Leiomyosarcoma of the bladder in a retinoblastoma patient

Are there monogenic hereditary forms of bladder cancer or only genetic susceptibilities?

Bladder cancer (BC) is the most common cancer involving the urinary system and the ninth most common cancer worldwide. Tobacco smoking is the most important environmental risk factor of BC. Several single nucleotide polymorphisms have been validated by genome-wide association studies as genetic risk factors for BC. However, the identification of DNA mismatch-repair genes, including MSH2 in Lynch syndrome and MUTYH in MUTYH-associated polyposis, raises the possibility of monogenic hereditary forms of BC. Moreover, other genetic mutations may play a key role in familial and hereditary transmissions of BC. Therefore, the aim of this review is to focus on the major hereditary syndromes involved in the development of BC and to report BC genetic susceptibilities established with genome-wide significance level.

Retinoblastoma in Infancy with Subsequent Bladder Leiomyosarcoma in Adulthood: Genomic Considerations

Hereditary retinoblastoma is attributed to germline mutation in an RB1 tumor suppressor gene followed by somatic mutation in the other allele. This report details a case of leiomyosarcoma of the bladder in a 24-year-old man with a history of retinoblastoma treated by enucleation and radiotherapy in infancy. Leiomyosarcoma is the most common secondary soft tissue malignancy in retinoblastoma survivors; however, leiomyosarcoma of the bladder in retinoblastoma survivors is very rare. Survivors of hereditary retinoblastoma should be monitored closely for secondary malignancies, and there should be an increased suspicion of malignancy. Furthermore, tumors can occur outside the field of radiation.

[Leiomyosarcoma of the urinary bladder treated using laparoscopic cystectomy and bladder replacement by enterocystoplasty: about a case]

Our study aims to report a new case of leiomyosarcoma of the urinary bladder, a rare tumor, and to propose a new therapeutic approach, given the non-consensual nature of its treatment. A 31-year old patient, with no particular previous history, presented with total haematuria with clot formation. The clinical and paraclinical assessment showed a voluminous solid tumor mass occupying the apex of urinary bladder and extending to the right lateral wall, with infiltrating appearance, without lymph node involvement or invasion of local or distal organs. Surgical management was based on total laparoscopic cystectomy and bladder replacement by enterocystoplasty. The postoperative course was uneventful. Radiological examinations at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months showed no recurrence. Thus, adaptive surgery should be proposed on a case-by-case basis, to improve the quality of life of patients suffering from this condition.

Simultaneous Low- and High-Grade Primary Leiomyosarcomas in Two Separate Organs in a Thirty-Year Survivor of Hereditary Retinoblastoma

Patients with hereditary retinoblastoma have a heightened risk of developing subsequent bone and soft tissue sarcomas, exacerbated by radiation and alkylating chemotherapy. Secondary leiomyosarcomas are rare. A 29-year-old patient with bilateral retinoblastoma history presented with concurrent, independent malignancies found to be Rb-suppressed uterine and Rb-positive bladder leiomyosarcomas. She had undergone both ifosfamide chemotherapy and radiation therapy but demonstrated rare simultaneous primary leiomyosarcomas not previously described in association with ifosfamide. This rare case underlines the protean genetic predisposition to malignancy in this patient population, heightening awareness of lifelong malignancy potential, and the necessity for continuous periodic screening.

Sarcomas in hereditary retinoblastoma

Children diagnosed with the hereditary form of retinoblastoma (Rb), a rare eye cancer caused by a germline mutation in the RB1 tumor suppressor gene, have excellent survival, but face an increased risk of bone and soft tissue sarcomas. This predisposition to sarcomas has been attributed to genetic susceptibility due to inactivation of the RB1 gene as well as past radiotherapy for Rb. The majority of bone and soft tissue sarcomas among hereditary Rb survivors occur in the head, within the radiation field, but they also occur outside the radiation field. Sarcomas account for almost half of the second primary cancers in hereditary Rb survivors, but they are very rare following non-hereditary Rb. Sarcomas among hereditary Rb survivors arise at ages similar to the pattern of occurrence in the general population. There has been a trend over the past two decades to replace radiotherapy with chemotherapy and other focal therapies (laser or cryosurgery), and most recently, chemosurgery in order to reduce the incidence of sarcomas and other second cancers in Rb survivors. Given the excellent survival of most Rb patients treated in the past, it is important for survivors, their families and health care providers to be aware of the heightened risk for sarcomas in hereditary patients.

Oncolytic viruses in the treatment of bladder cancer

Bladder carcinoma is the second most common malignancy of the urinary tract. Up to 85% of patients with bladder cancer are diagnosed with a tumor that is limited to the bladder mucosa (Ta, T1, and CIS). These stages are commonly termed as non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). Although the treatment of NMIBC has greatly improved in recent years, there is a need for additional therapies when patients fail bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) and chemotherapeutic agents. We propose that bladder cancer may be an ideal target for oncolytic viruses engineered to selectively replicate in and lyse tumor cells leaving normal cells unharmed. In support of this hypothesis, here we review current treatment strategies for bladder cancer and their shortcomings, as well as recent advancements in oncolytic viral therapy demonstrating encouraging safety profiles and antitumor activity.

Leiomyosarcoma of the urinary bladder: a clinicopathological study of 34 cases

Background

Leiomyosarcomas of the urinary bladder (LMS-UB) are rare, usually aggressive neoplasms. Owing to their rarity, only a limited number of cases with clinical follow-up information have been published. There is no current consensus on LMS-UB grading, and it is unknown whether the widely accepted Fédération Nationale des Centres de Lutte Contre le Cancer (FNCLCC) and National Cancer Institute (NCI) grading systems of soft-tissue sarcomas are applicable to LMS-UB.

Methods

The authors studied 34 well-characterised LMS-UB and compared the prognostic power of the FNCLCC and NCI systems with that of one published grading scheme for LMS-UB (Mayo). All available slides from 34 LMS-UB were retrieved and evaluated with regards to degree of differentiation, mitotic rate/10 high-powered fields (HPF), and % necrosis. Cases were graded using published criteria for the FNCLCC, NCI and Mayo schemes. Follow-up information was obtained.

Results

The tumours occurred in 17 females and 17 males, ranging from 31 to 91 years (median 65), and measured 2–12 cm in size. One tumour was well differentiated, 17 tumours were moderately differentiated, and 16 tumours were poorly differentiated. Mitotic rates ranged from 1 to >30/10 HPF (median 12/10 HPF), and tumours showed 0–60% necrosis (median 25%). FNCLCC grades were 1 (3), 2 (12) and 3 (19). NCI grades were 1 (2), 2 (11) and 3 (21). Mayo grades were low (7) and high (27). FNCLCC and NCI grades were identical in 23/34 cases (68%). Four cases were FNCLCC/NCI grade 2 or 3 and Mayo low-grade. Clinical follow-up was available for 25 of 34 patients (74%). Clinical follow-up of ≥12 months was available for 17 of these 25 cases (68%) with a median follow-up duration of 52 months (range 12–120 months). Adverse outcome was seen in nine of these 17 patients (53%). Seven of the eight cases (88%) with a clinical follow-up duration of <12 months died of their disease. Overall, adverse outcome was documented in 16 of 25 (64%) cases. Metastatic disease was seen in 13 of 25 (52%) cases, with the lungs being the most common site of metastasis (62%). Adverse outcome was noted in 15 of 23 (65%) of FNCLCC grade 2 or 3 LMS-UB, as compared with zero of two (0%) FNCLCC grade 1 tumours (p=0.15), in 15 of 23 (65%) NCI grade 2 or 3 LMS-UB, versus zero of two (0%) NCI grade 1 sarcomas (p=0.17) and in 13 of 20 (65%) Mayo high grade LMS-UB, as opposed to two of five (40%) low-grade lesions (all results not statistically significant).

Conclusions

The authors conclude that LMS-UB occurs in older adults of either sex and is characterised by aggressive behaviour, with adverse outcome in >60% of cases. Certain advantages of the FNCLCC system may support its more widespread adoption for future studies.

Deficiency in p53 but not retinoblastoma induces the transformation of mesenchymal stem cells in vitro and initiates leiomyosarcoma in vivo

Sarcomas have been modeled in mice by the expression of specific fusion genes in mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), supporting the concept that MSCs might be the target initiating cell in sarcoma. In this study, we evaluated the potential oncogenic effects of p53 and/or retinoblastoma (Rb) deficiency in MSC transformation and sarcomagenesis. We derived wild-type, p53(-/-), Rb(-/-), and p53(-/-)Rb(-/-) MSC cultures and fully characterized their in vitro growth properties and in vivo tumorigenesis capabilities. In contrast with wild-type MSCs, Rb(-/-), p53(-/-), and p53(-/-)Rb(-/-) MSCs underwent in vitro transformation and showed severe alterations in culture homeostasis. More importantly, p53(-/-) and p53(-/-)Rb(-/-) MSCs, but not Rb(-/-) MSCs, were capable of tumor development in vivo after injection into immunodeficient mice. p53(-/-) or p53(-/-)Rb(-/-) MSCs originated leiomyosarcoma-like tumors, linking this type of smooth muscle sarcoma to p53 deficiency in fat tissue-derived MSCs. Sca1+ and Sca1 low/- cell populations isolated from ex vivo-established, transformed MSC lines from p53(-/-)Rb(-/-) tumors showed identical sarcomagenesis potential, with 100% tumor penetrance and identical latency, tumor weight, and histologic profile. Our findings define the differential roles of p53 and Rb in MSC transformation and offer proof-of-principle that MSCs could provide useful tools to dissect the sarcoma pathogenesis.

Hereditary bladder cancer

First degree relatives of patients with bladder cancer have a two-fold increased risk of bladder cancer but high-risk bladder cancer families are extremely rare. There is no clear Mendelian inheritance pattern that can explain the increased familial risk. This makes classical linkage studies for the mapping of susceptibility genes impossible. The disease is probably caused by a combination of exposure to exogenous carcinogens and a large number of susceptibility genes with modest effects. Genome-wide association studies are better suited to identify these genes. Three such studies are currently underway and are expected to report their results in 2008.

A second leiomyosarcoma in the urinary bladder of a child with a history of retinoblastoma 12 years following partial cystectomy

This case describes a twin with bilateral retinoblastoma who developed leiomyosarcoma of the bladder at age 17 and again at 39. At 17-years of age she was diagnosed with a leiomyosarcoma of the bladder after presenting with recurrent urinary tract infections, hematuria, and dysuria. She was treated with partial cystectomy. After a 12-year disease-free interval, she was diagnosed with a second leiomyosarcoma of the bladder. This case supports the relationship between the genetic form of retinoblastoma and leiomyosarcoma and illustrates the necessity for extensive follow-up and well-defined treatment of secondary neoplasms.