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

Diagnostic Value of Combined BCOR, Cyclin D1, and CD10 in Differentiating Endometrial Stromal Sarcoma From Other Uterine Spindle Cell Lesions

Uterine spindle cell lesions share a dilemmatic overlapped features that needed to be addressed by the pathologist to reach a conclusive accurate diagnosis for its prognostic value and different management decisions. Usage of combined IHC panel can be an aiding guiding tool in this context. The aim of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic value of combined BCOR, Cyclin D1, and CD10 IHC panel in differentiating endometrial stromal sarcoma from other uterine spindle cell lesions. This study included 60 cases categorized into endometrial stromal sarcoma group (ESS) (12 cases high-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma [HGESS] and 18 cases low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma [LGESS]), malignant uterine spindle cell lesions group (5 cases adenosarcoma [AS], 6 cases leiomyosarcoma [LS], 4 cases carcinosarcoma [CS]), and benign uterine lesions group (5 cases endometrial stromal nodule [ESN], 5 cases leiomyoma, and 5 cases adenomyosis). IHC staining procedure and evaluation for BCOR, Cyclin D1, and CD10 was performed on all studied cases. BCOR IHC staining was positive in all HGESS (12/12) of ESS group cases, with diffuse pattern in 75% of cases. BCOR-diffuse staining pattern was not recorded in any of LGESS (0/18), malignant mesenchymal lesions group (0/15), and also benign lesions group (0/15). Cyclin D1 positivity was observed only in HGESS cases, in parallel with positive-BCOR expression. On the contrary, CD10 was negatively expressed in all HGESS and positive in all LGESS, ESN, and adenomyosis cases. A specificity of 100% and sensitivity of 75% were recorded in differentiating HGESS from malignant mesenchymal lesions (including LMS, AS, and CS) and also HGESS from LGESS when using the combined panel BCOR +ve D /Cyclin D1 +ve / CD10 -ve , considering only the BCOR-diffuse staining pattern. In conclusion, BCOR +ve D /Cyclin D1 +ve /CD10 -ve as a combined panel is 100% specific and with lesser sensitivity in diagnosing HGESS as well as differentiating it from LGESS and other malignant uterine spindle cell lesions.

Endometroid type endometrial cancer after surgery: unravelling the interplay of sleep, fatigue, and psychological well-being

BACKGROUND

Endometrioid carcinoma, originating in the endometrium glandular cells, is often detected early and treated by surgery. However, post-treatment life quality remains poorly studied, explicitly focusing on sleep quality, fatigue, and depression.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional, observational study, 147 female patients with endometrioid-type endometrial carcinoma were evaluated using standardised tools-Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Patients were categorised based on sleep quality and depression levels. The study employed correlation and regression analyses to examine the relationships among these variables.

RESULTS

No correlations were found between sociodemographic or lifestyle variables and sleep quality, fatigue, or depression (P > 0.05). A strong correlation was identified between PSQI and FAS (r = 0.623; P < 0.001), PSQI and BDI (r = 0.291; P < 0.001), and FAS and BDI (r = 0.413; P < 0.001). Fatigue and tumour grade were potential predictors of poor sleep. Sleep quality and depression predicted fatigue, while only fatigue was a predictor for depression. Radiotherapy and external radiation rates were notably higher in the mild depression group.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study suggests an imperative for integrated multi-disciplinary approaches that focus on medical and psychological aspects of patient care to enhance long-term well-being and quality of life.

Ultrasound features using MUSA terms and definitions in uterine sarcoma and leiomyoma: cohort study

OBJECTIVES

Timely and accurate preoperative diagnosis of uterine sarcoma will increase patient survival. The primary aim of this study was to describe the ultrasound features of uterine sarcoma compared with those of uterine leiomyoma based on the terms and definitions of the Morphological Uterus Sonographic Assessment (MUSA) group. A secondary aim was to assess the interobserver agreement for reporting on ultrasound features according to MUSA terminology.

METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort study of patients with uterine sarcoma or uterine leiomyoma treated in a single tertiary center during the periods 1997-2019 and 2016-2019, respectively. Demographic characteristics, presenting symptoms and surgical outcomes were extracted from patients' files. Ultrasound images were re-evaluated independently by two sonologists using MUSA terms and definitions. Descriptive statistics were calculated and interobserver agreement was assessed using Cohen's κ (with squared weights) or intraclass correlation coefficient, as appropriate.

RESULTS

A total of 107 patients were included, of whom 16 had a uterine sarcoma and 91 had a uterine leiomyoma. Abnormal uterine bleeding was the most frequent presenting symptom (69/107 (64%)). Compared with leiomyoma cases, patients with uterine sarcoma were older (median age, 65 (interquartile range (IQR), 60-70) years vs 48 (IQR, 43-52) years) and more likely to be postmenopausal (13/16 (81%) vs 15/91 (16%)). In the uterine sarcoma cohort, leiomyosarcoma was the most frequent histological type (6/16 (38%)), followed by adenosarcoma (4/16 (25%)). On ultrasound evaluation, according to Observers 1 and 2, the tumor border was irregular in most sarcomas (11/16 (69%) and 13/16 (81%) cases, respectively), but regular in most leiomyomas (65/91 (71%) and 82/91 (90%) cases, respectively). Lesion echogenicity was classified as non-uniform in 68/91 (75%) and 51/91 (56%) leiomyomas by Observers 1 and 2, respectively, and 15/16 (94%) uterine sarcomas by both observers. More than 60% of the uterine sarcomas showed acoustic shadows (11/16 (69%) and 10/16 (63%) cases by Observers 1 and 2, respectively), whereas calcifications were reported in a small minority (0/16 (0%) and 2/16 (13%) cases by Observers 1 and 2, respectively). In uterine sarcomas, intralesional vascularity was reported as moderate to abundant in 13/16 (81%) cases by Observer 1 and 15/16 (94%) cases by Observer 2, while circumferential vascularity was scored as moderate to abundant in 6/16 (38%) by both observers. Interobserver agreement for the presence of cystic areas, calcifications, acoustic shadow, central necrosis, color score (overall, intralesional and circumferential) and maximum diameter of the lesion was moderate. The agreement for shape of lesion, tumor border and echogenicity was fair.

CONCLUSIONS

A postmenopausal patient presenting with abnormal uterine bleeding and a new or growing mesenchymal mass with irregular tumor borders, moderate-to-abundant intralesional vascularity, cystic areas and an absence of calcifications on ultrasonography is at a higher risk of having a uterine sarcoma. Interobserver agreement for most MUSA terms and definitions is moderate. Future studies should validate the abovementioned clinical and ultrasound findings on uterine mesenchymal tumors in a prospective multicenter fashion. © 2023 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

FOXO3a deregulation in uterine smooth muscle tumors

OBJECTIVE

The present study aimed to investigate FOXO3a deregulation in Uterine Smooth Muscle Tumors (USMT) and its potential association with cancer development and prognosis.

METHODS

The authors analyzed gene and protein expression profiles of FOXO3a in 56 uterine Leiomyosarcomas (LMS), 119 leiomyomas (comprising conventional and unusual leiomyomas), and 20 Myometrium (MM) samples. The authors used techniques such as Immunohistochemistry (IHC), FISH/CISH, and qRT-PCR for the present analyses. Additionally, the authors conducted an in-silico analysis to understand the interaction network involving FOXO3a and its correlated genes.

RESULTS

This investigation revealed distinct expression patterns of the FOXO3a gene and protein, including both normal and phosphorylated forms. Expression levels were notably elevated in LMS, and Unusual Leiomyomas (ULM) compared to conventional Leiomyomas (LM) and Myometrium (MM) samples. This upregulation was significantly associated with metastasis and Overall Survival (OS) in LMS patients. Intriguingly, FOXO3a deregulation did not seem to be influenced by EGF/HER-2 signaling, as there were minimal levels of EGF and VEGF expression detected, and HER-2 and EGFR were negative in the analyzed samples. In the examination of miRNAs, the authors observed upregulation of miR-96-5p and miR-155-5p, which are known negative regulators of FOXO3a, in LMS samples. Conversely, the tumor suppressor miR-let7c-5p was downregulated.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, the outcomes of the present study suggest that the imbalance in FOXO3a within Uterine Smooth Muscle Tumors might arise from both protein phosphorylation and miRNA activity. FOXO3a could emerge as a promising therapeutic target for individuals with Unusual Leiomyomas and Leiomyosarcomas (ULM and LMS), offering novel directions for treatment strategies.

Smooth muscle tumours of the uterus: MR imaging malignant predictive features-a 12-year analysis in a referral hospital in Portugal

PURPOSE

To evaluate the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features that may help distinguish leiomyosarcomas from atypical leiomyomas (those presenting hyperintensity on T2-W images equal or superior to 50% compared to the myometrium).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The authors conducted a retrospective single-centre study that included a total of 57 women diagnosed with smooth muscle tumour of the uterus, who were evaluated with pelvic MRI, between January 2009 and March 2020. All cases had a histologically proven diagnosis (31 Atypical Leiomyomas-ALM; 26 Leiomyosarcomas-LMS). The MRI features evaluated in this study included: age at presentation, dimension, contours, intra-tumoral haemorrhagic areas, T2-WI heterogeneity, T2-WI dark areas, flow voids, cyst areas, necrosis, restriction on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values, signal intensity and heterogeneity after contrast administration in T1-WI, presence and location of unenhanced areas. The association between the MRI characteristics and the histological subtype was evaluated using Chi-Square and ANOVA tests.

RESULTS

The MRI parameters that showed a statistically significance correlation with malignant histology and thus most strongly associated with LMS were found to be: irregular contours (p < 0.001), intra-tumoral haemorrhagic areas (p = 0.028), T2-WI dark areas (p = 0.016), high signal intensity after contrast administration (p = 0.005), necrosis (p = 0.001), central location for unenhanced areas (p = 0.026), and ADC value lower than 0.88 × 10-3 mm2/s (p = 0.002).

CONCLUSION

With our work, we demonstrate the presence of seven MRI features that are statistically significant in differentiating between LMS and ALM.

Trends in incidence, survival and initial treatments of gynecological sarcoma: a retrospective analysis of the United States subpopulation

BACKGROUND

To estimate the incidence, prevalence and incidence-based mortality in patients with gynecologic sarcoma (GS), and described the trends of survival and initial treatments in the US by using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database.

METHODS

GS cases aged 20 years or older between 1975 and 2015 were identified from SEER 9 registries. Incidence, prevalence, and incidence-based mortality were estimated, all rates were age adjusted to the 2000 US standard population and presented as per 100,000 persons. Annual percentage change (APC) and average APC (AAPC) were calculated to describe the trends. In addition, stage distribution, cancer-specific survival (CSS) and initial treatment pattern over time were also reported.

RESULTS

The overall age-adjusted incidence of GS increased from 2.38 to 3.41 per 100,000 persons from 1975 to 2015, with an AAPC of 1.0 (P < 0.05), and the AAPC increased to 1.3 (P < 0.05) in the last decade. The incidence of population aged ≥ 55 years was three or more times than that of population aged 20-54 year from 1975 to 2015. Corpus and uterus GS was the main subtype, and it increased significantly during last three decades (an APC of 1.5). In addition, the prevalence of corpus and uterus GS increased mostly among all GSs. The incidence of GS with regional and distant stages increased pronouncedly, but not for local stage. GS cases showed increasing 3-year and 5-year CSS rates except for other sites GS. Approximately 87.7% GS cases received surgery during the first-course treatment, but the proportion decreased over years. In contrast, the proportion of receiving multiple treatment modalities increased.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of GS increased significantly with improved survival, which might due to the strategy of combination of multiple treatment. However, no obvious improvement on the early detection of GS was found, which should be facilitated to further improve the prognosis of GS.

[Practical diagnostic aspects of uterine leiomyosarcoma in the context of the 2020 WHO classification]

The 2020 WHO Classification defines the spindle cell, epithelioid, and myxoid variants as subtypes of uterine leiomyosarcomas (LMS). Presence of cellular atypia (size variation of polymorphic nuclei > 2-3:1), tumor cell necroses, and mitotic count (usually ≥ 10 MF/10 HPF) are still the key features for diagnostic separation from uterine leiomyomas. Preanalytic variables, staining quality, as well as intralesional geographic distribution may affect the mitotic count. Smooth muscle tumors of uncertain malignant potential (STUMP) still exist as a not yet well-characterized diagnostic entity. Immunohistochemical stains against p16, p53, Ki-67, and WT‑1 may aid differential diagnosis in selected cases. Diagnostic molecular pathology is not yet relevant for diagnosis.

Evaluation of Hedgehog Pathway Inhibitors as a Therapeutic Option for Uterine Leiomyosarcoma Using the Xenograft Model

Uterine leiomyosarcoma (LMS) contributes to a significant proportion of uterine cancer deaths. It is a rare and high-risk gynecological cancer. LMS is challenging to the treatment due to the resistance of several therapies. The activation of the Hedgehog (HH) pathway has been reported in several types of female cancers. Uterine LMS presents an upregulation of the crucial HH signaling pathway members such as SMO and GLI1. Although targeting the HH pathway exhibited a potent inhibitory effect on the phenotype of uterine LMS in vitro, the effect of the HH inhibitors on LMS growth in vivo has not been identified. The present study aimed to assess the effect of Hedgehog pathway inhibitors (SMO-LDE225 and GLI-Gant61) as a therapeutic option in the xenograft model of uterine LMS. The results demonstrated that LDE225 treatment did not show any inhibitory effect on LMS tumor growth; however, treatment with GLI inhibitor (Gant61) induced a remarkable tumor regression with a significant decrease in Ki67 expression, compared to control (p < 0.01). Moreover, administration of Gant61 decreased the expression of GLI1, GLI target genes BMP4 and c-MYC (p < 0.05), indicating that the HH pathway is implicated in the LMS experimental model. In conclusion, our studies demonstrate for the first time that GLI inhibitor (Gant61), but not SMO inhibitor (LDE225), shows a potent inhibitory effect on LMS tumor growth and concomitantly suppresses the expression of GLI1- and GLI-targeted genes using the xenograft model of uterine LMS.