Whole abdominopelvic radiotherapy for desmoplastic small round-cell tumor

Desmoplastic small round cell tumor: from state of the art to future clinical prospects

INTRODUCTION

Desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT) is an extremely rare and highly aggressive soft tissue sarcoma, presenting mainly in male adolescents and young adults with multiple nodules disseminated within the abdominopelvic cavity. Despite a multimodal approach including aggressive cytoreductive surgery, intensive multi-agent chemotherapy, and postoperative whole abdominopelvic radiotherapy, the prognosis for DSRCT remains dismal. Median progression-free survival ranges between 4 and 21 months, and overall survival between 17 and 60 months, with the 5-year overall survival rate in the range of 10-20%.

AREA COVERED

This review discusses the treatment strategies used for DSRCT over the years, the state of the art of current treatments, and future clinical prospects.

EXPERT OPINION

The unsatisfactory outcomes for patients with DSRCT warrant investigations into innovative treatment combinations. An international multidisciplinary and multi-stakeholder collaboration, involving both pediatric and adult sarcoma communities, is needed to propel preclinical model generation and drug development, and innovative clinical trial designs to enable the timely testing of treatments involving novel agents guided by biology to boost the chances of survival for patients with this devastating disease.

Intra-Abdominal Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor (DSRCT) and the Role of Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC): A Review

Desmoplastic small round cell tumor is a very rare and highly aggressive soft tissue sarcoma, usually presenting with multiple intra-abdominal tumors in young males. Patients present with advanced disease and the overall survival is dismal. Multiple studies report relatively favorable outcomes with multimodal treatment consisting of chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy. If resection is feasible, complete cytoreductive surgery is the cornerstone of surgical treatment. The benefit of hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy in addition to cytoreductive surgery is unclear, and few studies have evaluated this option. We sought to identify the role of hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy in patients with intra-abdominal desmoplastic small round cell tumor. Our review of the available literature revealed no clear survival benefit in performing hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy after cytoreductive surgery.

Advances in the treatment of pediatric solid tumors: A 50-year perspective

In the United States, more than 10 000 cancers occur annually in children aged 0-14 years, and more than 5000 in adolescents aged 15-19. In the last 50 years, significant advances have been made in imaging, molecular pathology, stage and risk assessment, surgical approach, multidisciplinary treatment, and survival for pediatric solid tumors (particularly neuroblastoma, Wilms tumor, rhabdomyosarcoma, and hepatoblastoma). Moreover, the molecular driver for fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma, which occurs in adolescence and young adulthood, has been identified.

Immunotherapy and Radioimmunotherapy for Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor

Desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DRSCT) is a highly aggressive primitive sarcoma that primarily affects adolescent and young adult males. The 5-year survival rate is 15-30% and few curative treatment options exist. Although there is no standard treatment for DSRCT, patients are most often treated with a combination of aggressive chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. Targeted therapy inhibitors of PDGFA and IGF-1R, which are almost uniformly overexpressed in DSRCT, have largely failed in clinical trials. As in cancer in general, interest in immunotherapy to treat DSRCT has increased in recent years. To that end, several types of immunotherapy are now being tested clinically, including monoclonal antibodies, radionuclide-conjugated antibodies, chimeric antigen receptor T cells, checkpoint inhibitors, and bispecific antibodies (BsAbs). These types of therapies may be particularly useful in DSRCT, which is frequently characterized by widespread intraperitoneal implants, which are difficult to completely remove surgically and are the frequent cause of relapse. Successful treatment with immunotherapy or radioimmunotherapy following debulking surgery could eradiate these micrometasteses and prevent relapse. Although there has been limited success to date for immunotherapy in pediatric solid tumors, the significant improvements in survival seen in the treatment of other pediatric solid tumors, such as metastatic neuroblastoma and its CNS spread, suggest a potential of immunotherapy and specifically compartmental immunotherapy in DSRCT.

A rare cause of bilateral pleural effusion - desmoplastic small round cell tumor

Desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT) is a rare, extremely aggressive and malignant tumor predominantly affects young adolescent males and typically presents as a large intra-abdominal mass. However, tumor arising from other body sites are also reported in the literature. Histology and immunohistochemistry play an important role in the diagnosis and differentiating this rare tumor from other round cell tumors. A multidisciplinary approach consisting of a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy is the treatment of choice as there is no standard therapy.  We report a case of DSRCT of pleura presenting as bilateral pleural effusion in a young adolescent male who was treated with both surgery and chemotherapy. However patient succumbed to death after one year of diagnosis.

Comprehensive Molecular Profiling of Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor

Desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT) is characterized by the EWSR1-WT1 t(11;22) (p13:q12) translocation. Few additional putative drivers have been identified, and research has suffered from a lack of model systems. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) data from 68 matched tumor-normal samples, whole-genome sequencing data from 10 samples, transcriptomic and affymetrix array data, and a bank of DSRCT patient-derived xenograft (PDX) are presented. EWSR1-WT1 fusions were noted to be simple, balanced events. Recurrent mutations were uncommon, but were noted in TERT (3%), ARID1A (6%), HRAS (5%), and TP53 (3%), and recurrent loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at 11p, 11q, and 16q was identified in 18%, 22%, and 34% of samples, respectively. Comparison of tumor-normal matched versus unmatched analysis suggests overcalling of somatic mutations in prior publications of DSRCT NGS data. Alterations in fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4) were identified in 5 of 68 (7%) of tumor samples, whereas differential overexpression of FGFR4 was confirmed orthogonally using 2 platforms. PDX models harbored the pathognomic EWSR1-WT1 fusion and were highly representative of corresponding tumors. Our analyses confirm DSRCT as a genomically quiet cancer defined by the balanced translocation, t(11;22)(p13:q12), characterized by a paucity of secondary mutations but a significant number of copy number alterations. Against this genomically quiet background, recurrent activating alterations of FGFR4 stood out, and suggest that this receptor tyrosine kinase, also noted to be highly expressed in DSRCT, should be further investigated. Future studies of DSRCT biology and preclinical therapeutic strategies should benefit from the PDX models characterized in this study. IMPLICATIONS: These data describe the general quiescence of the desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT) genome, present the first available bank of DSRCT model systems, and nominate FGFR4 as a key receptor tyrosine kinase in DSRCT, based on high expression, recurrent amplification, and recurrent activating mutations.

The addition of autologous stem cell transplantation to neoadjuvant chemotherapy, radiation, and HIPEC for patients with unresectable desmoplastic small round cell tumor: a single center case series

Desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT) is a rare, highly aggressive malignancy primarily affecting children and young adults. Although modest improvements have been gained by intensification of chemotherapy and radiation, survival of patients with DSRCT remains poor, particularly in those with unresectable or disseminated disease. We report 3 pediatric patients who were treated with a combination of therapy including chemotherapy, surgical debulking, hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy, whole abdominal irradiation, and autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation following busulfan and melphalan conditioning. We find that this approach is well tolerated and may offer improved survival in patients with DSRCT.

The use of interval-compressed chemotherapy with the addition of vincristine, irinotecan, and temozolomide for pediatric patients with newly diagnosed desmoplastic small round cell tumor

BACKGROUND

Desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT) is a rare aggressive sarcoma that affects children and young adults, and portends poor outcomes despite intensive multimodal treatment approaches. We report toxicity, response, and outcomes of patients with DSRCT treated with the addition of vincristine, irinotecan, and temozolomide (VIT) to interval-compressed chemotherapy as per Children's Oncology Group ARST08P1.

METHODS

All newly diagnosed pediatric patients with DSRCT treated at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Boston Children's Hospital between 2014 and 2019 as per ARST08P1, Arm P2 with replacement of VAC cycles with VIT, were identified. Medical records were reviewed for clinical and disease characteristics, and treatment response and outcomes.

RESULTS

Six patients were treated as per the above regimen. Median age at diagnosis was 15.1 years (range 3.2-16.4) and five patients were male. Five patients had abdominal primary tumors, of which one had exclusively intraabdominal and four had extraabdominal metastases. Two initial cycles of VIT were well tolerated with nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation as the most common adverse events. Overall response rate defined as partial or complete response after two initial cycles of VIT was 50%. For local control, all patients had surgical resection followed by radiotherapy, and two patients received hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy at the time of surgery. Of the four patients who have completed therapy to date, three remain disease-free with median follow-up time of 46.7 months.

CONCLUSIONS

The addition of VIT to interval-compressed chemotherapy is tolerable and active in DSRCT, with activity warranting additional investigation.

Mini-Review on Targeted Treatment of Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor

Desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT) is a devastating disease which most commonly affects adolescents, with a male predominance. Despite the best multimodality treatment efforts, most patients will ultimately not survive more than 3-5 years after diagnosis. Some research trials in soft-tissue sarcoma and Ewing sarcoma include DSRCT patients but few studies have been tailored to the specific clinical needs and underlying cytogenetic abnormalities characterizing this disease such as the typical EWSR1-WT1 gene fusion. Downstream activation of EWSR1-WT1 gene fusion includes signaling pathways of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and insulin growth factor (IGF)-1. Other biological pathways that are activated and expressed in DSRCT cells include endothelial growth factor receptor (EGFR), androgen receptor pathway, c-KIT, MET, and transforming growth factor (TGF) beta. Investigation of somatic mutations, copy number alterations (CNA), and chromosomes in DSRCT samples suggests that deregulation of mesenchymal-epithelial reverse transition (MErT)/epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and DNA damage repair (DDR) may be important in DSRCT. This mini review looks at known druggable targets in DSRCT and existing clinical evidence for targeted treatments, particularly multityrosine kinase inhibitors such as pazopanib, imatinib, and sorafenib alone or in combination with other agents such as mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) inhibitors. The aim is to increase shared knowledge about current available treatments and identify gaps in research to further efforts toward clinical development of targeted agents.

Multimodality Treatment of Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor: Chemotherapy and Complete Cytoreductive Surgery Improve Patient Survival

Purpose: Desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT), which harbors EWSR1-WT1 t(11;22)(p13:q12) chromosomal translocation, is an aggressive malignancy that typically presents as intra-abdominal sarcomatosis in young males. Given its rarity, optimal treatment has not been defined.Experimental Design: We conducted a retrospective study of 187 patients with DSRCT treated at MD Anderson Cancer Center over 2 decades. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed. We determined whether chemotherapy, complete cytoreductive surgery (CCS), hyperthermic intraperitoneal cisplatin (HIPEC), and/or whole abdominal radiation (WART) improve overall survival (OS) in patients with DSRCT. Critically, because our institutional practice limits HIPEC and WART to patients with less extensive, potentially resectable disease that had benefited from neoadjuvant chemotherapy, a time-variant analysis was performed to evaluate those adjunct treatment modalities.Results: The pre-2003 5-year OS rate of 5% has substantially improved to 25% with the advent of newer chemotherapies and better surgical and radiotherapy techniques (HR, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.29-0.75). Chemotherapy response (log rank P = 0.004) and CCS (log rank P < 0.0001) were associated with improved survival. Although WART and HIPEC lacked statistical significance, our study was not powered to detect their potential impact upon OS.Conclusions: Improved 3- and 5-year OS were observed following multidisciplinary treatment that includes Ewing sarcoma (ES)-based chemotherapy and complete tumor cytoreductive surgery, but few if any patients are cured. Prospective randomized studies will be required to prove whether HIPEC or WART are important. In the meantime, chemotherapy and CCS remain the cornerstone of treatment and provide a solid foundation to evaluate new biologically targeted therapies. Clin Cancer Res; 24(19); 4865-73. ©2018 AACR.

Whole abdominopelvic radiotherapy in desmoplastic small round cell tumour of abdomen: a challenge for radiation oncologists

An adolescent patient diagnosed with disseminated abdominal desmoplastic small round cell tumour (DSRCT) was taken up for systemic chemotherapy, debulking surgery, stem cell transplant followed by whole abdominopelvic radiotherapy using intensity-modulated radiotherapy. Following this, the patient developed multiple episodes of small bowel obstruction, a known complication of abdominal surgery and radiotherapy. The patient expired due to the complications of bowel obstruction 13 months after the completion of radiotherapy. Though we managed to achieve a complete response at the disease sites with an aggressive therapeutic approach, the patient eventually succumbed to treatment-induced morbidity. Large prospective trials to define management guidelines taking into account quality of life issues may not be feasible for a rare and aggressive scenario such as DSRCT. Therefore, case reports and series reporting not just the treatment techniques and survival, but also the resultant toxicities, will make us vigilant when choosing the intensity of its treatment.

High-Dose Chemotherapy with Stem Cell Rescue in Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor: A Single-Institution Experience and Review of the Literature

Purpose

Desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT) is a rare cancer that predominantly affects males averaging 21 years of age at the time of diagnosis. We describe four cases from our institution and place them within the context of a comprehensive review of the literature.

Patients and Methods

Study population included any patient who received treatment at Children's Hospital at Montefiore (CHAM) with histologic diagnosis of DSRCT. A search of the electronic databases PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, and EMBASE for the terms “desmoplastic” AND “small” AND “round” AND “cell” AND “tumor” was performed.

Results

One CHAM patient died of disease at 39 months, one patient has relapsed disease at 40 months, and two patients have no evidence of disease at 60 and 91 months. In the literature review, the 3-year OS was 36% and 5-year OS was 13%. There was a statistically significant difference in OS between no transplant and SCT in remission (p=0.004); however, there was no difference between no transplant and SCT not in remission (p=0.23).

Conclusion

Given the poor prognosis in DSRCT, this study supports further prospective research into the possible benefit of consolidation of autologous SCT in patients with DSRCT who are in remission, with the alternative inference that these patients in remission may fare well without SCT. Our retrospective review of the literature does not support SCT for patients who are not in remission.

Treatment of Desmoplastic Small round Cell Tumor with Image-Guided Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy as a Component of Multimodality Treatment

Aims and background

The authors report the case of a 31-year-old black male diagnosed with a pelvic desmoplastic small round-cell tumor who was treated with a unique radiotherapy approach incorporating intensity-modulated radiotherapy and daily ultrasound localization to ensure accurate tumor targeting. Desmoplastic small round-cell tumor is a very rare tumor, most commonly presenting in the abdominopelvic regions of adolescents and young adults. It has generally been associated with a very poor prognosis.

Methods

The patient initially underwent biopsy of the mass and omentectomy for mesenteric implants followed by chemotherapy. Chemotherapy resulted in tumor shrinkage and was followed by a second-look laparotomy. Additional omental nodules were resected, but the primary tumor was adherent to the rectum and seminal vesicles. A radiation oncology consult was obtained, and a course of image-guided intensity-modulated radiotherapy ensued with daily ultrasound localization. This resulted in shrinkage of local disease, but a new lesion was identified. The patient was subsequently started on further chemotherapy, which has maintained the disease in a stable state for several months.

Conclusions

Image-guided intensity-modulated radiotherapy is a feasible option in the treatment of pelvic desmoplastic small round-cell tumor. Such therapy may permit escalation of conventional radiotherapy doses and could have a favorable impact on local control of disease. Confirmation of this belief will require additional data in the form of case reports like this. Pending such confirmation, we continue to be of the impression that desmoplastic small round-cell tumor has an overall unfavorable prognosis, regardless of treatment modalities employed.

Effective treatment of apatinib in desmoplastic small round cell tumor: a case report and literature review

BACKGROUND

Desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT) is a rare malignant sarcoma with poor prognosis due to lack of effective treatments. Apatinib is a new potent oral small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor, and targets the intracellular domain of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2). In this study, we presented a case of intra-abdominal DSRCT which was effectively treated by apatinib.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 32-year-old man was admitted due to increasing urination frequency and palpable mass in right lower abdomen for 2 months. The mass was resected and diagnosed DSRCT. The patient refused chemotherapy and radiotherapy,and used Chinese medicine only. Six months after the surgery, the patient re-hospitalized due to growing abdominal mass and ascites. Intraperitoneal cisplatin treatment showed little effect. Apatinib was then recommended. Apatinib revealed outstanding effect on reducing mass size and ascites during 2-month treatment. Apatinib therapy continued for additional 2 months, and the patient was in good condition. The only toxicity was hand-food syndrome, which was controllable and well tolerated.

CONCLUSION

It is the first report that apatinib is effective on DSRCT. This report may provide an additional option for the treatment of metastatic DSRCT.

Desmoplastic Small Round Blue Cell Tumor: A Review of Treatment and Potential Therapeutic Genomic Alterations

Desmoplastic small round blue cell tumors (DSRCTs) originate from a cell with multilineage potential. A molecular hallmark of DSRCT is the EWS-WT1 reciprocal translocation. Ewing sarcoma and DSRCT are treated similarly due to similar oncogene activation pathways, and DSRCT has been represented in very limited numbers in sarcoma studies. Despite aggressive therapy, median survival ranges from 17 to 25 months, and 5-year survival rates remain around 15%, with higher survival reported among those undergoing removal of at least 90% of tumor in the absence of extraperitoneal metastasis. Almost 100% of these tumors contain t(11;22) (p13;q12) translocation, and it is likely that EWS-WT1 functions as a transcription factor possibly through WT1 targets. While there is no standard protocol for this aggressive disease, treatment usually includes the neoadjuvant HD P6 regimen (high-dose cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and vincristine (HD-CAV) alternating with ifosfamide and etoposide (IE) chemotherapy combined with aggressively attempted R0 resection). We aimed to review the molecular characteristics of DSRCTs to explore therapeutic opportunities for this extremely rare and aggressive cancer type.

Molecular Changes Associated With Tumor Initiation and Progression of Soft Tissue Sarcomas: Targeting the Genome and Epigenome

Soft tissue sarcomas are rare, but generally aggressive tumors which disproportionately affect children and young adults. They represent less than 10% of all cancers, but are one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers in pediatric patients. These cancers have a high rate of morbidity and mortality, and their overall incidence has been increasing at an estimated rate of 26% over the last 2 decades. The cause of this increased incidence is unknown but various environmental factors have been implicated. Establishing standard therapeutic strategies is challenging for soft tissue sarcomas as more than 50 different histological subtypes exist, each with their own molecular alterations and clinical characteristics, and this combination of tumor heterogeneity and a limited number of clinical cases make detailed omics level molecular studies particularly challenging. This chapter will focus on the unique genetic and epigenetic changes which characterize these cancers, with an emphasis on translocation-associated sarcomas involving primary gene fusions with the RNA chaperone protein EWSR1. We will highlight current therapeutic approaches and discuss opportunities for targeted molecular therapeutics.

Clinical features and outcomes of 20 patients with abdominopelvic desmoplastic small round cell tumor

INTRODUCTION

Desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT) is a rare mesenchymal malignancy. We describe our experience with treating DSRCT at a large sarcoma referral center.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review was performed on DSRCT patients referred to our institution (1998-2014). Pathology specimens were reviewed to confirm the diagnosis. Clinical and imaging were extracted and summarized with descriptive statistics. Univariate analysis was performed to evaluate the association between patient, tumor, and treatment variables and overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

In this study cohort of 20 patients, median age at presentation was 29 y (range 18-43) and 90% were male. Fifty-five percent presented with metastasis. Patients underwent chemotherapy (n = 20), radiation therapy (n = 3), and cytoreductive surgery (CRS) (n = 5). Median OS was 22 m (interquartile range: 12-28 m). Five-year OS rate was 20%. Extra-abdominal metastasis was associated with a higher hazard ratio (HR) of mortality (HR: 3.1, 95% C.I. 1.0-9.4, p = 0.04), while CRS improved OS (HR: 0.1, 95% C.I. 0.03-0.7, p = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

Despite aggressive treatment, less than half of the patients were dead of DSRCT within 2 years of presentation. Although a select group of patients who underwent CRS had improved OS, novel treatments are urgently needed.

Management of desmoplastic small round cell tumor

Desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT) is a soft tissue sarcoma of mesenchymal cell origin that typically presents with multiple intra-abdominal tumors and exhibits a multi-phenotypic pattern of immunohistochemical staining. The specific organ or tissue type of origin has yet to be identified. DSRCT rarely arises as a singular tumor in the abdomen; in most cases, there are dozens to hundreds of abdominal peritoneal tumors that are detected on diagnosis. One very large dominant mass is usually present in the omentum, with an additional one or two large conglomerates of tumors in the pelvis and right peritoneum, respectively. Despite an often overwhelmingly large number of abdominal tumors, symptoms of bowel obstruction are rare. Ascites may be present. In late stages, pleural effusions, pleural implants, mediastinal adenopathy, supraclavicular adenopathy, or bone metastasis may be present. With this challenging disease, multidisciplinary therapy, including aggressive surgery, is warranted. This review will address DSRCT biology and treatment options and discuss outcomes.

Sister Mary Joseph nodule caused by metastatic desmoplastic small round cell tumor: A clinicopathological report

Sister Mary Joseph nodule is an uncommon metastatic intra-abdominal malignancy involving the umbilicus. The present study describes a rare case of desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT), histological grade 3, high grade, Gilly classification 4, stage IV, in an 18-year-old Thai man presenting with the Sister Mary Joseph nodule, ascites and pleural effusion. The histopathological examination of the umbilical mass revealed the presence of malignant small round cells associated with prominent stromal desmoplasia. Immunohistochemical stains showed positive reactivity to cytokeratin, desmin, neuron-specific enolase, Wilms' tumor 1, CD56, CD99 and SWI/SNF-related matrix-associated actin-dependent regulator of chromatin subfamily B member 1 (SMARCB1)/INI1 in the small round cells. Fine needle aspirations of the ascitic fluid and pleural effusion were performed, and immunocytochemistry revealed a metastatic DSRCT. The patient received a VDC/IE regimen of chemotherapy, comprising vincristine, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide alternating with ifosfamide and etoposide; however, the patient developed systemic metastasis and succumbed to the disease 6 months later.

Complete response of giant desmoplastic small round cell tumor treated with chemoradiotherapy: A case report

Desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT) is a rare tumor that mainly affects adolescents, and typically involves the abdominal and pelvic peritoneum. The present study reports one case of giant DSRCT, treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy, and reviews the available medical literature. A 38-year-old man presented with a 3-month history of pain in the left lower abdomen and nausea, associated with decreased appetite and weight loss. Computed tomography (CT) showed a 12.3×7.9 cm confluent solid mass in the lower abdomen and pelvic cavity. The patient underwent exploratory laparotomy and the final pathological diagnosis was DSRCT. Following laparotomy, the patient was treated with external beam radiotherapy to the whole abdomen and pelvis to a dose of 40 Gy plus a 20 Gy boost to the residual disease. The results indicated that synchronous chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, adriamycin and cisplatin combined with radiotherapy significantly improved locoregional control of DSRCT and a complete response, as measured by CT assessment 2 months subsequent to radiotherapy. In conclusion, DSRCT is a rare malignancy requiring multidisciplinary treatment, including surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The results of the present study confirm that radiotherapy has a significant role in the treatment of advanced abdominal DSRCT and may contribute to durable remission.

Desmoplastic small round cell tumor 20 years after its discovery

Desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT) was proposed as a distinct disease entity by William L Gerald and Juan Rosai in 1991. Over 850 patients have been reported in the medical literature. A specific translocation, t(11;22)(p13;q12), is seen in almost all cases, juxtaposing the EWS gene to the WT1 tumor suppressor gene. DSRCT is composed of nests of small round cells with polyphenotypic differentiation, typically a mixture of epithelial, mesenchymal and neural features, surrounded by a prominent desmoplastic stroma. DSRCT has a predilection for adolescent and young adult males, and primarily involves the abdominal cavity and pelvis. Survival is low despite their initial response to multimodal treatment. Most patients relapse with disseminated disease that is unresponsive to further therapy.

Survival and toxicity following sequential multimodality treatment including whole abdominopelvic radiotherapy for patients with desmoplastic small round cell tumor

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT) is a rare, aggressive malignancy. We report survival rates and toxicity associated with sequential multimodality treatment including whole abdominopelvic radiation therapy (WART).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Medical records of 32 patients with DSRCT treated at our institution were reviewed. Patients underwent chemotherapy, cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemoperfusion (HIPEC), followed by WART with intensity-modulated radiation or volumetric-modulated arc therapy.

RESULTS

Median overall survival (OS) was 60months. After 18months of follow-up, 20 patients (62.5%) had disease recurrence and median disease-free survival (DFS) was 10months. Median time to extrahepatic abdominal failure was 19.4months. Factors affecting time to local progression included liver metastases at diagnosis, and an interval of greater than 5.6months between diagnosis and HIPEC or greater than 2.1months between HIPEC and WART. None of these factors altered OS. Grade 3 or higher toxicities occurred in 84% of patients.

CONCLUSIONS

WART following chemotherapy, surgical cytoreduction and HIPEC is an aggressive treatment for DSRCT patients and can result in severe side effects. Our median OS of 5years is favorable compared to prior studies, despite a median DFS of only 10months, which may be due to improved salvage therapies.

Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor (DSRCT): an Unusual Intra-abdominal Tumor

Desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT) is a rare intra-abdominal tumor commonly seen in adolescents and young adult males. It is an important differential diagnosis in these patients presenting with abdominal masses and/or GI obstruction. The management and prognosis improve if preoperative diagnosis can be established.

Multimodal treatment of abdominal and pelvic desmoplastic small round cell tumor with relative good prognosis

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the clinicopathologic features and survival outcomes of desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSCRT).

METHODS

The retrospective cohort study was performed on clinical and pathological data of 18 DSCRT patients. Among them, two subgroups were classified according to treatment modalities. 10 cases underwent operation and adjuvant chemotherapy (group 1, 10/18, 55.6%) and 8 cases were diagnosed by fine needle aspiration biopsy without surgical intervention (group 2, 8/18, 44.4%). All cases received six courses of multiple agents chemotherapy.

RESULTS

All cases were histologically confirmed as DSRCT and Cox regression revealed that sex, tumor localization and treatment modality affected patient outcomes. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that the median survival time was 22.0 ± 4.0 mo in group 1 versus 9.0 ± 0.7 mo in group 2.

CONCLUSION

DSRCT is highly aggressive malignance with poor prognosis, surgical excision with combination of chemotherapy can significantly improve the survival outcomes.

Desmoplastic small round cell tumor of the abdomen and pelvis: clinicopathological characters of 12 cases

Purpose. To study the clinical, radiological, and pathological characteristics of abdominal desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT) and investigate the optimal therapy modalities. Patients and Methods. A retrospective cohort study was performed on 12 abdominal DSRCT patients; all pathological, radiological, and prognostic data were analyzed. There were 3 patients (25%) with metastatic disease at presentation. In all 12 cases, 6 cases underwent operation and adjuvant chemotherapy (group 1, 6/12, 50%). The other 6 cases were diagnosed by fine needle aspiration or exploratory laparotomy biopsy (group 2, 6/12, 50%); all cases received four to six courses of multiple agents chemotherapy, respectively. Results. All cases were finally diagnosed as DSRCT pathologically. Among group 1, all cases underwent en bloc resection (2/6, 33%) or tumor debulking (4/6, 67%) and, following four courses of multiple agents chemotherapy, Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that 3-year survival was 50% in group 1 versus 16.7% in group 2 (P < 0.05). Gross tumor resection was highly significant in prolonging overall survival; patients with localized solitary lesion have a better prognosis, most likely due to increased feasibility of resection. Conclusions. DSRCT is a rare malignant tumor with poor prognosis. Surgical excision with combination chemotherapy as an adjunct is mandatory for nonmetastatic cases because these modalities used in isolation may have less impact.

Clinical and computed tomography features of adult abdominopelvic desmoplastic small round cell tumor

To investigate the clinical and computed tomography (CT) features of desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT), we retrospectively analyzed the clinical presentations, treatment and outcome, as well as CT manifestations of four cases of DSRCT confirmed by surgery and pathology. The CT manifestations of DSRCT were as follows: (1) multiple soft-tissue masses or diffuse peritoneal thickening in the abdomen and pelvis, with the dominant mass usually located in the pelvic cavity; (2) masses without an apparent organ-based primary site; (3) mild to moderate homogeneous or heterogeneous enhancement in solid area on enhanced CT; and (4) secondary manifestations, such as ascites, hepatic metastases, lymphadenopathy, hydronephrosis and hydroureter. The prognosis and overall survival rates were generally poor. Commonly used treatment strategies including aggressive tumor resection, polychemotherapy, and radiotherapy, showed various therapeutic effects. CT of DSRCT shows characteristic features that are helpful in diagnosis. Early discovery and complete resection, coupled with postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy, are important for prognosis of DSRCT. Whole abdominopelvic rather than locoregional radiotherapy is more effective for unresectable DSRCT.

Desmoplastic small round cell tumour: characteristics and prognostic factors of 41 patients and review of the literature

Background

Desmoplastic small round cell tumour (DSRCT) is a rare but frequently fatal sarcoma, and many of its characteristics still require further clarification.

Methods

We retrospectively analysed 41 patients treated at or referred to two regional referral centres in the UK between 1991 and 2012. A review of the current literature was also performed.

Results

The median age of presentation was 27 years (range 16 to 45 years), with a male-to-female ratio of 3:1. Ninety percent of patients had disease in the abdomen. The median size of the presenting tumour was 13 cm (range 3.5 to 23 cm), and 80% had metastatic disease at diagnosis, mainly in the liver (33%) and lungs (21%). Time-to-progression (TTP) was 3.9, 2.3 and 1.1 months after first-, second- and third-line chemotherapy, respectively. First-line treatment with VIDE chemotherapy appeared to confer the longest TTP (median 14.6 months). Ifosfamide and doxorubicin resulted in TTP of >3.8 months when used in any-line setting. Eleven patients received targeted agents as part of a clinical trial. After a median follow-up of 14 months, the overall median survival (MS) was 16 months. There was no difference in MS with regards to age, gender, or size of the presenting tumour. Patients with extra-abdominal disease survived longer compared to those with tumours in the abdomen (all still alive vs MS of 15 months; P = 0.0246). Patients with non-metastatic intra-abdominal disease who underwent surgery had an MS of 47 months (16 months for those who did not have surgery; P = 0.0235). Radiotherapy for locoregional control in patients with metastatic intra-abdominal DSRCT was associated with longer survival (MS of 47 vs 14 months; P = 0.0147).

Conclusions

DSRCT is a rare but often fatal disease that mainly affects younger male patients. Those with intra-abdominal DSRCT have a poorer prognosis, although surgical resection for localised disease and radiotherapy in the metastatic setting are associated with improved survival. A patient’s age, gender and size of presenting tumour do not have prognostic significance.

Reduced toxicity with intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT): an update on the whole abdominopelvic radiation therapy (WAP-RT) experience

PURPOSE

Desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT) is a rare malignancy typically involving the peritoneum in young men. Whole abdominopelvic radiation therapy (WAP-RT) using conventional 2-dimensional (2D) radiation therapy (RT) is used to address local recurrence but has been limited by toxicity. Our objectives were to assess the benefit of intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) on toxicity and to update the largest series on radiation for DSRCT.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

The records of 31 patients with DSRCT treated with WAP-RT (22 with 2D-RT and 9 with IMRT) between 1992 and 2011 were retrospectively reviewed. All received multi-agent chemotherapy and maximal surgical debulking followed by 30 Gy of WAP-RT. A further focal boost of 12 to 24 Gy was used in 12 cases. Boost RT and autologous stem cell transplantation were nearly exclusive to patients treated with 2D-RT. Toxicities were assessed with the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events. Dosimetric analysis compared IMRT and simulated 2D-RT dose distributions.

RESULTS

Of 31 patients, 30 completed WAP-RT, with a median follow-up after RT of 19 months. Acute toxicity was reduced with IMRT versus 2D-RT: P=.04 for gastrointestinal toxicity of grade 2 or higher (33% vs 77%); P=.02 for grade 4 hematologic toxicity (33% vs 86%); P=.01 for rates of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor; and P=.04 for rates of platelet transfusion. Post treatment red blood cell and platelet transfusion rates were also reduced (P=.01). IMRT improved target homogeneity ([D05-D95]/D05 of 21% vs 46%) and resulted in a 21% mean bone dose reduction. Small bowel obstruction was the most common late toxicity (23% overall). Updated 3-year overall survival and progression-free survival rates were 50% and 24%, respectively. Overall survival was associated with distant metastasis at diagnosis on multivariate analysis. Most failures remained intraperitoneal (88%).

CONCLUSIONS

IMRT for consolidative WAP-RT in DSRCT improves hematologic toxicity in particular. Although the long-term efficacy of current treatment options remains disappointing, the improved therapeutic index of IMRT may aid in generalizing its use and allowing the addition of novel approaches such as intraperitoneal immunotherapy.

Metastatic desmoplastic small round cell tumor controlled by an anthracycline-based regimen: review of the role of chemotherapy

Desmoplastic small round cell tumors (DSRCT) are rare and aggressive malignant neoplasms that usually occur in young males. They usually present intraabdominally with widespread peritoneal involvement at diagnosis and are sometimes associated with lymphadenopathies and liver metastases. Intraabdominal DSRCT is usually disseminated; no curative outcome has yet been achieved. We report a case of metastatic intraabdominal DSRCT controlled by an anthracycline-based regimen. A literature review of the treatment options, mainly chemotherapy, available for this unusual neoplasm, will be discussed. In patients with unresectable or metastatic disease, symptom control is most important because treatment modalities minimally impact survival. Palliative chemotherapy (mainly monotherapy) is preferable.

Mediastinal mass-a rare presentation of desmoplastic small round cell tumour

Primary mediastinal desmoplastic small round cell cancer is an uncommon tumour usually located in the abdomen and pelvis. Here the authors report an extremely rare case of a young male with a primary desmoplastic small round cell tumour in the anterior and middle mediastinum. The patient had non-specific complaints but an abnormal shadow was seen in a routine chest x-ray. He was diagnosed as having mediastinal mass with few lung parenchymal deposits on CT. Mediastinoscopy and guided biopsy revealed desmoplastic small round cell tumour. Desmoplastic small round cell tumour is a rare and aggressive tumour which rarely involves the mediastinum as a primary site. The nature of the lesion and its prognosis were explained to the patient. He was offered chemotherapy and radiotherapy for the tumour management. He refused treatment and left against medical advice.

Whole abdominopelvic intensity-modulated radiation therapy for desmoplastic small round cell tumor after surgery

PURPOSE

Desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSCRT) is an uncommon pediatric tumor with a poor prognosis. Aggressive multimodality therapy is the current treatment approach; however. treatment toxicity is of concern. We report our results with whole abdominopelvic intensity-modulated radiation therapy (WAP-IMRT) as a component of multimodality therapy for DSCRT at a single institution.

MATERIALS/METHODS

Medical records of all patients with DSCRT who received WAP-IMRT as part of definitive treatment at MD Anderson (2006-2010) were identified and reviewed.

RESULTS

Eight patients with DSRCT received WAP-IMRT with a median follow-up of 15.2 months. All patients received multiple courses of chemotherapy followed by surgical debulking of intra-abdominal disease; seven also had intraoperative hyperthermic cisplatin. WAP-IMRT was delivered to a total dose of 30 Gy postoperatively; four patients received a simultaneous boost (6-10 Gy) to sites of gross residual disease. Seven patients received concurrent chemotherapy during WAP-IMRT. No Radiation Therapy Oncology Group Grade 4 nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea occurred during RT. Red-cell transfusions were given to two patients to maintain hemoglobin levels >10 g/dL. Grade 4 cytopenia requiring growth factor support occurred in only one patient; no other significant cytopenias were noted. WAP-IMRT resulted in 25% lower radiation doses to the lumbosacral vertebral bodies and pelvic bones than conventional RT plans. The median time to local or distant failure after WAP-IMRT was 8.73 months in seven patients. One patient who had completed RT 20 months before the last follow-up remains alive without evidence of disease. Five patients (63%) experienced treatment failure in the abdomen. Distant failure occurred in three patients (37.5%).

CONCLUSIONS

WAP-IMRT with concurrent radiosensitizing chemotherapy was well tolerated after aggressive surgery for DSCRT. Enhanced bone sparing with IMRT probably accounts for the low hematologic toxicity (vs. conventional WAP-RT). This modality should be considered as an additional local-regional control option for DSRCT.

Intra-abdominal desmoplastic small round cell tumor: Presentation of four cases and review of the literature

Desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT) of the abdomen is a recently identified aggressive neoplasm. Very few cases have been reported in the literature. Thus, the treatment guidelines are yet to be defined. The role of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery is evolving. We treated four cases of DSRCT involving the abdomen using combination chemotherapy and/or tumor cytoreductive surgery. There were two men and two women. The chemotherapy drugs consisted of cisplatin, adriamycin, etoposide, ifosphamide, vincristine and cyclophsophamide. All patients achieved meaningful partial response to chemotherapy, which maintained for 6–9 months. There were very minimal chemotherapy-related complications. At the time of reporting, the median survival time was 15 months. Thus, DSRCT is an aggressive intra-abdominal tumor with excellent chemoresponsiveness, but relapse is frequent.

Clinical tolerance in large field radiotherapy--the knowledge gained over the last ten years

Malignant disorders are still far from being successfully managed in spite of the apparent progress achieved by surgical treatment, high energy radiotherapy (RT) and chemotherapy (CHT). They keep being the second most frequent cause of lethal outcomes both in Bulgaria and in most countries of the world. One of the promising approaches to increasing the efficaciousness of treatment is development and use of methods that are in full accord with the modern requirements of a complex therapy. Over the last fifty years, large field radiation techniques, applied as systemic therapy in oncology, have been investigated and established. These techniques show the transition in oncology to using actively various variants of large field radiotherapy (LFR), the "heavy artillery" of oncoradiologic practice, as an alternative or adjunct therapy to chemotherapy (CHT). In the present paper we review the current knowledge in the field and present the clinical experience accumulated over the last ten years with respect to clinical tolerance in the major large-field radiotherapy techniques--total body irradiation, half body irradiation, whole abdominal irradiation, total and partial lymphoid irradiation. Described in detail are the contemporary knowledge about clinical and hematologic tolerance in total body irradiation as part of the myelo- and nonmyeloablative conditioning regimens as well as in half body irradiation as a systemic therapy in oncology. We also present the amassed experience in clinical tolerance in partial body irradiation in the form of whole abdominal and total or partial lymphoid irradiation. Another point worth noting based again on the experience gained over the last ten years is that for LFR we need to develop a radiotherapy technique that is designed carefully to achieve an optimal therapeutic effect that should include the disease control, good clinical tolerance and reduction of post-radiotherapy sequelae.

[Paratesticular desmoplastic small round cell tumour: case report with literature review]

Desmoplastic small round cell tumors are rare aggressive cancers of adolescence and early adulthood. It has recently been separated from other small round cell tumors because of its pathological characteristics and clinical features. They are usually intra-abdominal tumors affecting young people and have classically been associated with a bad prognosis. However, in recent years there have been reports on desmoplastic small round cell tumors affecting other body regions, including the paratesticular area. We report the case of a 27-year-old male who consulted on a progressive enlargement of the right hemiscrotum. He referred no previous urological symptoms and had no systemic symptomatology. Physical examination revealed a round elastic firm 1-cm mass of the epididymis, which was excised. A computed tomography scan showed a para-aortic mass of 1cm. Histological and immunohistochemical diagnosis confirmed a desmoplastic small round cell tumor. The patient received chemotherapy. Today, 6 months after diagnosis the patient remains well and free of disease. Recent reviews on desmoplastic small round cell tumors affecting the paratesticular area have shown a better prognosis for tumors of this origin compared to abdominal ones. We should include this lesion among the differential diagnosis of paratesticular tumors, mainly in children and adolescents.

A case of desmoplastic small round cell tumor diagnosed in a young female patient

Desmoplastic small round cell tumor is a very rare malignancy. We report the case of a 26-year-old woman who suffered from dyspepsia and abdominal pain for 2 months. We performed an endoscopic biopsy of the duodenal mass and diagnosed her disease as desmoplastic small round cell tumor using immunohistochemical staining, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Because the mass invaded the pancreas and superior mesenteric vein as well as duodenum and the disease was disseminated to liver and peritoneum, she received palliative chemotherapy using vincristine, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide, and etoposide. The maximal response to chemotherapy was stable disease. The patient expired 9 months after diagnosis.

Current concepts and future perspectives in retroperitoneal soft-tissue sarcoma management

Retroperitoneal soft-tissue sarcomas are complex, heterogeneous cancers requiring expert multidisciplinary care. They can occur anywhere in the retroperitoneal abdominal or pelvic space. Usually large at presentation they present particular challenges for both local treatment and systemic control. The most common adult subtypes are liposarcomas and leiomyosarcomas, followed by pleomorphic sarcoma/malignant fibros histiocytoma (an entity not always easily distinguishable from dedifferentiated liposarcoma). A variety of additional histotypes may also be observed, but are uncommon in the retroperitoneum, either because of intrinsic rarity or because they are usually found in other anatomic sites. The underlying biology varies according to the different histotypes. Pediatric subtypes mainly comprise extraskeletal Ewing sarcoma/pPNET and alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. Surgery is critical for controlling these tumors and requires an aggressive approach. It may also provide useful palliation for patients with advanced slow-growing disease. Radiotherapy has acquired a definite position in attempting to reduce relapse, although prospective trials of adjuvant or neoadjuvant radiotherapy are needed. Chemotherapy has a limited role in the adjuvant setting for most forms of retroperitoneal sarcoma (excluding pediatric subtypes), but has an increasing role in advanced disease. Novel targeted therapeutic agents that target specific amplification or translocation products offer promise for subsets of these diseases.

Intra-abdominal desmoplastic small round cell tumour in a 39-year-old man

Desmoplastic small round cell tumor is a very rare neoplasm, that usually appears in children and young adolescents. There is no standard therapy, and responses to chemotherapy are infrequent. Surgery is still the main treatment for this disease. We report the case of a 39 year-old man and briefly summarize the evidence about this tumor.

Current approach to pediatric soft tissue sarcomas

The development of a new soft tissue lesion in an otherwise healthy child, adolescent, or young adult can present many challenges for pediatric or medical oncology teams. Although uncommon, the diagnosis of a soft tissue malignancy should always be considered in the differential diagnosis of persistent pain, even if no mass is palpable. The definitive diagnosis and treatment of a soft tissue mass is aided by timely scans, appropriate biopsy for anatomic and molecular pathology, and a treatment approach guided by the specific diagnosis. Because pediatric soft tissue sarcomas are rare, cooperative groups play a crucial role in defining the standard of care through retrospective series and well-designed prospective clinical trials. Enrollment of newly diagnosed patients in clinical studies should be encouraged in order to continue to improve outcomes and understanding of these rare tumors. This review focuses on the current recommendations for management of sarcomas that typically occur in the soft tissues of pediatric and young adult patients.

[Desmoplastic small round cell tumour of the pancreas with breast metastasis]

Desmoplastic small round cell tumour (DSRCT) is a very rare, highly aggressive neoplasm. Most cases have been reported in adolescent and young male patients. These tumours occur mainly in the peritoneal cavity, with peritoneal and lymphatic dissemination. Their histologic features are unspecific and immunohistochemistry and cytogenetic or biomolecular techniques are required for their diagnosis. Involvement of the pancreas is exceptional and is difficult to differentiate from other pancreatic primary tumours. We report here the case of a 49-year-old woman who had a DSRCT of the pancreas with metastasis to the breast. She died within one year after the diagnosis despite an aggressive surgical strategy.

Desmoplastic small round cell tumor: a clinical, pathological, and immunohistochemical study of 18 Chinese cases

Desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT) was first reported in 1989. Generally, DSRCT is considered to be an aggressive malignant neoplasm that mainly occurs in the abdominal cavity and has been often seen in adolescents and young male adults. In the present study, a total of 18 cases of DSRCT reported in China between October 1998 and June 2006, including one case treated by the authors, were reviewed and analyzed. Among them, 14 had tumors in the abdominal cavity; the other four cases had tumors in the left fossa orbitalis, the root of the tongue, the soft tissue behind the left eyeball, and the abdominal wall (umbilicus). Overall, the 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year survival rates were 52.36%, 27.92%, and 27.92%, respectively. The survival rate of DSRCT patients is disappointing; however, the survival of patients who had resection of the tumor or received comprehensive clinical treatment is satisfactory.

Desmoplastic small round cell tumour: a review of literature and treatment options

INTRODUCTION

Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumour (DSRCT) is a rare but aggressive malignancy with poor outcome.

AIMS

To review the clinico-pathological features and radiological, histological and tumour markers of the disease and to evaluate the evidence for treatment options available.

METHODS

We report a clinical case from our centre and have conducted a review of the literature from Medline (Pubmed) database from 1989 to 2007.

RESULTS

DSRCT typically presents with advanced disease and is prevalent in young males. Lack of staging criteria and small numbers of patients make comparison of evidence for its treatment difficult.

CONCLUSION

Surgical excision is only recommended for non-metastatic disease with combination chemo-radiotherapy as an adjunct. These modalities used in isolation may have less impact. Furthermore, the side effect profile from radiotherapy may outweigh any survival benefit. For advanced disease, symptom control is most important as these modalities impact survival minimally and palliation of secondary symptoms is paramount. Multi-disciplinary team and specialist centre review for histology and oncology are essential in managing this disease process and will enable greater numbers of patients to be enrolled into therapeutic trials and future evolving therapies.

Response to vinorelbine and low-dose cyclophosphamide chemotherapy in two patients with desmoplastic small round cell tumor

We report two cases of abdominal desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT) that showed a clinical response to the vinorelbine/low-dose cyclophosphamide combination that has been claimed to be effective for rhabdomyosarcoma. This observation may prompt further investigation into the activity of such a regimen in DSRCT patients with recurrent or refractory disease, with a view to a possible future role as maintenance therapy in controlling minimal residual disease in patients who achieve complete remission with intensive induction multimodality therapy.