Adenosarcoma of the uterus: a clinicopathologic, DNA flow cytometric, p53 and mdm-2 analysis of 11 cases

Data Set for Reporting of Uterine Malignant and Potentially Malignant Mesenchymal Tumors: Recommendations From the International Collaboration on Cancer Reporting (ICCR)

The International Collaboration on Cancer Reporting (ICCR) seeks to produce standardized, evidence-based protocols for the reporting of tumors with the aim of ensuring that all cancer reports generated worldwide will be of similar high quality and record the same elements. Herein, we describe the development of the data set for the reporting of uterine malignant and potentially malignant mesenchymal tumors by a panel of expert pathologists and a single clinician and provide the commentary and rationale for the inclusion of core and noncore elements. This data set, which incorporates the recent updates from the 5th edition of the World Health Organization Classification of Female Genital Tumors, addresses several subjects of debate including which mesenchymal tumors should be graded, how to document extent of invasion, mitotic counts, and the role of ancillary testing in tumor diagnosis and patient management. The inclusion of elements is evidence-based or based on consensus of the expert panel with clinical relevance being the guiding standard.

Epidemiology of adenosarcoma and the inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) adjusted survival analysis of lymph node dissection in uterine adenosarcoma

The objective for the study was to analysis the epidemiology of adenosarcoma, and independent prognostic factors and impact of lymph node dissection (LND) of uterine adenosarcoma. Cases of patients with primary adenosarcoma were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database from 2000 to 2016. Overall survival was analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. The differences in baseline covariates between the 2 groups were adjusted by inverse probability of treatment weighting method. The prognostic factors were identified by univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis and hazard ratio and 95% confidence interval (CI) of covariates were also estimated. 1129 patients with pathological primary adenosarcoma between 2000 and 2016 were identified from the surveillance, epidemiology, and end results database. The only 4 patients were male. 1027 patients with primary uterine adenosarcoma, and 53.1% underwent LND and only 3.5% patients were with positive lymph node. Age, marital status, largest tumor size, tumor grade, T stage and chemotherapy were significantly correlated with survival. Race, tumor number, LND, and radiotherapy did not affect overall survival in patients. Inverse probability of treatment weighting-adjusted K-M curve showed that LND did not improve survival and lymph node metastasis (LNM) did not affect survival. The majority of primary adenosarcoma patients are female with high incidence of uterus and rare incidence of distant metastasis. Age, marital status, tumor size, T stage, grade, and chemotherapy are independent prognostic factors of uterine adenosarcoma. LNM was not a significant prognostic risk factor, and LND did not benefit survival.

The Overexpression of Programmed Death-Ligand 2 in Uterine Adenosarcoma: Correlation with High-Grade Morphology, Mutant Type TP53 Expression and Clinical Outcomes

Immunotherapy involving the programmed death-1 (PD-1)/the programmed death-ligand (PD-1/PD-L) blockade is an understudied tumor therapy approach in cases of adenosarcoma. PD-L1 and PD-L2, and tumor protein p53 (p53) were examined in 20 uterine adenosarcoma cases, and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and tumor-associated macrophages were counted in tumor tissue using immunohistochemistry. While CPS PD-L1 positivity with 1% and 10% cut-off values was observed in 40% and 10% of tumors, respectively, CPS PD-L2 positivity with 1%, 10% and 50% cut-off values was observed in 100%, 85% and 50% of the tumors, respectively. The CPS PD-L2 positivity with a 50% cut-off value was positively correlated with tumor grade and the presence of sarcomatous overgrowth and lymphovascular invasion (LVI) (p = 0.025, p = 0.025, and p = 0.025, respectively). Nine of 11 high-grade adenosarcomas and none of the low-grade adenosarcomas showed mutant type p53 expression (p = 0.000). However, PD-L1 expression and tumor-infiltrating immune cells did not correlate with clinicopathological parameters. The CPS PD-L2 positivity with a 50% cut-off value was also positively correlated with mutant type p53 expression (p = 0.024) and tumor-associated macrophages density (p = 0.024). The CPS PD-L2 positivity with a 50% cut-off value and mutant type p53 expression were associated with shorter disease-free survival and shorter overall survival. The high density of tumor-associated macrophages and low density of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes were also associated with shorter disease-free survival and overall survival (p < 0.05).These results suggested that the CPS PD-L2 positivity with a 50% cut-off value, p53 mutation and tumor microenvironment played an essential role in the progression of uterine adenosarcomas.

Case Report: Uterine Adenosarcoma With Sarcomatous Overgrowth and Malignant Heterologous Elements

A 46- year-old woman presented a uterine adenosarcoma originating in the lower uterine segment. The diagnosis was made in an endometrial biopsy and confirmed in the pathological examination of the complete surgical specimen, both identifying heterologous malignant elements. In addition, complementary immunohistochemical studies were performed. We reviewed the literature, illustrating the clinical and morphological characteristics and the differential diagnoses to be evaluated.

Gynecological Sarcomas: Molecular Characteristics, Behavior, and Histology-Driven Therapy

Gynecological sarcomas represent 3% to 4% of all gynecological malignancies and 13% of all sarcomas. The uterus is the most frequent primary site (83%); less frequently sarcomas are diagnosed originating from the ovary (8%), vulva and vagina (5%), and other gynecologic organs (2%). As the classification of gynecologic sarcomas continues to diversify, so does the management. Accurate histopathologic diagnosis, utilizing appropriate ancillary immunohistochemical and molecular analysis, could lead to a more personalized approach. However, there are subtypes that require further definition, with regard to putative predictive markers and optimal management. The aim of this review is to highlight the importance of accurate diagnosis and classification of gynecologic sarcoma subtypes by the surgical pathologist in order to provide more tailored systemic treatment, and to highlight the increasing importance of close collaboration between the pathologist and the oncologist.

Whole-Genome Sequencing and Target Validation Analysis of Müllerian Adenosarcoma: A Tumor With Complex but Specific Genetic Alterations

Mullerian adenosarcoma (MAS) is a biphasic tumor with malignant stroma. It is most commonly of endometrial origin but occasionally originates in the cervix, ovary, or other pelvic/peritoneal sites. The typical MAS is low grade with an indolent clinical course; however, tumors with sarcomatous overgrowth (SO) or a high-grade sarcoma tend to be aggressive. Tumor etiology is largely unknown. To better understand the global genome alterations and gene mutations in MAS, whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and target validation analysis were performed. MAS showed remarkable chromosome (chr) copy number variation (CNV), specifically, gains in chr 1q, 5p, 12p, 12q, and 17q and losses in chr 3p, 3q, 9p, and 11q. Gain of chr 12q13-15 was present in 50% of cases. The selected gene products in gain regions were upregulated as measured by immunohistochemistry. HMGA2 overexpression was significantly correlated with SO. While the structural variation (SV) rate was relatively low overall, a disproportionally high rate of break-ends at chr 7 was noted involving 6 in-frame rearrangement fusion genes. Among 40 frequently mutated genes detected by WGS and validated in 29 MAS by next generation sequencing (NGS), KMT2C, and BCOR were frequently seen in MAS both with and without SO, while MAGEC1 and KDM6B were strongly associated with SO. Overall, a higher rate of frequently mutated genes was found in MAS with SO (33%) than MAS without (11%). This study uncovers the complex and specific genetic alterations in this malignancy. The findings provide a tool for future investigation of these molecular changes in tumorigenesis and target therapies.

Prognostic factors for uterine adenosarcoma: a review

INTRODUCTION

Uterine adenosarcoma is a rare tumor with both epithelial and stromal components. Standard treatment is total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. There is no defined role for adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy or radiation. There is a misconception that this is an indolent, low-grade sarcoma. In fact, at least 50% of patients will develop disease recurrence. Establishing prognostic factors is of paramount importance. Areas covered: This article reviews the current literature regarding adenosarcoma prognostic factors from case reports, case series, and retrospective series. An extensive review of the literature was undertaken via PubMed and Medline searches, relevant articles are included in this review. Expert commentary: The most important prognostic factors of uterine adenosarcoma are age, presence of sarcomatous overgrowth, presence of myometrial invasion, presence of lymphovascular invasion, and lymph node involvement. These factors can be used to accurately prognosticate for uterine adenosarcoma patients. Patients at low risk of disease recurrence can be identified. These patients require observation alone. Patients at high risk of disease recurrence can be identified and are candidates for aggressive therapy with adjuvant chemotherapy to reduce the risk of disease recurrence.

The Importance of Lymphovascular Invasion in Uterine Adenosarcomas: Analysis of Clinical, Prognostic, and Treatment Outcomes

Objective

This retrospective study examined the clinicopathologic features of adenosarcoma patients to determine potential prognostic factors and retrospectively evaluated overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and local recurrence-free survival (LRFS) after primary treatment of adenosarcoma including surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.

Methods

One hundred sixty-five patients with adenosarcoma were identified from the MD Anderson Cancer Center tumor registry between 1982 and 2014. Clinical data were collected retrospectively. Pathologic characteristics were examined by sarcoma pathologists. We used the Kaplan-Meier method to estimate OS, DFS, and LRFS. The log-rank test was performed to test the difference in survival between groups. Multivariate regression analyses of survival data were conducted using the Cox proportional hazards model.

Results

Median OS and DFS for all patients were 8.5 and 4.7 years, respectively. Pathologic characteristics that influence OS and DFS were sarcomatous overgrowth (SO), myometrial invasion (MI), lymphovascular invasion (LVI), tumor size, number of mitosis, estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage, age, and resection status. Median OS for adenosarcoma patients with SO was 5.2 versus 14.5 years for patients without SO (P < 0.0001). Median OS for adenosarcoma patients with MI was 5.8 years versus not reached for patients without MI (P = 0.0005). Median OS for adenosarcoma patients with LVI was 1.0 versus 8.9 years for patients without LVI (P = 0.0021). On Cox analysis for OS and DFS and LRFS, only SO, MI, LVI, age, resection status, and FIGO stage remained significant. There was no difference in OS or LRFS for adjuvant radiation versus no adjuvant radiation (P = 0.17, P = 0.076).

Conclusions

This study highlights the importance of LVI as a prognostic factor and confirms the prognostic significance of SO, MI, age, resection status, and FIGO stage for adenosarcoma. Furthermore, this study suggests that there is no additional benefit to adjuvant radiation. The standard-of-care treatment for adenosarcoma should remain total abdominal hysterectomy bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy +/− lymphadenectomy and no adjuvant radiation.

Treatment of Recurrent or Metastatic Uterine Adenosarcoma

Purpose

This study retrospectively evaluated overall survival (OS) by treatment of recurrent or metastatic uterine adenosarcoma including surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and hormonal therapy and evaluated OS and progression-free survival (PFS) after 1st line systemic chemotherapy.

Methods

78 patients with recurrent or metastatic adenosarcoma comprised the study population. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate OS and PFS. The log-rank test was performed to test the difference in survival between groups.

Results

Median OS from diagnosis of recurrent or metastatic disease was 1.8 yrs. OS was influenced by pathology on recurrence, p=0.035. Median OS differed by surgery for 1st recurrence 26.3 months versus 15.1 months. OS was not influenced by chemotherapy, p=0.58, palliative radiation, p=0.58, or hormonal therapy, p=0.15. The response rate (CR + PR) per RECIST 1.1 for chemotherapy was 31.2% for doxorubicin-based regimens and 14.3% for gemcitabine/docetaxel. OS since 1st line chemotherapy was not significantly different among chemotherapy regimens. However, the median PFS was superior for doxorubicin/ifosfamide (15.4 months) compared to gemcitabine/docetaxel (5.0 months), platinum-based regimens (5.7 mo), or other doxorubicin-based regimens (6.5 months).

Conclusion

These results suggest that surgery is an important treatment modality for recurrent or metastatic uterine adenosarcoma, and the most effective chemotherapeutics are doxorubicin/ifosfamide and gemcitabine/docetaxel.

Uterine Adenosarcoma: a Review

Adenosarcomas are rare malignancies of the female genital tract, accounting for approximately 5 % of uterine sarcomas. Occasionally, adenosarcoma occurs in the ovaries or in extra-uterine tissue, which may be related to endometriosis. These tumors are characterized by benign epithelial elements and a malignant mesenchymal component. Pathologic diagnosis is dependent on the identification of the characteristic morphologic features. The most common immunohistochemical markers for adenosarcoma are CD10 and WT1, but these are not specific. The most frequent presenting symptom is abnormal uterine bleeding. The majority of patients present with stage I disease, with a 5-year overall survival of 60 to 80 %. Survival is influenced by the presence of myometrial invasion, sarcomatous overgrowth, lymphovascular invasion, necrosis, and the presence of heterologous elements including rhabdomyoblastic differentiation. Patients with sarcomatous overgrowth have significantly increased risk of recurrence 23 versus 77 % and decreased 5-year overall survival 50 to 60 %. Standard of care treatment is total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy without lymphadenectomy, as the incidence of lymph node metastasis is rare. Retrospective data does not support the use of adjuvant pelvic radiotherapy in uterine adenosarcomas as no survival benefit is seen. Insufficient data exists to recommend routinely neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy for uterine adenosarcomas. Limited evidence exists for the role of hormonal therapy in uterine adenosarcomas. The PIK3/AKT/PTEN pathway is mutated in ∼70 % of adenosarcomas, and this may represent a possible therapeutic target. This article reviews the current state of knowledge concerning uterine adenosarcoma and discusses the management of this rare tumor.

Müllerian Adenosarcoma of the Urinary Bladder: Clinicopathologic and Immunohistochemical Features With Novel Genetic Aberrations

BACKGROUND

Müllerian adenosarcoma is a biphasic neoplasm most commonly occurring in the uterus and less frequently of the ovary. It has been rarely described to occur in other sites such as peritoneum and liver.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In this study, we report the clinicopathologic, immunohistochemical and molecular features of a primary Müllerian adenosarcoma of the urinary bladder in a 62-year-old woman. To our knowledge, this is the first report of detailed pathologic characterization of Müllerian adenosarcoma primary to the urinary bladder in the literature.

RESULTS

Light microscopy showed a biphasic epithelial and stromal tumor with benign-appearing glands surrounded by densely cellular endometrial-type stroma that is densely cellular with increased mitotic figures. The stroma surrounding the glands was more cellular than the intervening areas, which were more loose and edematous. Immunohistochemistry staining revealed positive staining for Pax-2/8 within the glands, for positive CD10 and WT-1 within the spindle cell stroma, and for estrogen and progesterone receptors in both. Staining for desmin, GATA3, p63, and human papillomavirus was negative. Molecular analyses identified mutations in protein kinase B E17K, fms related tyrosine kinase 3 D835N, KRAS proto-oncogene, GTPase G12D, and HRAS proto-oncogene, GTPase G12S. These novel molecular aberrations have yet to be reported in the medical literature. X chromosome inactivation analysis revealed a clonal pattern in the stromal component and a nonclonal pattern in the epithelial component. Currently, the patient is disease/recurrence-free after regular follow-up of approximately 84 months.

CONCLUSION

This case represents, to our knowledge, the first reported diagnosis of Müllerian adenosarcoma arising in the urinary bladder with extensive clinicopathologic, immunohistochemical, and molecular analyses.

Uterine Adenosarcoma

Müllerian adenosarcoma is an uncommon biphasic tumor composed of malignant stromal and benign epithelial components. Morphologically, adenosarcoma is characterized by a broad leaflike architecture, reminiscent of phyllodes tumors of the breast. Periglandular cuffing of the stromal cells around the compressed or cystically dilated glands is characteristic. The mesenchymal component is typically a low-grade spindle cell sarcoma, whereas the epithelial counterpart is commonly endometrioid with frequent squamous or mucinous metaplasia and may, in some circumstances, show mild to moderate atypia. In all cases, it is important to assess for the presence of sarcomatous overgrowth and myometrial invasion, which are the prognostic factors. In this brief review, we present the clinical, histopathologic, and immunohistochemical features of adenosarcoma, as well as updates on the molecular biology of this neoplasm.

Targeted genomic analysis of Müllerian adenosarcoma

Müllerian adenosarcoma (MA) is a rare mixed mesenchymal tumour of the female genital tract, composed of malignant stroma and benign-appearing epithelium. Sarcomatous overgrowth (SO) is the only established histological variable associated with higher stage and shorter survival. Specific molecular or immunohistochemistry (IHC) tools for the diagnosis of MA are lacking. Our goal was to study genomic mutations and copy number variations (CNVs) in MA to understand better its pathobiology, and develop specific diagnostic and prognostic tools. DNA was extracted from 20 samples of MA from 18 subjects (12 without SO and 6 with SO), including two in which areas of both typical MA histology and SO were independently tested. Samples were analysed using a targeted next-generation sequencing assay interrogating exonic sequences of 275 cancer genes for mutations and CNVs as well as 91 introns across 30 genes for cancer-associated rearrangements. The mean number of mutations in MA with SO (mean 9.7; range 3-14) did not differ significantly from that in MA without SO (mean 9.6; range 5-16). MA with SO had significantly higher mean numbers of gene-level CNVs (24.6) compared to MA without SO (5; p = 0.0002). The most frequent amplification involved MDM2 and CDK4 (5/18; 28%), accompanied by focal CDK4 and MDM2 and diffuse HMGA2 expression using immunohistochemistry. MYBL1 amplification was seen in 4/18 (22%), predominantly in SO. Alterations in PIK3CA/AKT/PTEN pathway members were seen in 13/18 (72%). Notably, TP53 mutations were uncommon, present in only two cases with SO. Three out of 18 (17%) had mutations in ATRX, all associated with SO. No chromosomal rearrangements were identified. We have identified a number of recurrent genomic alterations in MA, including some associated with SO. Although further investigation of these findings is needed, confirmation of one or more may lead to new mechanistic insights and novel markers for this often difficult-to-diagnose tumour.

Diagnostic use of immunohistochemistry in uterine mesenchymal tumors

Immunohistochemistry may be helpful in the diagnosis of mesenchymal uterine tumors. This article reviews the immunoreactions used most frequently in the diagnosis of uterine smooth muscle tumors, endometrial stromal tumors, undifferentiated endometrial sarcomas, UTROSCTs, PEComas, adenomyomas, adenosarcomas and carcinosarcomas.

Staging of uterine sarcomas

Uterine sarcomas comprise leiomyosarcoma, endometrial stromal sarcoma, adenosarcoma, undifferentiated endometrial sarcoma, and their variants. Carcinosarcoma is historically classified as sarcoma, but it is now regarded as a metaplastic carcinoma. Uterine sarcomas are rare, and are traditionally staged in the same way as endometrial carcinoma. Because of their different clinical and biological behaviours, the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics introduced a new staging system in 2009 for leiomyosarcoma, endometrial stromal sarcoma and adenosarcoma, and carcinosarcoma, respectively. Following an extensive literature review no good evidence was found to support the modification of the staging system. This is mainly because of the rarity of the sarcomas and the heterogeneity of the reports, the different diagnostic criteria and treatments changing over the decades the retrospective nature and small sample size in most studies, and the lack of uniform pathological review even in large studies. Currently, evidence is still lacking about the use of preoperative imaging for staging purpose, and uterine sarcomas remain to be surgically staged. Total hysterectomy is the cornerstone for both staging and treatment. Newer evidence shows that routine lymphadenectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy may not be necessary, unless in the presence of extra-uterine spread, suspicious ovaries or lymph nodes, and certain poor histological types, such as undifferentiated endometrial sarcoma and adenosarcoma with sarcomatous overgrowth. More research and data collection are definitely needed in order to verify and further revise the current staging systems.

Pathology of mixed Müllerian tumours

The term 'mixed Müllerian tumour' applies to uterine tumours composed of epithelial and mesenchymal elements of Müllerian origin. These neoplasms are classified into adenomyomas, adenofibromas, adenosarcomas, and carcinosarcomas (malignant Müllerian mixed tumours) based on whether the epithelial and stromal elements are benign or malignant. The rare atypical polypoid adenomyoma usually involves the lower uterine segment and, on curettings, may be confused with invasive adenocarcinoma. Adenosarcomas are low-grade neoplasms classified halfway along the spectrum of mixed Müllerian tumours, with adenofibromas at one end and carcinosarcomas (malignant Müllerian mixed tumours) at the other. Some tumours currently classified as 'adenofibromas' on the basis of their low mitotic count and lack of nuclear atypia are, in fact, well differentiated adenosarcomas. Carcinosarcoma is composed of admixed but distinctive carcinomatous and sarcomatous elements. On the basis of the clonal origin of both tumour components, carcinosarcomas are currently thought to be metaplastic carcinomas rather than uterine sarcomas.

Cervical Mullerian adenosarcoma with heterologous sarcomatous overgrowth: a fourth case and review of literature

BACKGROUND

Uterine sarcomas are relatively rare tumors that account for approximately 1-3% of female genital tract malignancies and between 4-9% of uterine cancers. Less than 8% of all cases are Mullerian adenosarcoma, a distinctive uterine neoplasm characterized by a benign, but occasionally atypical, epithelial and a malignant, usually low-grade, stromal component, both of which should be integral and neoplastic constituents of the tumor. Mullerian adenosarcoma with sarcomatous overgrowth (MASO) is a very aggressive variant, associated with post-operative recurrence, metastases, even when diagnosed in early stage.

CASE PRESENTATION

We present a fourth MASO case derived from uterine cervix in a 72-year-old woman with metrorrhagia and a polypoid mass protruding through the cervical ostium. Total abdominal hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, systematic pelvic lymph node dissection, omental biopsy and appendectomy were performed. Surgery treatment was associated with adjuvant whole-pelvis radiation (45 Gy) and adjuvant chemotherapy (cisplatin/ifosfamide). After nine months of follow up, the patient was free of tumor.

CONCLUSIONS

The rarity of MASO of the cervix involves a management difficult. Most authors recommend total abdominal hysterectomy, usually accompanied by bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. There is no common agreement on staging by lymphadenectomy during primary surgery and adjuvant chemo-radio therapy.

Mullerian adenosarcoma of the female genital tract

Mullerian adenosarcoma is an uncommon, but not rare, mixed tumor containing a neoplastic but benign or mildly atypical epithelial element and a sarcomatous, usually low-grade, stromal component. The most common site is the uterine corpus but adenosarcoma also occurs in the cervix and ovary and more rarely in the vagina, fallopian tube, arising from peritoneal surfaces, or outside the female genital tract, for example in the intestine. Most uterine cases have a polypoid gross appearance, sometimes resulting in the formation of multiple polyps. Characteristic histologic features include a low power "phyllodes-like" architecture with leaf-like projections lined by a variety of benign Mullerian type epithelia, sometimes with squamous metaplasia. Intraglandular stromal protrusions are a characteristic feature. The stroma may be uniformly cellular but there is typically increased cellularity around the epithelial elements, resulting in the formation of a cambium layer. Using the World Health Organization definition, stromal mitotic activity of 2 or more per 10 high-power fields is required for a diagnosis of adenosarcoma but in practice the diagnosis is made with stromal mitotic activity less than this if the characteristic architecture and cambium layer is present. The stromal component is usually morphologically "low-grade" and of endometrial stromal or fibroblastic type (hormone receptor and CD10 positive). Sometimes it is high grade, resembling undifferentiated sarcoma. Additional features sometimes present include heterologous stromal elements or sex cord-like differentiation. Uterine adenosarcomas are, in general, low-grade neoplasms capable of local recurrence after polypectomy or hysterectomy and much less commonly distant metastasis. The 2 most important adverse prognostic factors, which sometimes coexist, are deep myometrial invasion and sarcomatous overgrowth; the latter is usually associated with morphologically "high-grade" stromal elements with loss of expression of hormone receptors and CD10. Adenosarcoma may be confused with a variety of lesions and one of the main differential diagnoses is adenofibroma in which the stromal component is, by definition, morphologically benign. However, occasional adenofibromas recur or even metastasize. As such, it has been suggested that all adenofibromas should be classified as adenosarcomas, albeit with low-malignant potential. Ovarian adenosarcomas are much more likely to exhibit malignant behavior than their uterine counterparts, probably due to the lack of an anatomic barrier to peritoneal dissemination.

Uterine sarcomas: a review

OBJECTIVE

Uterine sarcomas are rare tumors that account for 3% of uterine cancers. Their histopathologic classification was revised by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2003. A new staging system has been recently designed by the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO). Currently, there is no consensus on risk factors for adverse outcome. This review summarizes the available clinicopathological data on uterine sarcomas classified by the WHO diagnostic criteria.

METHODS

Medline was searched between 1976 and 2009 for all publications in English where the studied population included women diagnosed of uterine sarcomas.

RESULTS

Since carcinosarcomas (malignant mixed mesodermal tumors or MMMT) are currently classified as metaplastic carcinomas, leiomyosarcomas remain the most common uterine sarcomas. Exclusion of several histologic variants of leiomyoma, as well as "smooth muscle tumors of uncertain malignant potential," frequently misdiagnosed as sarcomas, has made apparent that leiomyosarcomas are associated with poor prognosis even when seemingly confined to the uterus. Endometrial stromal sarcomas are indolent tumors associated with long-term survival. Undifferentiated endometrial sarcomas exhibiting nuclear pleomorphism behave more aggressively than tumors showing nuclear uniformity. Adenosarcomas have a favorable prognosis except for tumors showing myometrial invasion or sarcomatous overgrowth. Adenofibromas may represent well-differentiated adenosarcomas. The prognosis of carcinosarcomas (which are considered here in a post-script fashion) is usually worse than that of grade 3 endometrial carcinomas. Immunohistochemical expression of Ki67, p53, and p16 is significantly higher in leiomyosarcomas and undifferentiated endometrial sarcomas than in endometrial stromal sarcomas.

CONCLUSIONS

Evaluation of H&E stained sections has been equivocal in the prediction of behavior of uterine sarcomas. Immunohistochemical studies of oncoproteins as well as molecular analysis of non-random translocations will undoubtedly lead to an accurate and prognostically relevant classification of these rare tumors.

Uterine mullerian adenosarcoma with sarcomatous overgrowth fatal recurrence within two weeks of diagnosis: a case report

Mullerian adenosarcoma with sarcomatous overgrowth (MASO) is a rare variant of uterine sarcomas, associated with postoperative recurrence, metastases and a fatal outcome. The mean age at diagnosis is 54.5 years. A 37-year-old nullipara presented with irregular vaginal bleeding, a normal pelvic examination, and an initially negative ultrasound. Repeat ultrasound one month later revealed an 11-cm heterogeneous pelvic mass. She underwent total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Pathology confirmed uterine MASO. Computed tomography 2 weeks postoperatively showed a huge mass compatible with recurrence. Patient died 2 weeks later. MASO is rarely diagnosed in women in their 4th decade. This case stresses that these aggressive tumors should be considered in the differential of patients with vaginal bleeding and pelvic masses irrespective of their age.

Molecular genetic changes in epithelial, stromal and mixed neoplasms of the endometrium

Endometrial carcinoma, endometrial stromal tumours and mixed malignant mesodermal tumours (MMMT) develop along distinctive molecular genetic pathways. Two distinctive types of endometrial carcinoma are distinguished, type I and type II, which develop along distinctive pathways and show different clinical behaviour and histological features. Type I carcinomas show endometrioid histology, are oestrogen-related and develop from atypical endometrial hyperplasia. The molecular tumorigenesis is comparable to colorectal carcinoma with a step-like progression and an accumulation of genetic alterations. Alterations of PTEN, K-Ras mutations and microsatellite instability are frequent and early events in type I carcinoma, whereas p53 mutations occur during progression to grade 3 carcinoma. Serous and clear cell carcinomas are considered type II carcinomas which are mostly unrelated to oestrogen. p53 mutations occur in almost all serous carcinomas and seem to occur early, leading to massive chromosomal instability and rapid tumour progression. Gene expression profiling has supported this dualistic model of endometrial carcinoma. There is evidence of molecular differences between serous and clear cell carcinomas as well as between endometrioid carcinomas with and without microsatellite instability. A dualistic model of tumorigenesis may be also suggested for endometrial stromal tumours. Endometrial stromal sarcomas (ESS; type I endometrial sarcoma) are oestrogen-related and seem to develop from endometrial stromal nodules (ESN). They are histologically and genetically distinct from undifferentiated endometrial sarcoma (UES) which seem to be mostly unrelated to oestrogen (type II endometrial sarcoma). ESS and ESN share the fusion gene JAZF1/JJAZ1 caused by a t(7;17)(p15;q21) translocation, whereas UES lacks a distinctive molecular alteration so far. In MMMT, which is considered a metaplastic carcinoma, p53 alteration occurs early, before clonal expansion and acquisition of genetic diversity during progression.

Different subtypes of uterine sarcoma require a separate therapeutic approach

Uterine sarcomas include a variety of mono- and biphasic malignancies, whereas tumor biology varies from an indolent and hormone-sensitive growth pattern to an aggressive and nonresponsive disease that is inevitably fatal. Insight into these different entities has only been gained after careful analysis of clinical, pathologic and molecular characteristics during the last few years. Furthermore, the rarity of uterine sarcomas has motivated many to collect data from different subtypes and to report on the collective data in order to report on larger numbers. The current overview aims to provide insights of clinical importance into each type of uterine sarcoma, with a special emphasis on treatment modalities.

Central nervous system involvement from malignant mixed Müllerian tumor (MMMT) of the uterus

The central nervous system is traditionally considered as an uncommon site for metastatic disease from the female genital tract, and cerebral metastasis as the primary manifestation of an occult gynecological malignancy is even more rare. Here, we report the case of a 61-year-old female who presented with neurological symptoms of confusion, headache, cerebellar ataxia and right-sided weakness. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain revealed two solid lesions in the frontal lobe and the left cerebellar hemisphere. Endometrial biopsy of a uterine mass detected during search for the primary lesion showed malignant mixed Müllerian tumor (MMMT). The patient refused surgery. Cranial radiotherapy for progressive cerebral disease led to resolution of her neurological symptoms. Two months after the diagnosis of MMMT the patient died from local complications of advanced pelvic disease. At autopsy, only the epithelial component of the tumor had metastasized to the brain. Attention should be paid to possibility of unusual distant metastases associated to MMMT in order to avoid delay in diagnosis and treatment of these patients.

Mullerian adenosarcoma with sarcomatous overgrowth of the cervix presenting as cervical polyp: a case report and review of the literature

An aggressive variant of adenosarcoma, mullerian adenosarcoma with sarcomatous overgrowth (MASO) in the cervix is extremely rare. This variant contains obvious, high-grade sarcoma in addition to a low-grade form. In this report, we describe a case of MASO of the uterine cervix and review the clinical and pathological features of these tumors. The patient was a 37-year-old woman with a cervical polypoid mass, which was morphologically considered as a benign endocervical polyp. Microscopically, polypoid cervical mass showed diffuse and dense malignant spindle cell proliferation around the benign endocervical glands and also an area of markedly anaplastic and pleomorphic spindle cell proliferation, so called, sarcomatous overgrowth. Total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy with pelvic lymph node dissection were performed. The patient has been followed-up and neither chemotherapy nor other adjuvant therapies have been administered. At present, she has been clinically free of disease for 9 months since she received surgery. It is extremely rare that MASO of the uterine cervix is presented in premenopausal woman. Gynecologists and pathologists should be aware of the difficulties associated with a delay in the diagnosis of MASO when the tumor is present as a benign looking cervical polyp.