Inflammatory monomorphic undifferentiated sarcoma with distinct clinical and pathological features: a 'new' entity?

Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma of the breast with neoplastic fever: case report and genomic characterization

PURPOSE

Primary breast sarcomas are extraordinary rare, in particular undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS). UPS with neoplastic fever (UPS-NF) of the breast has not been reported yet. Here, we present an extended UPS-NF of the breast including its comprehensive molecular workup.

METHODS

A 58-year-old female presented with general malaise, fever spikes, weight loss, and a massively swollen left breast. C-reactive protein and blood leucocytes were significantly increased. However, repeated blood cultures and smears were all sterile. Histopathology of the abscess-forming tumor revealed an undifferentiated malignancy with numerous of tumor giant cells as well as spindle-shaped cells with nuclear pleomorphism and hyperchromasia. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated partial, patchy desmin staining and weak heterogonous neuron-specific enolase immunoreactivity of tumor cells, but a focal staining for Melan-A.

RESULTS

Neither common melanoma driver mutations nor an ultraviolet mutational signature was detected by whole genome sequencing. Using FISH and RT-PCR we also excluded translocations characteristic for clear cell sarcoma. Thus, the diagnosis of inflammatory UPS-NF of the breast was considered highly probable. Despite a complete mastectomy, the tumor recurred after only three months. This recurrence was treated with a combination of ipilimumab and nivolumab based on the primary tumor's TPS score for PD-L1 of 30%. After an initial response, however, the tumor was progressive again.

CONCLUSION

We describe here the first case of UPS-NF of the breast, which shows great clinical and histopathologic resemblances to previously reported UPS-NF of other anatomic localizations.

Undifferentiated Pleomorphic Sarcoma with Neoplastic Fever: A Retrospective Study

Background

Although the annual incidence of undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS) is extremely low, it can be subdivided into different subtypes. UPS with fever of unknown origin (also known as neoplastic fever) is a specific subtype of UPS, which shows certain clinical features that differentiate it from other UPS subtypes. However, no studies have focused on this rare UPS subtype. This study retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of patients with UPS to provide a reference for the diagnosis and treatment of UPS with neoplastic fever.

Methods

This study included patients with UPS who were diagnosed and treated between June 2012 and June 2018. We examined whether these patients had a history of neoplastic fever. The characteristics of patients with UPS with neoplastic fever were summarized and analyzed.

Results

We reviewed the medical records of 183 patients with UPS. Seven (3.83%) of these patients had neoplastic fever. In patients with UPS with neoplastic fever, the primary lesions were located in the extremities and across the muscle space. In these patients, magnetic resonance imaging showed necrosis within the tumor body and extensive soft tissue edema around the tumor body. Patients with UPS with neoplastic fever had a lower metastasis rate (14.29% vs 44.94%) and a higher 3-year survival rate (85.71% vs 59.55%) than those without neoplastic fever.

Conclusion

UPS with neoplastic fever is characterized by intratumoral necrosis and extensive edema of the surrounding soft tissues. Patients with UPS with neoplastic fever may have a better prognosis than those without neoplastic fever.

HAND transcription factors cooperatively specify the aorta and pulmonary trunk

Congenital heart defects (CHDs) affecting the cardiac outflow tract (OFT) constitute a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. The OFT develops from migratory cell populations which include the cardiac neural crest cells (cNCCs) and secondary heart field (SHF) derived myocardium and endocardium. The related transcription factors HAND1 and HAND2 have been implicated in human CHDs involving the OFT. Although Hand1 is expressed within the OFT, Hand1 NCC-specific conditional knockout mice (H1CKOs) are viable. Here we show that these H1CKOs present a low penetrance of OFT phenotypes, whereas SHF-specific Hand1 ablation does not reveal any cardiac phenotypes. Further, HAND1 and HAND2 appear functionally redundant within the cNCCs, as a reduction/ablation of Hand2 on an NCC-specific H1CKO background causes pronounced OFT defects. Double conditional Hand1 and Hand2 NCC knockouts exhibit persistent truncus arteriosus (PTA) with 100% penetrance. NCC lineage-tracing and Sema3c in situ mRNA expression reveal that Sema3c-expressing cells are mis-localized, resulting in a malformed septal bridge within the OFTs of H1CKO;H2CKO embryos. Interestingly, Hand1 and Hand2 also genetically interact within the SHF, as SHF H1CKOs on a heterozygous Hand2 background exhibit Ventricular Septal Defects (VSDs) with incomplete penetrance. Previously, we identified a BMP, HAND2, and GATA-dependent Hand1 OFT enhancer sufficient to drive reporter gene expression within the nascent OFT and aorta. Using these transcription inputs as a probe, we identify a novel Hand2 OFT enhancer, suggesting that a conserved BMP-GATA dependent mechanism transcriptionally regulates both HAND factors. These findings support the hypothesis that HAND factors interpret BMP signaling within the cNCCs to cooperatively coordinate OFT morphogenesis.