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Sinichenkova K, Sidorov I, Kriventsova N, Konovalov D, Abasov R, Usman N, Karachunskiy A, Novichkova G, Litvinov D, Druy A. Rapid but nondurable response of a BRAF exon 15 double-mutated spindle cell sarcoma to a combination of BRAF and MEK inhibitors. Oncotarget 2024; 15:493-500. [PMID: 39018206 PMCID: PMC11254299 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.28606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/19/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION BRAF V600E substitution predicts sensitivity of a cancer to BRAF inhibitor therapy. The mutation is rarely found in soft-tissue sarcomas. Here we describe a case of undifferentiated spindle cell sarcoma showing primary insensitivity to standard chemotherapy and pronounced but non-sustained response to BRAF/MEK inhibitors at recurrence. CASE PRESENTATION A 13-year-old girl was diagnosed with low-grade spindle cell sarcoma of pelvic localization, BRAF exon 15 double-mutated: c.1799T>A p.V600E and c.1819T>A p.S607T in cis-position. The tumor showed resistance to CWS-based first-line chemotherapy and was treated surgically by radical resection. Seven months after surgery the patient developed metastatic relapse with abdominal carcinomatosis. Combined targeted therapy with BRAF/MEK inhibitors afforded complete response in 1 month and was continued, though complicated by severe side effects (fever, rash) necessitating 1-2 week toxicity breaks. After 4 months from commencement the disease recurred and anti-BRAF/MEK regimen consolidation was unsuccessful. Intensive salvation chemotherapy was ineffective. Empirical immunotherapy afforded a transient partial response giving way to fatal progression with massive, abdominal cocoon-complicated peritoneal carcinomatosis. CONCLUSION This is the first report of spindle cell sarcoma BRAF V600E/S607T double-mutated, responding to a combination of B-Raf and MEK inhibitors. Despite the low histological grade and radical surgical treatment of the tumor at primary manifestation, the disease had aggressive clinical course and the response to BRAF/MEK targeted therapy at recurrence was complete but nondurable. Empirical use of pembrolizumab provided no unambiguous evidence on the clinical relevance of immunotherapy in protein kinase -rearranged spindle cell tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kseniya Sinichenkova
- Dmitriy Rogachev National Medical Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, Immunology Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Iliya Sidorov
- Dmitriy Rogachev National Medical Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, Immunology Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Nataliya Kriventsova
- Dmitriy Rogachev National Medical Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, Immunology Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Dmitriy Konovalov
- Dmitriy Rogachev National Medical Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, Immunology Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Ruslan Abasov
- Dmitriy Rogachev National Medical Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, Immunology Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Nataliya Usman
- Dmitriy Rogachev National Medical Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, Immunology Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexander Karachunskiy
- Dmitriy Rogachev National Medical Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, Immunology Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Galina Novichkova
- Dmitriy Rogachev National Medical Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, Immunology Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Dmitriy Litvinov
- Dmitriy Rogachev National Medical Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, Immunology Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexander Druy
- Dmitriy Rogachev National Medical Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, Immunology Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
- Research Institute of Medical Cell Technologies, Yekaterinburg, Russia
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Wills A, Dibbern M, Frierson HF, Raghavan SS. Metastatic Undifferentiated Melanoma Mimicking a Primary Bone Tumor: A Potential Diagnostic Pitfall. Am J Dermatopathol 2024; 46:170-172. [PMID: 38170737 DOI: 10.1097/dad.0000000000002622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Undifferentiated melanoma (UM) is defined by the loss of classic morphologic and immunohistochemical melanocytic markers. Reports in the literature are rare and show that UM usually occurs as a metastasis in the setting of a known primary cutaneous melanoma. The most common mutations in UM include those involving BRAF , NRAS , and KIT , which are almost invariably present in the parent melanoma. In this study, we report a case of a primary sinonasal melanoma with metastatic UM presenting with osteoclast-like giant cells and resembling a primary bone tumor. The retention of an unusual KRAS mutation in UM that was also present in the primary lesion provided critical information for the diagnosis. Our report highlights the importance of considering mutational analysis to identify undifferentiated melanomas in patients with metastatic tumors which do not have the typical histopathologic and immunohistochemical features of melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abby Wills
- Department of Dermatology, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA; and
| | - Megan Dibbern
- Department of Pathology, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA
| | - Henry F Frierson
- Department of Pathology, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA
| | - Shyam S Raghavan
- Department of Pathology, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA
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Hornick JL, Plaza JA, Mentzel T, Gru AA, Brenn T. PRAME Expression Is a Useful Tool in the Diagnosis of Primary and Metastatic Dedifferentiated and Undifferentiated Melanoma. Am J Surg Pathol 2023; 47:1390-1397. [PMID: 37727938 DOI: 10.1097/pas.0000000000002125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
Although mostly recognized in the metastatic setting dedifferentiated and undifferentiated melanomas are increasingly recognized as cutaneous and, less commonly, mucosal primary tumors. Their diagnosis is challenging and dependent on sampling and recognition of a conventional melanoma precursor and/or detection of a mutation in a conventional melanoma driver gene. PRAME immunohistochemistry has recently become an important ancillary tool in the separation of melanoma from benign nevi, but no comprehensive studies exist regarding its value in the detection of dedifferentiated and undifferentiated melanomas and their separation from atypical fibroxanthoma and pleomorphic dermal sarcoma, the main differential diagnoses on sun-damaged skin. After retrieval from archival files, we performed PRAME immunohistochemistry on 11 primary and 10 metastatic dedifferentiated and undifferentiated melanomas, 11 atypical fibroxanthomas, and 10 pleomorphic dermal sarcomas. Nuclear staining was assigned extent (ranging from 0 to 4 and reflecting the percentage of PRAME-positive tumor nuclei) and intensity scores (graded as absent, weak, moderate, and strong, with assigned scores ranging from 0 to 3) with combined scores ranging from 0 to 7. Both primary and metastatic dedifferentiated and undifferentiated melanomas showed strong and diffuse nuclear PRAME staining with median combined scores of 7. Strong and diffuse staining was also seen in all conventional melanoma precursors except for desmoplastic melanoma. In contrast, PRAME staining in atypical fibroxanthoma and pleomorphic dermal sarcoma was patchy and weak with median combined scores of 2. Our data emphasize the diagnostic utility of PRAME staining as a first screening tool in the detection and workup of dedifferentiated and undifferentiated melanomas, both in the primary and metastatic settings. PRAME immunohistochemistry is particularly helpful as it is also positive in tumors without a recognizable conventional melanoma precursor and in those associated with desmoplastic melanomas, where PRAME is typically found to be negative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason L Hornick
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Jose A Plaza
- Division of Dermatopathology, Department of Pathology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH
| | - Thomas Mentzel
- MVZ Dermatopathologie Friedrichshafen/Bodensee PartG, Friedrichshafen, Germany
| | - Alejandro A Gru
- Department of Pathology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
| | - Thomas Brenn
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
- Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
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Warren SJ, Alomari AK. Utility of sequencing for ATP6AP1 and ATP6AP2 to distinguish between atypical granular cell tumor with junctional component and melanoma. J Cutan Pathol 2023; 50:1014-1019. [PMID: 37565535 DOI: 10.1111/cup.14503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 07/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Granular cell tumor (GCT) is a S100+ neoplasm with atypical and malignant variants. Similar to melanocytic neoplasms, the tumors make nests and can have junctional components raising a differential diagnosis of melanoma. Nevi and melanomas may also have granular cell cytoplasm. MelanA is useful in distinguishing melanocytic from granular cell lineage, but increasingly MelanA/SOX10 negative melanomas have been recognized by correlation with molecular methods. METHODS We encountered several cases with morphologic overlap between melanoma and atypical GCT necessitating additional molecular workup. We sequenced two cases and searched our archive for similar cases of GCT with overlapping features of melanocytic lineage. RESULTS In our two index cases, we excluded melanoma driver mutations and identified frameshift or premature stop codons in ATP6AP1/2 pathognomonic of granular cell lineage. Data retrieved from Cosmic identified 24 melanomas with missense single nucleotide variants (SNVs) in ATP6AP1 but no frameshift or premature stop codons. Twenty-one melanomas had missense SNVs in ATP6AP2. One melanoma had a premature stop codon in ATP6AP2, but this lesion also had a melanoma-associated driver mutation NRASQ61K. We found 1 of 23 additional cases of GCT in our archives with a junctional component and no additional cases with maturation. CONCLUSIONS Atypical and malignant GCT can have histopathologic overlap with melanoma. Frameshift and premature stop codons in ATP6AP1/2 are specific for granular cell lineage, and capable of excluding melanoma, in the absence of known melanoma-associated driver mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon J Warren
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
- Department of Dermatology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Ahmed K Alomari
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
- Department of Dermatology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
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5
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Wiedemeyer K, Brenn T. Dedifferentiated and undifferentiated melanomas: a practical approach to a challenging diagnosis. Hum Pathol 2023; 140:22-31. [PMID: 37001740 DOI: 10.1016/j.humpath.2023.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
Dedifferentiation, defined as the loss of cellular features of terminal differentiation resulting in a more primitive, unspecialized phenotype, is a rare phenomenon in melanoma and more commonly observed in the metastatic setting than in primary melanomas. The diagnosis of dedifferentiated melanoma poses a significant challenge, and the tumors need to be carefully sampled and worked up to identify any residual morphologic, immunohistochemical, or molecular evidence of their melanocytic lineage. This article reviews our current knowledge of the clinical, histopathological, immunohistochemical, and molecular features of these rare tumors and provides a practical diagnostic approach and discussion of the relevant differential diagnoses and associated diagnostic pitfalls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Wiedemeyer
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2L 2K8, Canada
| | - Thomas Brenn
- Departments of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Medicine, Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2L 2K8, Canada.
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Kasago IS, Chatila WK, Lezcano CM, Febres-Aldana CA, Schultz N, Vanderbilt C, Dogan S, Bartlett EK, D'Angelo SP, Tap WD, Singer S, Ladanyi M, Shoushtari AN, Busam KJ, Hameed M. Undifferentiated and Dedifferentiated Metastatic Melanomas Masquerading as Soft Tissue Sarcomas: Mutational Signature Analysis and Immunotherapy Response. Mod Pathol 2023; 36:100165. [PMID: 36990277 PMCID: PMC10698871 DOI: 10.1016/j.modpat.2023.100165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2022] [Revised: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
The distinction between undifferentiated melanoma (UM) or dedifferentiated melanoma (DM) from undifferentiated or unclassifiable sarcoma can be difficult and requires the careful correlation of clinical, pathologic, and genomic findings. In this study, we examined the utility of mutational signatures to identify patients with UM/DM with particular attention as to whether this distinction matters for treatment because the survival of patients with metastatic melanoma has dramatically improved with immunologic therapy, whereas durable responses are less frequent in sarcomas. We identified 19 cases of UM/DM that were initially reported as unclassified or undifferentiated malignant neoplasm or sarcoma and submitted for targeted next-generation sequencing analysis. These cases were confirmed as UM/DM by harboring melanoma driver mutations, UV signature, and high tumor mutation burden. One case of DM showed melanoma in situ. Meanwhile, 18 cases represented metastatic UM/DM. Eleven patients had a prior history of melanoma. Thirteen of 19 (68%) of the tumors were immunohistochemically completely negative for 4 melanocytic markers (S100, SOX10, HMB45, and MELAN-A). All cases harbored a dominant UV signature. Frequent driver mutations involved BRAF (26%), NRAS (32%), and NF1 (42%). In contrast, the control cohort of undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcomas (UPS) of deep soft tissue exhibited a dominant aging signature in 46.6% (7/15) without evidence of UV signature. The median tumor mutation burden for DM/UM vs UPS was 31.5 vs 7.0 mutations/Mb (P < .001). A favorable response to immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy was observed in 66.6% (12/18) of patients with UM/DM. Eight patients exhibited a complete response and were alive with no evidence of disease at the last follow-up (median 45.5 months). Our findings support the usefulness of the UV signature in discriminating DM/UM vs UPS. Furthermore, we present evidence suggesting that patients with DM/UM and UV signatures can benefit from immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Israel S Kasago
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Walid K Chatila
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Cecilia M Lezcano
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | | | - Nikolaus Schultz
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Chad Vanderbilt
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Snjezana Dogan
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Edmund K Bartlett
- Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Sandra P D'Angelo
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - William D Tap
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Samuel Singer
- Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Marc Ladanyi
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York; Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | | | - Klaus J Busam
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Meera Hameed
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.
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7
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Hench J, Mihic-Probst D, Agaimy A, Frank S, Meyer P, Hultschig C, Simi S, Alos L, Balamurugan T, Blokx W, Bosisio F, Cappellesso R, Griewank K, Hadaschik E, van Kempen LC, Kempf W, Lentini M, Mazzucchelli L, Rinaldi G, Rutkowski P, Schadendorf D, Schilling B, Szumera-Cieckiewicz A, van den Oord J, Mandalà M, Massi D. Clinical, histopathological and molecular features of dedifferentiated melanomas: An EORTC Melanoma Group Retrospective Analysis. Eur J Cancer 2023; 187:7-14. [PMID: 37098294 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2023.03.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Revised: 03/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Dedifferentiated melanoma (DedM) poses significant diagnostic challenges. We aimed to investigate the clinical, histopathological and molecular features of DedM. Methylation signature (MS) and copy number profiling (CNP) were carried out in a subgroup of cases. PATIENTS AND METHODS A retrospective series of 78 DedM tissue samples from 61 patients retrieved from EORTC (European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer) Melanoma Group centres were centrally reviewed. Clinical and histopathological features were retrieved. In a subgroup of patients, genotyping through Infinium Methylation microarray and CNP analysis was carried out. RESULTS Most patients (60/61) had a metastatic DedM showing most frequently an unclassified pleomorphic, spindle cell, or small round cell morphology akin to undifferentiated soft tissue sarcoma, rarely associated with heterologous elements. Overall, among 20 successfully analysed tissue samples from 16 patients, we found retained melanoma-like MS in only 7 tissue samples while a non-melanoma-like MS was observed in 13 tissue samples. In two patients from whom multiple specimens were analysed, some of the samples had a preserved cutaneous melanoma MS while other specimens exhibited an epigenetic shift towards a mesenchymal/sarcoma-like profile, matching the histological features. In these two patients, CNP was largely identical across all analysed specimens, in line with their common clonal origin, despite significant modification of their epigenome. CONCLUSIONS Our study further highlights that DedM represents a real diagnostic challenge. While MS and genomic CNP may help pathologists to diagnose DedM, we provide proof-of-concept that dedifferentiation in melanoma is frequently associated with epigenetic modifications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juergen Hench
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Pathology, Division of Neuropathology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Daniela Mihic-Probst
- Institute of Pathology and Molecular Pathology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Abbas Agaimy
- Institute of Pathology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, University Hospital, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Stephan Frank
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Pathology, Division of Neuropathology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Peter Meyer
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Pathology, Division of Neuropathology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Claus Hultschig
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Pathology, Division of Neuropathology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sara Simi
- Section of Pathology, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Lucia Alos
- Department of Pathology, Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Willeke Blokx
- Department of Pathology, Division of Laboratories, Pharmacy and Biomedical Genetics, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Francesca Bosisio
- Department of Imaging & Pathology, Laboratory of Translational Cell & Tissue Research and Department of Pathology, University Hospitals Leuven, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Rocco Cappellesso
- Pathological Anatomy Unit, Padua University Hospital, 35121 Padua, Italy
| | - Klaus Griewank
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of Essen, West German Cancer Center, University Duisburg-Essen and the German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Essen, Germany
| | - Eva Hadaschik
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of Essen, West German Cancer Center, University Duisburg-Essen and the German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Essen, Germany
| | - Leon C van Kempen
- Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands; Department of Pathology, University Hospital Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Werner Kempf
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Maria Lentini
- Department of Human Pathology, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Luca Mazzucchelli
- Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, Institute of Pathology, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Locarno, Switzerland
| | - Gaetana Rinaldi
- Sezione di Oncologia, Dipartimento di Discipline Chirurgiche, Oncologiche e Stomatologiche (Di.Chir.On.S.), Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Piotr Rutkowski
- Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, Department of Soft Tissue/Bone Sarcoma and Melanoma, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Dirk Schadendorf
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of Essen, West German Cancer Center, University Duisburg-Essen and the German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Essen, Germany
| | - Bastian Schilling
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Anna Szumera-Cieckiewicz
- Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, Department of Soft Tissue/Bone Sarcoma and Melanoma, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Joost van den Oord
- Department of Imaging & Pathology, Laboratory of Translational Cell & Tissue Research and Department of Pathology, University Hospitals Leuven, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Mario Mandalà
- University of Perugia, Unit of Medical Oncology, Santa Maria della Misericordia Hospital, Perugia, Italy.
| | - Daniela Massi
- Section of Pathology, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
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Short EL, Logan SJ, Thangaiah JJ, Folpe AL. Metastatic melanoma involving a genetically confirmed angiofibroma of soft tissue: A previously unreported type of tumor-to-tumor metastasis. J Cutan Pathol 2023; 50:220-222. [PMID: 36428265 DOI: 10.1111/cup.14366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Tumor-to-tumor metastases are an uncommon phenomenon and are very rare in the context of malignant melanoma. This case report describes a 73-year-old male who underwent an excision of a melanoma from his forehead. Six months later, he developed metastatic disease, including metastasis to a genetically confirmed angiofibroma of soft tissue of the abdominal wall. Angiofibroma of soft tissue is a relatively recently described benign fibrovascular soft tissue tumor, and there appear to be no previous reports of it being a recipient tumor for a metastasis. Awareness of the phenomenon of tumor-to-tumor metastasis and of the distinctive morphologic and molecular genetic features of angiofibroma are critical to avoid misdiagnosis of this very rare event as "dedifferentiated" melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma L Short
- Department of Cellular Pathology, Morriston Hospital, Swansea, Wales, UK
| | - Suzanna J Logan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | | | - Andrew L Folpe
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
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9
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Mennens F, Van Herck Y, Sciot R, Vanden Bempt I, Boecxstaens V, Garmyn M, Bechter O. Melanoma cell plasticity poses diagnostic challenges: a case series. Melanoma Res 2022; 32:428-439. [PMID: 36125893 DOI: 10.1097/cmr.0000000000000852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Phenotype switching is an emerging concept in melanoma research and deals with the cancer cell plasticity. In this paper, we present five cases of patients with metastatic malignant melanoma where the tumor underwent dramatic morphological and immunohistochemical changes thereby mimicking other types of malignancies. The diagnosis of melanoma in all these cases was based on the mutational profile of the tumor assessed by next-generation sequencing compared to the primary lesion or local regional lymph nodes. These cases highlight the importance of thorough diagnostic measures in patients with metastatic melanoma who show progressive disease and where basic pathological assessment shows a diagnostic discrepancy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Maria Garmyn
- Dermatology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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10
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Kamata M, Minamisaka T, Imura J, Saitoh K, Shimomura A, Noguchi A. A Case of Dedifferentiated Melanoma With Lymph Node Metastasis Where Molecular Biological Tests Were Useful for Diagnosis. Cureus 2022; 14:e21644. [PMID: 35233321 PMCID: PMC8881242 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.21644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Malignant melanoma is known to have an altered phenotype and loss of differentiation markers for melanoma due to metastasis. Here, we report a case in which the expression of the immunohistochemical markers for melanoma was changed due to lymph node metastasis of primary cutaneous malignant melanoma. The patient, a male in his 60s, was diagnosed with malignant melanoma after undergoing excision of a skin mass. The additional excision specimen showed a small number of tumor cell clusters infiltrating the dermis. The biopsied lymph node showed completely different histological findings from those of the skin lesion and consisted of spindle-shaped tumor cells. An immunohistochemical study revealed no significant positive reactions in the lymph node tissue indicative of melanoma. The additional genetic study revealed BRAF V600e mutations in both the primary tumor and a lymph node. Together with the histological findings, the diagnosis was of metastasis of dedifferentiated melanoma to a lymph node. In summary, there is a risk of underestimation or misdiagnosis of melanoma as undifferentiated sarcoma or other tumors when melanoma metastasizes to lymph nodes and findings show a dedifferentiated or undifferentiated tumor. Therefore, as in this case, it is necessary to add a genetic study in order to make a comprehensive judgment.
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11
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Boyraz B, Hung YP. Spindle Cell Tumors of the Pleura and the Peritoneum: Pathologic Diagnosis and Updates. APMIS 2021; 130:140-154. [PMID: 34942046 DOI: 10.1111/apm.13203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
A diverse group of both benign and malignant spindle cell tumors can involve the pleura or the peritoneum. Due to their rarity and overlapping morphologic features, these tumors can pose considerable diagnostic difficulty in surgical pathology. As these tumors differ in their prognosis and clinical management, their correct pathologic diagnosis is critical. In addition to histologic assessment, select immunohistochemical and molecular tools can aid the distinction among these tumors. In this review, we consider some of the major histologic differential diagnosis of spindle cell tumors involving these serosal membranes. This list of tumors includes: solitary fibrous tumor, inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor, desmoid fibromatosis, synovial sarcoma, sarcomatoid carcinoma, spindle cell melanoma, dedifferentiated liposarcoma, epithelioid hemangioendothelioma, and sarcomatoid mesothelioma. We describe their salient clinicopathologic and genetic findings, with a review on some of the recent discoveries on their molecular pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baris Boyraz
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Yin P Hung
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
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12
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Kavuncuoglu A, Durmaz CD, Gokoz O, Uner A, Kosemehmetoglu K. Undifferentiated Melanoma Resembling Undifferentiated Round Cell Sarcoma: The Diagnostic Power of Molecular Melanoma Signature. Int J Surg Pathol 2021; 30:346-349. [PMID: 34617795 DOI: 10.1177/10668969211052238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Melanomas presenting in primary or metastatic sites with a poorly differentiated histology comprise dedifferentiated (DM) and undifferentiated melanomas (UM), the latter consisting purely of undifferentiated cells and totally lacking immunophenotypic features of melanoma. These entities have a wide morphological spectrum including round cell sarcoma-like features which pose a significant diagnostic challenge. Here we present a case of UM with morphological and immunohistochemical features resembling undifferentiated round cell sarcoma, whose diagnosis could only be established after proper integration of clinical and molecular data. This diagnostically challenging case, fulfilling the previously proposed diagnostic criteria by Agaimy et al, expands the clinicopathological spectrum of DM/UM, highlights the essence of molecular signature, and further emphasizes the importance of patient's history in any morphological setting.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ceren Damla Durmaz
- Department of Medical Genetics, 37515Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Ozay Gokoz
- Department of Pathology, 37515Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Aysegul Uner
- Department of Pathology, 37515Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
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13
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Dedifferentiated and Undifferentiated Melanomas: Report of 35 New Cases With Literature Review and Proposal of Diagnostic Criteria. Am J Surg Pathol 2021; 45:240-254. [PMID: 33428337 DOI: 10.1097/pas.0000000000001645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Dedifferentiated melanoma (DM) and undifferentiated melanoma (UM) is defined as a primary or metastatic melanoma showing transition between conventional and undifferentiated components (DM) or lacking histologic and immunophenotypic features of melanoma altogether (UM). The latter is impossible to verify as melanoma by conventional diagnostic tools alone. We herein describe our experience with 35 unpublished cases to expand on their morphologic, phenotypic, and genotypic spectrum, along with a review of 50 previously reported cases (total: 85) to establish the diagnostic criteria. By definition, the dedifferentiated/undifferentiated component lacked expression of 5 routinely used melanoma markers (S100, SOX10, Melan-A, HMB45, Pan-melanoma). Initial diagnoses (known in 66 cases) were undifferentiated/unclassified pleomorphic sarcoma (n=30), unclassified epithelioid malignancy (n=7), pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma (n=5), other specific sarcoma types (n=6), poorly differentiated carcinoma (n=2), collision tumor (n=2), atypical fibroxanthoma (n=2), and reactive osteochondromatous lesion (n=1). In only 11 cases (16.6%) was a diagnosis of melanoma considered. Three main categories were identified: The largest group (n=56) comprised patients with a history of verified previous melanoma who presented with metastatic DM or UM. Axillary or inguinal lymph nodes, soft tissue, bone, and lung were mainly affected. A melanoma-compatible mutation was detected in 35 of 48 (73%) evaluable cases: BRAF (n=20; 40.8%), and NRAS (n=15; 30.6%). The second group (n=15) had clinicopathologic features similar to group 1, but a melanoma history was lacking. Axillary lymph nodes (n=6) was the major site in this group followed by the lung, soft tissue, and multiple site involvement. For this group, NRAS mutation was much more frequent (n=9; 60%) than BRAF (n=3; 20%) and NF1 (n=1; 6.6%). The third category (n=14) comprised primary DM (12) or UM (2). A melanoma-compatible mutation was detected in only 7 cases: BRAF (n=2), NF1 (n=2), NRAS (n=2), and KIT exon 11 (n=1). This extended follow-up study highlights the high phenotypic plasticity of DM/UM and indicates significant underrecognition of this aggressive disease among general surgical pathologists. The major clues to the diagnosis of DM and UM are: (1) presence of minimal differentiated clone in DM, (2) earlier history of melanoma, (3) undifferentiated histology that does not fit any defined entity, (4) locations at sites that are unusual for undifferentiated/unclassified pleomorphic sarcoma (axilla, inguinal, neck, digestive system, etc.), (5) unusual multifocal disease typical of melanoma spread, (6) detection of a melanoma-compatible gene mutation, and (7) absence of another genuine primary (eg, anaplastic carcinoma) in other organs.
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14
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Kumar-Sinha C, Anderson B, Heider A, Vo JN, Robinson DR, Wu YM, Chinnaiyan AM, Mody R. Clinical Sequencing of High-Grade Undifferentiated Sarcomas: A Case Series and Report of an Aggressive Primary Cardiac Tumor With Multiple Oncogenic Drivers. JCO Precis Oncol 2020; 4:PO.19.00322. [PMID: 33015523 PMCID: PMC7529506 DOI: 10.1200/po.19.00322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Chandan Kumar-Sinha
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Bailey Anderson
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Amer Heider
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Josh N. Vo
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Dan R. Robinson
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Yi-Mi Wu
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Arul M. Chinnaiyan
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Rajen Mody
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
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15
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Baraban E, Cooper K. Dedifferentiated and undifferentiated neoplasms: A conceptual approach. Semin Diagn Pathol 2020; 38:119-126. [PMID: 32948384 DOI: 10.1053/j.semdp.2020.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Revised: 07/25/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
This review provides a conceptual approach to dedifferentiation across a variety of tumor types, with particular attention to genetic events that tie together morphologically disparate areas of these neoplasms. First, working definitions of the terms differentiated, undifferentiated, and dedifferentiated are developed. Then, specific examples of tumors with a particular propensity for undergoing dedifferentiation are highlighted, with emphasis on both immunohistochemical studies and molecular lesions that enable surgical pathologists to establish diagnostic clarity in morphologically vexing situations. Throughout this review, the historical arc of the literature is followed, and therefore the discussion of specific tumor types begins with dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma, the neoplasm that inspired the terminology regarding dedifferentiation that remains in use today. Selected other sarcomas with well-established pathways of dedifferentiation are subsequently discussed, followed by descriptions of this process in subtypes of carcinoma and melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ezra Baraban
- Department of Pathology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Hospital of University of Pennsylvania (HUP), Philadelphia, 6 Founders, 3400 Spruce St, PA 19104, United States.
| | - Kumarasen Cooper
- Department of Pathology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Hospital of University of Pennsylvania (HUP), Philadelphia, 6 Founders, 3400 Spruce St, PA 19104, United States
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16
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Watanabe S, Shimomura A, Kubo T, Sekimizu M, Seo T, Watanabe SI, Kawai A, Yamamoto N, Tamura K, Kohno T, Ichikawa H, Yoshida A. BRAF V600E mutation is a potential therapeutic target for a small subset of synovial sarcoma. Mod Pathol 2020; 33:1660-1668. [PMID: 32238877 DOI: 10.1038/s41379-020-0530-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2019] [Revised: 03/12/2020] [Accepted: 03/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Synovial sarcoma (SS) is an aggressive tumor that most often affects the deep soft tissues in young adults. Intrathoracic SS is rare and is associated with poor outcome, highlighting the urgent need for a novel therapeutic strategy. In the process of clinical sequencing, we identified two patients with intrathoracic SS harboring the BRAF V600E mutation. The patients were women aged 32 and 23 years, and both presented with SS18-SSX2-positive monophasic SS in the thoracic cavity. BRAF V600E mutations were detected by next generation sequencing, and validated immunohistochemically by diffuse intense positivity to BRAF V600E mutation-specific antibodies. The phosphorylated ERK (pERK) immunohistochemistry result was also positive. One patient received a combination therapy of dabrafenib and trametinib, which led to tumor shrinkage. However, the tumor growth progressed 7.5 months later with an additional NRAS Q61K mutation. Immunohistochemical screening of 67 archival SS tumor samples failed to identify additional samples with BRAF V600E mutation. However, 32% of BRAF V600E-negative cases was positive for pERK, and one of the six tumors showing the highest pERK expression harbored an FGFR2-activating mutation. This is the first report of targetable BRAF mutation in a small subset of SS. Our study suggests involvement of the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway and the potential clinical implication of BRAF mutation screening in SS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sho Watanabe
- Department of Diagnostic Pathology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.,Division of Cancer Immunology, Research Institute/Exploratory Oncology Research & Clinical Trial Center, National Cancer Center East, Chiba, Japan
| | - Akihiko Shimomura
- Department of Breast and Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takashi Kubo
- Division of Translational Genomics, Exploratory Oncology Research and Clinical Trial Center, National Cancer Center, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Clinical Genomics, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masaya Sekimizu
- Department of Clinical Genomics, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takuji Seo
- Department of Breast and Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shun-Ichi Watanabe
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akira Kawai
- Department of Musculoskeletal Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.,Rare Cancer Center, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Noboru Yamamoto
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kenji Tamura
- Department of Breast and Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takashi Kohno
- Division of Translational Genomics, Exploratory Oncology Research and Clinical Trial Center, National Cancer Center, Tokyo, Japan.,Division of Genome Biology, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Ichikawa
- Division of Translational Genomics, Exploratory Oncology Research and Clinical Trial Center, National Cancer Center, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Clinical Genomics, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akihiko Yoshida
- Department of Diagnostic Pathology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. .,Rare Cancer Center, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
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17
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Torresetti M, Brancorsini D, Morgese F, Cognigni V, Scalise A, Berardi R, Di Benedetto G. A case report of metastatic giant sarcomatoid melanoma with BRAF V600E mutation: a complete response to targeted therapy. Oncotarget 2020; 11:3256-3262. [PMID: 32922664 PMCID: PMC7456614 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.27701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Sarcomatoid melanoma is an extremely rare pattern of malignant melanoma, and only few cases have been described throughout the literature. We herein report a case of a patient with newly diagnosed, metastatic giant sarcomatoid melanoma of the arm. The patient underwent surgical removal of the huge mass, and NGS sequencing demonstrated BRAF V600E mutation. In view of histological, immunohistochemical and molecular findings, a combined BRAF/MEK inhibitor (BRAF/MEK-i) therapy was prescribed as first line treatment. A complete response (over one year) to targeted therapy was obtained, and no adverse events have been reported. The patient maintained a full range of shoulder and elbow movements, and she is able to live independently and resume her daily activities. We therefore recommend that all patients with undifferentiated melanomas, sarcomatoid cutaneous malignancies or other mesenchymal tumours, should undergo BRAFV600E mutation testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Torresetti
- Clinic of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Marche Polytechnic University Medical School, Ancona, Italy
| | - Donatella Brancorsini
- Section of Pathological Anatomy, Marche Polytechnic University Medical School, Ancona, Italy
| | - Francesca Morgese
- Clinic of Medical Oncology, Marche Polytechnic University Medical School, Ancona, Italy
| | - Valeria Cognigni
- Clinic of Medical Oncology, Marche Polytechnic University Medical School, Ancona, Italy
| | - Alessandro Scalise
- Clinic of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Marche Polytechnic University Medical School, Ancona, Italy
| | - Rossana Berardi
- Clinic of Medical Oncology, Marche Polytechnic University Medical School, Ancona, Italy
| | - Giovanni Di Benedetto
- Clinic of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Marche Polytechnic University Medical School, Ancona, Italy
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18
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Massi D, Mihic-Probst D, Schadendorf D, Dummer R, Mandalà M. Dedifferentiated melanomas: Morpho-phenotypic profile, genetic reprogramming and clinical implications. Cancer Treat Rev 2020; 88:102060. [PMID: 32619863 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2020.102060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2020] [Revised: 06/10/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Phenotypic plasticity of malignant melanoma is a well-known phenomenon. Several translational studies and small case series have reported this clinical and biological entity, particularly in metastatic melanoma, showing frequent aberrant expression of non-melanocytic differentiation markers of different lineages, posing remarkable challenges due to several alternative differential diagnoses including undifferentiated carcinoma and sarcomas. When melanoma loses its typical morpho-phenotype by routinely used diagnostic immunohistochemical markers, it is defined as "dedifferentiated melanoma". Historically, this process was closely related to diagnostic interpretative difficulties. In recent years, however, dedifferentiation has been increasingly recognized as an important biological phenomenon that demonstrates the phenotypic and genetic plasticity of melanoma, and specifically the non-irreversibility of the multistep cancerogenesis. Furthermore, dedifferentiation emerged as a general hallmark of cancer evolution and a common denominator of cross-resistance to both targeted and immunotherapy. In this review, we summarize the histopathological features, the genetic and epigenetic bases underlying the dedifferentiated phenotype in melanomas and provide additional support that dedifferentiation is a mechanism of resistance to immunotherapy and targeted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Massi
- Section of Anatomic Pathology, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Italy
| | - Daniela Mihic-Probst
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Pathology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Dirk Schadendorf
- Department of Dermatology ,University Hospital Essen, West German Cancer Center, University Duisburg-Essen and the German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Reinhard Dummer
- University Hospital Zürich Skin Cancer Center, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Mario Mandalà
- Unit of Melanoma, Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Oncology and Haematology, Papa Giovanni XXIII Cancer Center Hospital, Bergamo, Italy.
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19
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Lefferts JA, Loehrer AP, Yan S, Green DC, Deharvengt SJ, LeBlanc RE. CD10 and p63 expression in a sarcomatoid undifferentiated melanoma: A cautionary (and molecularly annotated) tale. J Cutan Pathol 2020; 47:541-547. [PMID: 31943331 PMCID: PMC10727035 DOI: 10.1111/cup.13646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Revised: 01/07/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Undifferentiated melanoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of sarcomatoid cutaneous malignancies to ensure that patients receive the correct treatment. Dermatopathologists should recognize the pitfalls of relying too heavily on immunohistochemistry to establish this diagnosis and consider ancillary tests, including single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) copy number arrays and targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS), when a definitive diagnosis cannot be rendered on a primary or metastatic tumor. This technology can also help to exclude a collision of melanoma and sarcoma when both differentiated and undifferentiated components are juxtaposed. We describe an exceedingly rare, illustrative example of undifferentiated sarcomatoid melanoma presenting as a pedunculated nodule. The clinical context and presence of a small differentiated component helped to establish the diagnosis; however, the transition from differentiated to undifferentiated melanoma was accompanied by an abrupt loss of S100, Sox10, MITF, MelanA, and HMB45 with gain of CD10 and p63 staining. SNP copy number array and NGS revealed shared chromosomal copy number changes and overlapping mutations with additional aberrances detected exclusively in the sarcomatoid component, thereby excluding a collision tumor and confirming our putative impression of melanoma with progression to an undifferentiated sarcomatoid phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joel A Lefferts
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH 03756
| | - Andrew P Loehrer
- Department of Surgery, Section of Surgical Oncology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH 03756
| | - Shaofeng Yan
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH 03756
| | - Donald C. Green
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH 03756
| | - Sophie J. Deharvengt
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH 03756
| | - Robert E. LeBlanc
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH 03756
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20
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Liu H, Nazmun N, Hassan S, Liu X, Yang J. BRAF mutation and its inhibitors in sarcoma treatment. Cancer Med 2020; 9:4881-4896. [PMID: 32476297 PMCID: PMC7367634 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.3103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Revised: 03/26/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway plays a significant role in mediating cellular physiological activities, such as proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and senescence. This signaling pathway is composed of several major proto‐oncogenes of RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK, among which the BRAF proto‐oncogene, as one of the three members of the RAF family, has a higher mutation rate than ARAF and CRAF and has attracted extensive attention. Regarding the BRAF mutation, approximately 95% of BRAF mutations belong to the BRAF V600E mutation, which can enhance the expression of the MAPK signaling pathway and is thus related to the occurrence and development of various malignant tumors and has been successfully identified as a therapeutic target. Moreover, drug resistance to BRAF inhibitor treatment also appears to be an important issue. Considering the successful use of BRAF inhibitors in melanoma, we provide a brief overview of the BRAF mutations, including their basic structures and activation mechanisms, and the new classification method for BRAF mutations. Most importantly, we summarize the results of BRAF inhibitor treatment in different sarcomas. To overcome drug resistance to BRAF inhibitor treatment, we also outline the different mechanisms of drug resistance to BRAF inhibitor treatment and introduce the combination strategy of BRAF inhibitors with other targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haotian Liu
- Department of Bone and Soft Tissue Tumor, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, Tianjin, P.R. China
| | - Nahar Nazmun
- Department of Bone and Soft Tissue Tumor, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, Tianjin, P.R. China.,National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, Tianjin, P.R. China.,International Medical School, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, P.R. China
| | - Shafat Hassan
- Department of Bone and Soft Tissue Tumor, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, Tianjin, P.R. China.,National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, Tianjin, P.R. China.,International Medical School, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, P.R. China
| | - Xinyue Liu
- Department of Bone and Soft Tissue Tumor, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, Tianjin, P.R. China.,National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, Tianjin, P.R. China
| | - Jilong Yang
- Department of Bone and Soft Tissue Tumor, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, Tianjin, P.R. China.,National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, Tianjin, P.R. China
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21
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Theile H, Sommerville S, Yang S, Francis G, Williamson R. Metastatic de-differentiated melanoma resembling synovial sarcoma diagnosed by synchronous NRAS genetic mutation. ANZ J Surg 2020; 90:2378-2380. [PMID: 32141640 DOI: 10.1111/ans.15797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Accepted: 02/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Harrison Theile
- Plastic Surgery Department, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | | | - Samuel Yang
- Plastic Surgery Department, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Glenn Francis
- Molecular Pathology, Genomics for Life, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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22
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Berro J, Abdul Halim N, Khaled C, Assi HI. Malignant melanoma with metaplastic cartilaginous transdifferentiation: A case report. J Cutan Pathol 2019; 46:935-941. [DOI: 10.1111/cup.13539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2018] [Revised: 06/24/2019] [Accepted: 06/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Juliett Berro
- Department of Internal MedicineNaef K. Basile Cancer Institute, American University of Beirut Medical Center Beirut Lebanon
| | - Nour Abdul Halim
- Department of Internal MedicineNaef K. Basile Cancer Institute, American University of Beirut Medical Center Beirut Lebanon
| | - Chirine Khaled
- Department of PathologyAmerican University of Beirut Medical Center Beirut Lebanon
| | - Hazem I. Assi
- Department of Internal MedicineNaef K. Basile Cancer Institute, American University of Beirut Medical Center Beirut Lebanon
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23
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Bell PD, Israel AK, Dunn AL, Liao X. Primary Dedifferentiated Amelanotic Anorectal Melanoma: Report of a Rare Case. Int J Surg Pathol 2019; 27:923-928. [DOI: 10.1177/1066896919857148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Anorectal melanoma (ARM) is an uncommon aggressive malignancy that comprises 0.5% to 1.6% of all melanoma manifestations. Dedifferentiated melanoma is very rare with loss of all melanocytic differentiation markers and is usually seen in metastatic melanoma of cutaneous origin. In this article, we report the first case of primary dedifferentiated amelanotic ARM in a 68-year-old male who presented with anal discomfort that was initially treated as inflamed hemorrhoids. Physical examination revealed a large protruding anal mass, biopsy of which showed biphasic malignant tumor cells with distinct immunoprofiles: a superficial spindled/sarcomatoid component positive for SOX10 and S100, and a deeper epithelioid/rhabdoid component positive for desmin, AE1/AE3, and EMA. Both components were negative for HMB-45, Melan-A/MART-1, c-Kit, and other lineage markers. Molecular analysis by polymerase chain reaction demonstrated wild-type BRAF and KRAS genes. A diagnosis of dedifferentiated ARM was made based on the coexistence of a differentiated component (spindled: S100 and SOX10 positive) and a dedifferentiated component (epithelioid: all melanoma markers including S100 and SOX10 negative). Shortly afterwards, the patient developed extensive pulmonary and liver metastases and expired 20 days after the diagnosis was rendered, reinforcing the highly aggressive nature of this disease entity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Andrew L. Dunn
- University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Xiaoyan Liao
- University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
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24
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Detection of driver mutations in BRAF can aid in diagnosis and early treatment of dedifferentiated metastatic melanoma. Mod Pathol 2019; 32:330-337. [PMID: 30315274 DOI: 10.1038/s41379-018-0161-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2018] [Revised: 09/18/2018] [Accepted: 09/19/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Dedifferentiated metastatic melanoma can pose a significant diagnostic challenge, especially if the history of primary melanoma is not known or is remote. BRAF and NRAS mutations are common melanoma driver mutations that are usually sequenced to evaluate for treatment targets. We evaluated whether BRAF and NRAS mutational testing could contribute to the diagnosis of dedifferentiated metastatic melanoma when immunostains are negative. Seven patients with melanoma who had an additional diagnosis of poorly differentiated sarcoma with negative melanocytic immunostains were tested for BRAF and NRAS mutations. Three patients showed identical BRAF mutations in the melanoma and the poorly differentiated sarcoma and hence were re-classified as metastatic dedifferentiated melanoma. In these three patients, there was an average delay of 7 months before appropriate testing, workup and treatment for metastatic melanoma was initiated. Two of these patients currently have stable metastatic disease and show sustained therapeutic response to melanoma-specific treatment including BRAF inhibitors. BRAF mutational analysis should therefore be considered in cases of poorly differentiated sarcoma, especially if there is a known history of melanoma or with unusual localization of disease. The administration of melanoma-specific treatments in such dedifferentiated cases can show therapeutic response, highlighting the importance of rendering accurate diagnoses on such cases.
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25
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Helbig D, Mauch C, Buettner R, Quaas A. Immunohistochemical expression of melanocytic and myofibroblastic markers and their molecular correlation in atypical fibroxanthomas and pleomorphic dermal sarcomas. J Cutan Pathol 2018; 45:880-885. [DOI: 10.1111/cup.13346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2018] [Revised: 07/28/2018] [Accepted: 08/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Doris Helbig
- Department of Dermatology; University Hospital Cologne; Cologne Germany
| | - Cornelia Mauch
- Department of Dermatology; University Hospital Cologne; Cologne Germany
| | - Reinhard Buettner
- Institute of Pathology; University Hospital Cologne; Cologne Germany
| | - Alexander Quaas
- Institute of Pathology; University Hospital Cologne; Cologne Germany
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26
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27
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Choy B, Hyjek E, Montag AG, Pytel P, Haydon R, Luu HH, Zhen CJ, Long BC, Kadri S, Segal JP, Furtado LV, Cipriani NA. High prevalence of MiTF staining in undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma: caution in the use of melanocytic markers in sarcoma. Histopathology 2017; 70:734-745. [DOI: 10.1111/his.13139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2016] [Accepted: 11/30/2016] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Bonnie Choy
- Department of Pathology; The University of Chicago Medicine; Chicago IL USA
| | - Elizabeth Hyjek
- Department of Pathology; The University of Chicago Medicine; Chicago IL USA
| | - Anthony G Montag
- Department of Pathology; The University of Chicago Medicine; Chicago IL USA
| | - Peter Pytel
- Department of Pathology; The University of Chicago Medicine; Chicago IL USA
| | - Rex Haydon
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery; The University of Chicago Medicine; Chicago IL USA
| | - Hue H Luu
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery; The University of Chicago Medicine; Chicago IL USA
| | - Chao J Zhen
- Division of Genomic and Molecular Pathology; Department of Pathology; The University of Chicago Medicine; Chicago IL USA
| | - Bradley C Long
- Division of Genomic and Molecular Pathology; Department of Pathology; The University of Chicago Medicine; Chicago IL USA
| | - Sabah Kadri
- Division of Genomic and Molecular Pathology; Department of Pathology; The University of Chicago Medicine; Chicago IL USA
- Center for Research Informatics; The University of Chicago; Chicago IL USA
| | - Jeremy P Segal
- Division of Genomic and Molecular Pathology; Department of Pathology; The University of Chicago Medicine; Chicago IL USA
| | - Larissa V Furtado
- Department of Pathology; University of Utah School of Medicine; Salt Lake City UT USA
| | - Nicole A Cipriani
- Department of Pathology; The University of Chicago Medicine; Chicago IL USA
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Metastatic Malignant Melanoma With Complete Loss of Differentiation Markers (Undifferentiated/Dedifferentiated Melanoma): Analysis of 14 Patients Emphasizing Phenotypic Plasticity and the Value of Molecular Testing as Surrogate Diagnostic Marker. Am J Surg Pathol 2016; 40:181-91. [PMID: 26448190 DOI: 10.1097/pas.0000000000000527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Metastatic malignant melanoma is notorious for its phenotypic diversity and loss of differentiation markers. We herein summarized our experience with 14 metastatic melanomas showing complete loss of immunohistochemical melanocytic markers (with or without heterologous differentiation). Patients included 11 men and 3 women aged 24 to 78 years (median, 67 y). Thirteen patients had histologically confirmed primary skin melanoma, and 1 had metastatic melanoma of unknown primary. Undifferentiated metastasis was diagnosed synchronous to primary tumor (n=1), following skin melanoma by 3 months to 9 years (n=11) and preceding it by 1 year (n=1). Sites of undifferentiated metastases were axillary (3), inguinal (1), or submandibular (1) lymph nodes, digestive tract (2), bone/soft tissue (2), lung/pleura (2), and disseminated (n=3). Histology of metastases mimicked undifferentiated pleomorphic or spindle cell sarcoma with variable myxoid and giant cell areas (n=10) and cytokeratin-positive undifferentiated small cell sarcoma (n=1). Three cases showed heterologous dedifferentiation: pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma (n=1), teratocarcinosarcoma-like with prominent rhabdomyoblasts (n=1), and adenocarcinoma-like with metaplastic bone (n=1). All cases were negative for S100, melanoma cocktail, HMB45, Melan A, and SOX10. Other markers showed following results: smooth muscle actin (1/14), p16 (1/14), TP53 (2/12), pancytokeratin (4/14), desmin (5/14), h-caldesmon (0/9), and MDM2/CDK4 (0/5). SMARCB1 was intact in 8/8 cases. Genotyping showed BRAF(V600E) mutation (5/14), NRAS mutation (5/14), and BRAF/NRAS wild-type (4/14). In conclusion, undifferentiated/dedifferentiated metastatic melanoma is likely underrecognized and frequently mistaken for undifferentiated sarcoma or other neoplasms. Diagnosis of undifferentiated sarcoma at sites where melanoma metastasis are frequent (eg, inguinal and axillary region) should be made with great caution and warrants exploration of the remote history. Genotyping is a helpful surrogate marker in classifying such difficult cases. In the light of available targeted therapies, recognition of undifferentiated/dedifferentiated metastatic melanoma is mandatory for appropriate treatment.
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Mitsis D, Opyrchal M, Zhao Y, Kane Iii JM, Cheney R, Salerno KE. Exceptional Clinical Response to BRAF-Targeted Therapy in a Patient with Metastatic Sarcoma. Cureus 2015; 7:e439. [PMID: 26858920 PMCID: PMC4731329 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2015] [Accepted: 12/28/2015] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are a rare and heterogeneous group of tumors arising from mesenchymal tissue comprising 1% of all adult cancers. The prognosis of metastatic STS is dismal. As there are few active drugs, there is a critical need to find new therapeutic alternatives in order to improve outcomes. Most sarcoma subtypes are fairly resistant to standard chemotherapy regimens and/or have a short duration of response. The era of molecular targeted therapy may present new treatment options for metastatic STS and an opportunity to drive biomarker discovery and personalized medicine. This case report describes a patient with a synchronous metastatic high-grade sarcoma who was treated with BRAF-targeted therapy with resolution of his metastatic lesions. To our knowledge, this exceptional response has not been described in sarcoma literature. The patient presented with a large anterior abdominopelvic wall mass. Biopsy showed a high-grade spindle cell sarcoma. Staging scans confirmed two pulmonary metastases. He was initiated on combination chemotherapy with mixed results. He received 50 Gy of radiation to the primary tumor followed by two additional cycles of combination chemotherapy, with an interval increase in the size of the pulmonary metastases. Molecular testing revealed a BRAF V600E mutation in the primary tumor. The patient was initiated on dabrafenib/trametinib with a dramatic response and resolution of his pulmonary metastases. The patient underwent surgical resection of his primary mass, and pathology confirmed no evidence of residual disease. Detailed genetic characterization of STS coupled with novel therapeutic strategies, including molecular targeted therapy, may have the potential to transform the care of patients diagnosed with sarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Yujie Zhao
- Medical Oncology, Carle Foundation Hospital
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30
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Escandell I, Cabezas M, Martín J, Terradez L, Pinazo M. Effective treatment with Dabrafenib and Trametinib for a
BRAF
‐mutated metastatic dedifferentiated malignant spindle cell neoplasm. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2015; 30:1224-6. [DOI: 10.1111/jdv.13155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- I. Escandell
- Department of Dermatology Hospital Clinico Universitario de Valencia Valencia Spain
| | - M. Cabezas
- Department of Pathology Hospital Clinico Universitario de Valencia Valencia Spain
| | - J.M. Martín
- Department of Dermatology Hospital Clinico Universitario de Valencia Valencia Spain
| | - L. Terradez
- Department of Pathology Hospital Clinico Universitario de Valencia Valencia Spain
| | - M.I. Pinazo
- Department of Dermatology Hospital Clinico Universitario de Valencia Valencia Spain
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