum Elafin Prediction of Poor Prognosis of Locoregional Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Simple Summary

Conventional serum markers such as carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC), and tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA) have a low sensitivity in predicting the prognosis of locoregional esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cell (ESCC). In our clinical study, we found high serum elafin to be an independent outcome predictor for stage I-IIIA ESCC, considering T, N, overall stage, and treatment. In vitro experiments showed that adding recombinant elafin drove ESCC cell proliferation, migration and invasion, while shRNA attenuated elafin levels, abrogating those effects. Our results suggested serum elafin might be a noninvasive biomarker to predict the outcome of locoregional ESCC and could potentially be used as a therapeutic target.

Abstract

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a highly aggressive tumor known to have locally advanced and metastatic features which cause a dismal prognosis. We sought to determine whether elafin, a non-invasive and secretory small-molecule marker, could be used to predict prognosis in locoregional ESCC patients in human and in vitro studies. In our human study, 119 subjects were identified as having incident and pathologically-proved ESCC with stage I-IIIA tumors from southern Taiwan between 2000 and 2016. We measured their serum elafin levels at baseline and followed them until the date of cancer death or until January 2020, the end of this study. Those with high serum elafin levels were found to have a 1.99-fold risk (95% confidence interval: 1.17–3.38) shorter survival than those who did not. In our in vitro experiments, elevated elafin levels were found to drive ESCC cell proliferation, migration and invasion, while attenuation of elafin level by shRNA abrogated those effects. We concluded that elafin promotes ESCC motility and invasion and leads to a worse clinical prognosis in ESCC patients without distant metastasis.

SMARCA4/SMARCA2-deficient Carcinoma of the Esophagus and Gastroesophageal Junction

Undifferentiated carcinoma of the esophagus and gastroesophageal junction is a recently recognized entity in the fifth edition of the World Health Organization Classification of Digestive Tumors and is diagnostically challenging, particularly on small biopsies. SMARCA4 and SMARCA2 are chromatin remodeling genes with key roles in oncogenesis. We retrieved 14 cases of SMARCA4/SMARCA2-deficient undifferentiated carcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction and esophagus from the authors' institutions. The tumors showed similar histologic findings: the sheet-like proliferation of tumor cells characterized by discohesion, large nuclei, and prominent macronucleoli with many tumor cells exhibiting a rhabdoid appearance. In 8 cases, adjacent specialized intestinal metaplasia was noted and 3 cases exhibited adjacent high-grade dysplasia. Immunohistochemically, tumors variably expressed keratins and disclosed loss of expression of SMARCA4 in 12 and SMARCA2 in 7 cases. In 2 cases SMARCA2 alone was lost without SMARCA4 loss. A mutant p53 immunohistochemical pattern was seen in 4 of 4 cases, 3 of which showed diffuse, strong nuclear expression, and 1 case displayed a complete loss of nuclear expression of p53, including invasive carcinoma and associated dysplasia, when present. Limited clinical follow-up was available, but 3 patients died of disease within 0.6, 2, and 7 months of diagnosis. We present the first series of undifferentiated carcinoma of the esophagus and gastroesophageal junction with this characteristic morphology associated with loss of SMARCA4 and/or SMARCA2 expression. This tumor type likely arises from dedifferentiation of a lower grade carcinoma in some cases, and Barrett esophagus and appears to be associated with an aggressive clinical course.

Incidence and prognosis of undifferentiated cancers of the digestive system: a population-based cohort study

Background

Cases of undifferentiated cancers of the digestive system (UCDS) are occasionally encountered in clinical practice; however, no large-scale studies have described their characteristics. This study aimed to investigate the incidence, prognosis, and treatment strategies of UCDS.

Methods

We used the data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database to evaluate clinical characteristics in UCDS patients. A cohort of 1,372 patients was included to estimate UCDS incidence; another cohort of 1,816 patients was followed up until December 31, 2017 to evaluate treatment and prognosis. The incidence, trends, treatments, overall survival, and cause-specific survival were assessed.

Results

The estimated incidence of UCDS was 0.136 per 100,000 people-years [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.129-0.143] from 1975 to 2016 with respect to sex, age, year of diagnosis, race, region, site, income, and education. The age-adjusted rates of UCDS dropped from 0.567 per 100,000 people-years in 1978 to 0.031 per 100,000 people-years in 2016. The rates of surgery, beam radiation, and chemotherapy in patients with UCDS were 37.3%, 17.3%, and 30.7%, respectively. Overall, the 5-year cause-specific survival rate was 18%, with a median cause-specific survival of 4 months. Patient prognosis improved significantly over the decades; stage, site, year of diagnosis, surgery, beam radiation, and chemotherapy were independent prognostic factors for UCDS mortality.

Conclusions

The incidence of UCDS has decreased in the United States over the past 40 years. Patients benefited from surgery, beam radiation, and chemotherapy. The survival of patients with UCDS has improved. Further research on developing decision-making recommendations for UCDS treatment is crucial.

SWI/SNF-deficient cancers of the Gastroenteropancreatic tract: an in-depth review of the literature and pathology

The SWItch Sucrose non-fermentable (SWI/SNF) complex is a large, multi-subunit ATP-dependent nucleosome remodeling complex that acts as a tumor suppressor by modulating transcription. Mutations of SWI/SNF subunits have been described in relation to developmental disorders, hereditary SWI/SNF deficiency syndromes, as well as malignancies. In this review we summarize the current literature in regards to SWI/SNF-deficient tumors of the luminal gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and pancreas. As a group they range from moderately to undifferentiated tumors composed of monotonous anaplastic cells, prominent macronucleoli and a variable rhabdoid cell component. Deficiency of a SWI/SNF subunit is typified by complete loss of nuclear staining by immunohistochemistry for respective subunit.

Esophageal Rhabdoid-Like Tumor: A Rare Disease With Aggressive Clinical Behavior

Background: Malignant rhabdoid tumor is a kidney childhood tumor with aggressive clinical behavior and a wide spectrum of histologic, immunophenotypic, and cytogenetic findings. Extra-renal rhabdoid tumors have been reported in the brain, breast, liver, pancreas, bladder, vulva, prostate, and colon. To date, only nine cases of esophageal rhabdoid tumors have been described, all in patients over 50-year old. We add to the current literature the case of an esophageal, poorly differentiated rhabdoid tumor occurring in a young man. Case Report: A 24-year-old man was referred for progressive dysphagia, retrosternal pain, nausea, and food regurgitation. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy showed an obstructing neoplastic lesion of the distal esophagus associated with Barrett's esophagus. Biopsies revealed undifferentiated esophageal cancer with epithelial morphology and immunohistochemistry positive for CK pan, CK 7 e CK 8-18. Minimally invasive esophagectomy and extended lymphadenectomy was performed. Histopathology showed a poorly differentiated tumor, with morphologic characteristics of rhabdoid tumor, central necrosis and transmural infiltration of the esophageal wall. Definitive immunohistochemistry was positive for vimentin, CD34, synaptophysin, and INI1. Conclusion: Esophageal rhabdoid tumor is extremely rare and highly aggressive, with only few patients alive at 1 year follow-up, according to our review. Immunohistochemistry characterization is critical for diagnosis. Minimally invasive esophagectomy is an appealing and possibly less morbid option compared to open surgery. However, further research is needed to investigate the potential role of targeted immunotherapy.

Updates on World Health Organization classification and staging of esophageal tumors: implications for future clinical practice

The Fifth edition of the World Health Organization classification of digestive system and American Joint Committee on Cancer staging manual contain substantial refinements of information for esophageal tumors. The epithelial tumors of esophagus are classified as benign, dysplasia, and malignant groups. Dysplasia is divided into Barrett dysplasia and squamous dysplasia and graded into either low-grade or high-grade. Malignant esophageal tumors are often adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma. The main update in cancer staging in esophageal tumors is the subdivision of the prognostic staging into 3 groups; squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and carcinoma after adjuvant therapy. HER-2 amplification is recognized as a molecular target for therapy of esophagogastric adenocarcinoma. The other esophageal tumors are adenoid cystic carcinoma, mucoepidermoid/adenosquamous carcinoma, undifferentiated carcinoma and neuroendocrine neoplasms. Overall, the incorporation of new data and definitions on histopathology, prognostic factors, and genetics are important for personalized management of patients with esophageal tumors.

Primary undifferentiated carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells in liver and rapidly developing multiple metastases after curative hepatectomy: a case report

A 64-year-old man was diagnosed with cholangiocellular carcinoma based on preoperative computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging and underwent laparoscopic segmentectomy (Segment 8) of the liver for radical operation. Pathological examination revealed the presence of an undifferentiated carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells, which were categorized as T3N0M0 and Stage III based on the third English edition of the Japanese classification of liver cancer. The patient was treated with three courses of combination chemotherapy, which included gemcitabine (1000 mg/m²) and cisplatin (25 mg/m²), as well as S-1 (120 mg/day) for adjuvant chemotherapy. At two months after the operation, CT revealed multiple liver- and lung metastases. Thereafter, the patient was prescribed the molecularly targeted drug, lenvatinib (12 mg/day). However, lenvatinib was not effective, as evident by the extension of several metastases. Testing for microsatellite instability was negative. The patient died 5 months after the operation. We experienced a case of primary undifferentiated carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells in the liver showed rapidly developing multiple metastases after curative liver resection.

SALL4 promotes tumor progression in breast cancer by targeting EMT

Sal-like protein 4 (SALL4) is overexpressed in breast cancer and might contribute to breast cancer progression, but the molecular mechanism remains unknown. Here, we found that within a group of 371 ethnic Chinese breast cancer patients, SALL4 was associated with lower grade (P = .002) and progesterone receptor positivity (P = .004) for overall cases; lower Ki67 (P = .045) and high vimentin (P = .007) for luminal cases. Patients with high SALL4 expression in lymph node metastasis showed a significantly worse survival than those with low expression. Knockout of SALL4 in a triple-negative breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231-Red-FLuc-GFP led to suppressed ability in proliferation, clonogenic formation, migration, and mammosphere formation in vitro, tumorigenicity and lung colonization in vivo. On the other hand, overexpression of SALL4 enhanced migration and mammosphere formation in vitro and tumorigenicity in vivo. Mechanistically, there was a positive correlation between SALL4 expression and mesenchymal markers including Zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1), vimentin, Slug, and Snail in vivo. Chromatin immunoprecipitation experiment indicated that SALL4 can bind to the promoter region of vimentin (-778 to -550 bp). Taken together, we hypothesize that SALL4 promotes tumor progression in breast cancer by inducing the mesenchymal markers like vimentin through directly binding to its promoter. Increased SALL4 level in metastatic lymph node relative to the primary site is an important poor survival marker in breast cancer.

Acute Dysphagia Caused by Sarcomatoid Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Esophagus

Sarcomatoid squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus is a rare etiology of esophageal cancer. Due to its large polypoid character, patients suffering from this disease typically present with progressive dysphagia, weight loss, odynophagia, or chest pain. Risk factors for esophageal cancer include smoking, alcohol use, and chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease. We present a case of an elderly female who presented to our hospital with a one-week history of progressive dysphagia secondary to a large esophageal sarcomatoid squamous cell carcinoma.

SMARCB1- and vimentin-positive esophageal carcinoma with undifferentiated components, rhabdoid features, and a good prognosis: a case report

BACKGROUND

Undifferentiated carcinoma of the esophagus with rhabdoid features is a very rare histologic finding that is occasionally associated with the loss of SWI/SNF-related matrix-associated actin-dependent regulator of chromatin subfamily B member 1 (SMARCB1); however, until now, few survey reports of this type of tumor have been published. In this study, we describe a case of esophageal carcinoma with undifferentiated components and rhabdoid features that was exclusively positive for vimentin and SMARCB1 in a patient with prolonged survival.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 67-year-old man complained of a stomachache and loss of appetite persisting for 1 month. He was then admitted to the hospital. Diagnostic imaging studies revealed a transdiaphragmatic circular ulcerative tumor of the esophagogastric region. Biopsy specimens showed undifferentiated round cell carcinoma. The patient underwent lower esophageal resection and total gastrectomy with lymph node dissection. Microscopic analysis revealed that most of the primary tumor consisted of large undifferentiated round cells and scattered rhabdoid cells. The tumor invaded the muscular layer in the esophagus and the subserosal layer in the stomach, and metastasis was noted in only one lymph node. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the round and rhabdoid cells found in the primary tumor were diffusely positive for SMARCB1 and vimentin. The tumor displayed focal positivity for the anti-pan-cytokeratin antibody AE1/AE3. In the positive lymph node, round undifferentiated carcinoma cells were admixed with squamous carcinoma cells that were positive for cytokeratin 5/6 and 34βE12. The MIB-1 index was 19.7% and 0.5% for the round cells from the primary tumor and epithelial cells from the metastatic lymph node lesion, respectively, and 70.1% for the round cells from the metastatic lymph node lesion. The patient has been alive for 10 years after surgery without tumor recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

We reported a rare case of esophageal carcinoma with undifferentiated components, rhabdoid features, and a good prognosis.

Oncofetal gene SALL4 and prognosis in cancer: A systematic review with meta-analysis

The Spalt-Like Transcription Factor 4 (SALL4) oncogene plays a central function in embryo-fetal development and is absent in differentiated tissues. Evidence suggests that it can be reactivated in several cancers worsening the prognosis. We aimed at investigating the risk associated with SALL4 reactivation for all-cause mortality and recurrence in cancer using the current literature. A PubMed and SCOPUS search until 1st September 2016 was performed, focusing on perspective studies reporting prognostic parameters in cancer data. In addition, 17 datasets of different cancer types from The Cancer Genome Atlas were considered. A total of 9,947 participants across 40 cohorts, followed-up for about 5 years on average, were analyzed comparing patients showing SALL4 presence (SALL4+, n = 1,811) or absence (SALL4-, n = 8,136). All data were summarised using risk ratios (RRs) for the number of deaths/recurrences and hazard ratios (HRs) for the time-dependent risk related to SALL4+, adjusted for potential confounders. SALL4+ significantly increased overall mortality (RR = 1.34, 95% confidence intervals (CI)=1.21-1.48, p<0.0001, I2=66%; HR=1.4; 95%CI: 1.19-1.65; p<0.0001; I2=63%) and recurrence of disease (RR = 1.25, 95% CI = 1.1-1.42, p=0.0006, I2=62%); HR=1.52; 95% CI: 1.22-1.89, p=0.0002; I2=69%) compared to SALL4-. Moreover, SALL4 remained significantly associated with poor prognosis even using HRs adjusted for potential confounders (overall mortality: HR=1.4; 95%CI: 1.19-1.65; p<0.0001; I2=63%; recurrence of disease: HR=1.52; 95% CI: 1.22-1.89, p=0.0002; I2=69%). These results suggest that SALL4 expression increases both mortality and recurrence of cancer, confirming this gene as an important prognostic marker and a potential target for personalized medicine.

SWI/SNF Complex-deficient Undifferentiated/Rhabdoid Carcinomas of the Gastrointestinal Tract: A Series of 13 Cases Highlighting Mutually Exclusive Loss of SMARCA4 and SMARCA2 and Frequent Co-inactivation of SMARCB1 and SMARCA2

Undifferentiated gastrointestinal tract carcinomas are rare highly aggressive neoplasms with frequent but not obligatory rhabdoid features. Recent studies showed loss of SMARCB1 (INI1), a core subunit of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex, in 50% of tested cases. However, the molecular pathways underlying histologically similar but SMARCB1-intact cases are unknown. We herein analyzed 13 cases for expression of 4 SWI/SNF complex subunits SMARCB1, SMARCA2, SMARCA4, and ARID1A and the mismatch-repair proteins MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, and PMS2 by immunohistochemistry. Patients included 12 men and 1 woman aged 32 to 81 years (median, 57 y). Site of origin was colon (5), small bowel (2), stomach (3), small+large intestine (1), small intestine+ampulla of Vater (1), and esophagogastric junction (1). All tumors showed anaplastic large to medium-sized cells with variable rhabdoid features, pleomorphic giant cells, and, rarely, spindle cell foci. Abortive gland formation was seen in 3 cases and bona fide glandular component in 1 case. Most cases strongly expressed vimentin and variably pancytokeratin. In total, 12/13 cases (92%) showed loss of at least 1 SWI/SNF component. Loss of SMARCB1 (5/13), SMARCA2 (10/13), SMARCA4 (2/13), and ARID1A (2/13) was observed either in combination or isolated. SMARCA2 loss was isolated in 5 cases and coexisted with lost SMARCB1 in 5 cases (all 5 SMARCB1-deficient tumors showed loss of SMARCA2 as well). Co-inactivation of SMARCB1 and SMARCA4 or of SMARCA2 and SMARCA4 was not observed. Two mismatch-repair-deficient cases (MLH1/PMS2) showed concurrent loss of SMARCB1, SMARCA2, and (one of them) ARID1A. This study illustrates for the first time loss of different components of the SWI/SNF complex other than SMARCB1 in undifferentiated gastrointestinal carcinomas including novel SMARCA4-deficient and SMARCA2-deficient cases. Our results underline the close link between SWI/SNF deficiency and the aggressive rhabdoid phenotype. Frequent loss of SMARCA2 possibly points to fragility/vulnerability of the SWI/SNF complex as a consequence of lost core subunit SMARCB1. The exact molecular mechanisms underlying co-inactivation of different SWI/SNF subunits merit further investigations.

SALL4, the missing link between stem cells, development and cancer

There is a growing body of evidence supporting that cancer cells share many similarities with embryonic stem cells (ESCs). For example, aggressive cancers and ESCs share a common gene expression signature that includes hundreds of genes. Since ESC genes are not present in most adult tissues, they could be ideal candidate targets for cancer-specific diagnosis and treatment. This is an exciting cancer-targeting model. The major hurdle to test this model is to identify the key factors/pathway(s) within ESCs that are responsible for the cancer phenotype. SALL4 is one of few genes that can establish this link. The first publication of SALL4 is on its mutation in a human inherited disorder with multiple developmental defects. Since then, over 300 papers have been published on various aspects of this gene in stem cells, development, and cancers. This review aims to summarize our current knowledge of SALL4, including a SALL4-based approach to classify and target cancers. Many questions about this important gene still remain unanswered, specifically, on how this gene regulates cell fates at a molecular level. Understanding SALL4's molecular functions will allow development of specific targeted approaches in the future.

The zinc-finger transcription factor SALL4 is frequently expressed in human cancers: association with clinical outcome in squamous cell carcinoma but not in adenocarcinoma of the esophagus

SALL4 is a transcription factor originally identified as a homeotic gene essential for organ development. Early studies suggested that SALL4 is a useful marker to identify testicular and ovarian germ cell tumors. The aim of the study was to evaluate the diagnostic potential of SALL4 immunohistochemistry. Immunohistochemical staining was performed on a tissue microarray (TMA) with 3966 samples from 94 different tumor types and on a further TMA with 492 esophagus carcinomas. SALL4 immunostaining was by far most prevalent and most intensive in testicular tumors with a positivity rate of 93.1% in seminomas, 80% in mixed germ cell tumors (embryonic carcinomas/yolk sac tumors), and 18.5% in teratomas, respectively. However, SALL4 expression is not specific to germ cell tumors. We observed SALL4 positivity in non-germ cell tumors as carcinomas of the kidney (28.9% of chromophobe, 34.4% of clear cell carcinoma), in intestinal type adenocarcinoma of the stomach (10.9%), in adenocarcinoma (10.5%) and squamous cell carcinoma (7.2%) of the esophagus, and in malignant melanoma (8.1%) and invasive urothelial bladder carcinoma (20%). SALL4 expression was not found in lymphomas, in soft tissue tumors or breast tumors. At analysis of esophagus carcinoma TMA, no significant association was seen between SALL4 expression and overall survival in adenocarcinoma. However, SALL4 expression was strongly associated with worse overall survival in squamous cell carcinoma. SALL4 expression can be found at relevant frequencies in various tumors of different primary sites. SALL4 expression in squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus may constitute a sign of dedifferentiation leading to poor patient prognosis.

Surgical Resection of Rare Esophageal Cancers

BACKGROUND

Although surgical resection of adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus is standard practice, the treatment strategy for other malignant rare esophageal cancers is still under debate. The aim of this study was to examine the treatment of rare malignant esophageal cancers and to evaluate the survival of these patients.

METHODS

A retrospective review of all esophagectomies performed at Mayo Clinic from 1980 to 2014 (approximately 4,000 cases) identified 24 patients with histologic features other than adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma. Their medical records were reviewed for demographics, presenting symptoms, evaluation, surgical management, pathologic features, and short-term and long-term outcome.

RESULTS

Pathologic identifications included small cell carcinoma, lymphoma, and undifferentiated carcinoma in 4 (16.7%) patients each and neuroendocrine, melanoma, leiomyosarcoma, sarcomatoid, sarcoma, and gastrointestinal stromal tumor in 2 (8.3%) patients each. The most common presenting symptoms included dysphasia in 91.7% patients (22/24), pain in 75.0% (18/24), and weight loss in 62.5% (15/24). Preoperative evaluation included barium swallow in 91.7% (22/24), computed tomography in 91.7% (22/24), positron emission tomography in 54.2% (13/24), esophagogastroduodenoscopy in 100% (24/24), and endoscopic ultrasonography in 29.2% (7/24) patients. The location of the tumor was at the gastroesophageal junction in 41.7% (10/24). There was no operative mortality, and 13 patients (54.16%) had at least one postoperative adverse event. The 1-year survival after esophagectomy was 69.7%, the 5-year survival was 42.7%, and the 10-year survival was 37.4%.

CONCLUSIONS

Esophageal cancer with pathologic features other than squamous cell carcinoma or adenocarcinoma is rare. Esophagectomy for rare types of malignant esophageal cancers should be considered part of the effective treatment paradigm.