Rapidly evolving pelvic lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) mimicking bilateral hydrosalpinx: report of a rare case and literature review

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) represents a rare neoplasm affecting almost exclusively women of reproductive age. This condition mainly affects the lungs, but extrapulmonary locations such as the pelvis and the retroperitoneum are possible. Clinical evaluation and ultrasound imaging are usually non-specific, and the diagnosis is obtained through surgical excision and histopathological examination. We report a very rare case of abdominal LAM in a young female patient. A thorough literature review of this rare condition with emphasis on gynecologic implications will be presented. The patient was referred for gynecologic consultation due to pelvic pain and infertility. Unfortunately, despite prompt diagnosis and treatment, the course of the disease was severe and led to patient's exitus in a short time. We encountered an extremely rare deadly pathology mimicking a very common gynecologic condition. The gynecologist must always be alert of possible unexpected conditions that will require prompt attention.

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis and pregnancy: a mini-review

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis(LAM) is a slow progressive, rare cystic lung disease in women of reproductive age, associated with infiltration of the lung by atypical smooth muscle like cells, leading to the cystic destruction of the lung parenchyma. As LAM exclusively affects women of childbearing age, it can arise or exacerbate during pregnancy. Many patients with LAM are discouraged from pregnancy, although there is not much objective evidence effect on fertility. Patients diagnosed with LAM during pregnancy experience worse outcomes, so the safety of pregnancy is a vexing problem. What was worse, treatment strategies are limited on the effects of LAM on pregnancy outcomes. Pregnancy could be considered in LAM patients. Successful delivery in women with LAM depends on the condition of the LAM, which is in turn dependent on obstetricians and respiratory physicians. In this review, we describe the epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, clinical features and the treatment strategies of LAM during pregnancy.

The Evolving Landscape of Therapeutics for Epilepsy in Tuberous Sclerosis Complex

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a rare multisystem genetic disorder characterized by benign tumor growth in multiple organs, including the brain, kidneys, heart, eyes, lungs, and skin. Pathogenesis stems from mutations in either the TSC1 or TSC2 gene, which encode the proteins hamartin and tuberin, respectively. These proteins form a complex that inhibits the mTOR pathway, a critical regulator of cell growth and proliferation. Disruption of the tuberin-hamartin complex leads to overactivation of mTOR signaling and uncontrolled cell growth, resulting in hamartoma formation. Neurological manifestations are common in TSC, with epilepsy developing in up to 90% of patients. Seizures tend to be refractory to medical treatment with anti-seizure medications. Infantile spasms and focal seizures are the predominant seizure types, often arising in early childhood. Drug-resistant epilepsy contributes significantly to morbidity and mortality. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge regarding the pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, and treatment approaches for epilepsy and other neurological features of TSC. While narrative reviews on TSC exist, this review uniquely synthesizes key advancements across the areas of TSC neuropathology, conventional and emerging pharmacological therapies, and targeted treatments. The review is narrative in nature, without any date restrictions, and summarizes the most relevant literature on the neurological aspects and management of TSC. By consolidating the current understanding of TSC neurobiology and evidence-based treatment strategies, this review provides an invaluable reference that highlights progress made while also emphasizing areas requiring further research to optimize care and outcomes for TSC patients.

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis with Tuberous Sclerosis Complex-A Case Study

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is characterized by lung cysts that cause lung deterioration, changes in the lymphatic system, and tumors in the kidneys. It mainly affects women of reproductive age and is a progressive disease. LAM can occur as an isolated disease or coexist with tuberous sclerosis (TSC). The source of LAM cells is unknown. Patients with confirmed LAM should be treated with an mTOR inhibitor, sirolimus, or everolimus. We present a case of LAM with TSC in a patient whose symptoms, including those in the lymph nodes and chyaloperitoneum, mainly concern the abdominal cavity.

Statins block mammalian target of rapamycin pathway: a possible novel therapeutic strategy for inflammatory, malignant and neurodegenerative diseases

Inflammation plays a critical role in several diseases such as cancer, gastric, heart and nervous system diseases. Data suggest that the activation of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway in epithelial cells leads to inflammation. Statins, the inhibitors of the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA), seem to be able to inhibit the mTOR. Statins are considered to have favorable effects on inflammatory diseases by reducing the complications caused by inflammation and by regulating the inflammatory process and cytokines secretion. This critical review collected data on this topic from clinical, in vivo and in vitro studies published between 1998 and June 2022 in English from databases including PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Cochrane libraries.

Case report: Pulmonary synovial sarcoma in a long-term survivor of childhood Hodgkin lymphoma

Solid organ malignancies have been reported in survivors of Hodgkin lymphoma treated with chemoradiation; however, to the best of our knowledge no cases of pulmonary synovial sarcoma have been documented in the literature in this cohort. We herein provide a detailed description of synovial sarcoma occurring in the lung of a long-term survivor of childhood Hodgkin lymphoma. A 29-year-old female never smoker with past medical history of Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosed at the age of 7 years and treated with chemotherapy and radiation therapy was admitted for management of pneumothorax. Wedge lung resection of an ulcerated subpleural nodule revealed a malignant spindle cell tumor that based on light microscopic and immunohistochemical features was classified as monophasic synovial sarcoma. The diagnosis was further confirmed by identification of SS18 (SYT) rearrangement by fluorescence in situ hybridization and SS18-SSX1 gene fusion by RNA sequencing. The case documents a rare occurrence of synovial sarcoma in a long-term survivor of childhood Hodgkin lymphoma. While comprising a typical genetic profile for synovial sarcoma, the tumor had unusual histological features such as cystic and low-grade morphology. The case suggests that synovial sarcoma falls within an expanding spectrum of secondary malignancies following prior treatment of Hodgkin lymphoma.

Clinical features and outcomes of male patients with lymphangioleiomyomatosis: A review

BACKGROUND

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare disease involving multiple systems, which is divided into sporadic LAM (S-LAM) and tuberous sclerosis complex-LAM, mostly affecting women who are in childbearing age stage. Data on male patients are limited and scattered. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct a systematic review to investigate the clinical features, diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes of LAM in male.

METHODS

We performed a literature review by searching for all the published reported cases of LAM in male during the past 35 years (April 1986-October 2021).

RESULTS

36 male patients described in 26 references were included in this article. The median age of onset was 34 years (interquartile range: 1-79). The most common initial manifestations were cough, dyspnea, respite, and hemoptysis, with pulmonary complications such as pneumothorax and chylothorax. Five patients (13.9%) were asymptomatic at admission. Nearly half of the 36 male patients had thin-walled air-filled cysts that were visible throughout both lungs. Considering the abovementioned atypical clinical features, misdiagnosis was committed in 8 patients (22.2%). In addition, patients with tuberous sclerosis complex lymphangioleiomyomatosis often have no pulmonary manifestations at onset but present multiple extrapulmonary manifestations and have higher rates of renal angiomyolipomas than patients with S-LAM (P < 0.01). Eventually, 4 patients with S-LAM eventually died.

CONCLUSION

Physicians should increase the awareness of LAM in male. Early monitoring of various systems should be recommended to ensure early management and active follow-up. Tuberous sclerosis complex patients should immediately be tracked for the onset of LAM disease to improve prognosis.

Perioperative management of thoracic surgery in patients with lymphangioleiomyomatosis

Background

General surgery for patients with lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is infrequent, however, general surgeons also occasionally experience it. Only a few reports have described the specific perioperative management appropriate for patients with LAM. Hence, in this case series, we aimed to investigate the surgical outcomes of LAM patients and their characteristics.

Case presentation

Medical records of 4482 patients who underwent thoracic surgery between 2009 and 2017 at our institution were assessed. Twelve patients were diagnosed with LAM. Details of the postoperative courses and surgical outcomes of LAM patients were retrospectively examined.

All LAM patients were female (age 41.3 ± 10.6 years). Surgeries were performed for patients undergoing biopsy (n = 4) and those with pneumothorax (n = 3), lung cancer (n = 2), and other conditions (n = 3). The mortality rate was 0% and the length of hospital stay was 27.4 ± 8.9 days. Ten postoperative complications occurred in six patients (50%): hypoxemia (n = 5), chylothorax (n = 2), and prolonged air leakage (n = 3).

Conclusions

Thoracic surgery may pose a risk of postoperative complications and long hospitalization for patients with LAM, although it lowers the risk of fatality. Management of perioperative air and chyle leakages and lymphatic stasis in the lungs is important for preventing morbidities.

Pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis and renal angiomyolipoma in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus: A case report

BACKGROUND

The co-incidence of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and tuberous sclerosis with pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) and renal angiomyolipoma (AML) is rare. In such patients, the rupture of renal AML may result in fatal circumstances, but this may be preventable.

METHODS

A 22-year-old Asian woman with SLE was admitted to our hospital with severe left-flank pain. Imaging studies showed the bilateral rupture of multiple renal AMLs.

RESULTS

The patient underwent emergency selective transcatheter embolization (TE) of the left renal artery. After TE and massive hydration, the patient complained of dyspnea and postembolization syndrome with fever. The chest computed tomography (CT) revealed pulmonary LAM, pulmonary edema with bilateral pleural effusions, and pneumonic consolidation. After the emergency procedure, the patient was treated with intravenous administration of antibiotics, diuretics, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for 10 days. The patient recovered favorably and was discharged 20 days after the treatment. She was diagnosed with renal AML and pulmonary LAM along with facial angiofibromas as well as tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), although she had no TSC1 or TSC2 gene mutations.

CONCLUSION

Although rare, SLE may coexist with TSC, along with LAM and AML, with a risk of AML rupture. The activation of the mTOR signaling pathway is shared between SLE and TSC. Thus, in patients with SLE, clinicians should consider imaging studies, such as kidney sonography and chest CT, to screen for possible manifestation of AML and LAM.

Gene mutations in sporadic lymphangioleiomyomatosis and genotype–phenotype correlation analysis

Background

Sporadic lymphangioleiomyomatosis (S-LAM) is a rare neoplasm with heterogeneous clinical features that is conventionally considered to be related to TSC2. This study serves to elucidate the mutation landscape and potential correlation between S-LAM genomic profiles and clinical phenotypes.

Methods

Genomic profiles of 22 S-LAM patients were obtained by sequencing genomic DNA and cell-free DNA from various specimens using an NGS (next-generation sequencing)-based tumor-driver gene panel. Detected mutations were summarized. Symptoms, serum vascular endothelial growth factor D (VEGF-D) values, pulmonary function, and six-minute walk distance (6MWD) were compared among groups with different TSC2 status and genotypes to analyze genotype–phenotype correlations.

Results

67 Variants in 43 genes were detected, with a TSC2 mutation detection rate of 68.2%. The TSC2 detection rate was similar in specimens obtained either through transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB) or surgical lung biopsy (70.0% vs. 69.2%, p > 0.05). A novel mutation in VEZF1 (c.A659G) was detected in four participants and may represent a mild disease state. TSC2 mutation was significantly related to a shorter 6MWD (p < 0.05), and a higher percentage of VEGF-D over 800 pg/mL (p < 0.05); stop-gain mutation was significantly related to a higher prevalence of pneumothorax.

Conclusions

Tumor-driver mutations in genes other than TSC2 may have a role in S-LAM, and TBLB specimens are practical alternatives for genomic analysis. TSC2 mutation detectability and types are related to the disease severity and phenotypes of S-LAM.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12890-022-02154-0.

A Multi-Centric Study Assessing Safety and Efficacy of Everolimus in Adult Chinese Patients With Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Associated Renal Angiomyolipomas

Background

Everolimus has been approved in China for adult patients with TSC-AML (tuberous sclerosis associated renal angiomyolipomas) not requiring immediate surgery and has been previously shown to be an effective treatment option for TSC-AML in the Chinese population

Methods

This is an open label, single arm, multi-center Phase IV post-approval commitment study to further assess the safety and efficacy of everolimus in patients with TSC-AML who do not require immediate surgical intervention. The primary outcome was to evaluate the safety of everolimus while the secondary outcome was to evaluate AML response.

Results

Treatment with everolimus was associated with a clinically meaningful best overall AML response rate of 70% (95% CI: 53.5, 83.4). Of the 38 evaluable patients, 37 (97%) patients experienced a reduction in the sum of volumes of target angiomyolipoma lesions relative to baseline. At Week 12 (n=38), the median percentage change in sum of target AML volume was −56.60%, which further changed by -59.96% at Week 24 (n=38), and by −64.41% at Week 48 (n=22). Throughout the study, renal function remained relatively stable. Patients with TSC associated lymphangiomyomatosis (LAM) (N=13) demonstrated a lower than expected rate of decline in pulmonary function tests (PFTs). Everolimus was generally well tolerated with no significant safety findings in Chinese patients. Most of the adverse events were of grade 1-2, and manageable with appropriate dose adjustments and supportive therapies. There were no treatment discontinuation due to AE and no treatment death was reported.

Conclusions

Based on the efficacy and safety data presented in this study, the overall clinical benefit/risk assessment further supports the use of everolimus as a viable treatment option for Chinese patients with TSC-AML.

Acute Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure Due to COVID-19 in a Patient With Underlying Lymphangioleiomyomatosis

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare disorder that can cause lesions that develop into cysts, most commonly in the lung parenchyma and renal angiomyolipomas. We report a case of a young female with LAM who was admitted to the hospital for a COVID-19 infection, with the objective of discussing the management of LAM with concurrent COVID-19 infection. She ultimately showed overall clinical improvement after receiving dexamethasone and remdesivir, while holding her outpatient mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor. When patients with rare diseases acquire COVID-19, an individualized approach to treatment is often most effective as information and studies may be limited.

Soluble Immune-Related Proteins as New Candidate Serum Biomarkers for the Diagnosis and Progression of Lymphangioleiomyomatosis

Background

The goal of this study was to analyze serum from lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) patients and healthy controls to identify novel biomarkers that could shed light on disease diagnosis and pathogenesis.

Methods

From April 2017 to October 2019, qualified serum samples were obtained to explore differences in 59 immune proteins between 67 LAM patients and 49 healthy controls by the Luminex method.

Results

We characterized 22 serum immune proteins that were differentially expressed in LAM patients compared with healthy people. Fifty-nine proteins were then classified into eight categories according to their biological function, and the results showed that LAM patients displayed significantly higher levels of growth factors (p = 0.006) and lower levels of costimulatory molecules (p = 0.008). LAG-3 was not only likely to have better predictive value than VEGF-D but also showed a significant difference between patients without elevated VEGF-D and healthy people. IL-18 was positively correlated with lung function and six-minute walk test (6MWT) distance and negatively correlated with St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) score and pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP), which suggested that IL-18 was related to disease severity. PD-1 was significantly different between patients with pneumothorax and/or chylothorax and those without complications.

Conclusion

We performed a large-scale serum immune factor analysis of LAM. Our study provides evidence that LAG-3 may be a novel candidate serum biomarker for the diagnosis of LAM. Future independent validation in prospective studies is warranted.

Pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM): A literature overview and case report

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis is a rare multisystem disease associated with genetic mutations. The disease usually occurs in women of childbearing age and is characterized by infiltration of immature smooth muscle cells into the lungs, airways, and axial lymphatic systems of the chest and abdomen. The disease often destroys lung parenchyma and produces air cysts. Lymphangioleiomyomatosis cell infiltration of the lymphatic axis can affect hilar lymph nodes, mediastinal ganglia, and extrathoracic lymph nodes. The disease can cause lymphatic dilation in the lungs and thoracic ducts, causing chylous effusion into the pleural or abdominal cavities. Invasion of cells into the walls of pulmonary veins can lead to venous obstruction and pulmonary venous hypertension with hemoptysis. Most patients present with cough, dyspnea, pneumothorax, hemoptysis, and abnormal lung function. Definitive diagnosis is usually based on histopathology and immunohistochemistry. We present a case of LAM in a 36-year-old female patient who was confirmed by specimens obtained from pneumothorax surgery and positive immunohistochemical staining with HMB-45.

Updated International Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Diagnostic Criteria and Surveillance and Management Recommendations

BACKGROUND

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is an autosomal dominant genetic disease affecting multiple body systems with wide variability in presentation. In 2013, Pediatric Neurology published articles outlining updated diagnostic criteria and recommendations for surveillance and management of disease manifestations. Advances in knowledge and approvals of new therapies necessitated a revision of those criteria and recommendations.

METHODS

Chairs and working group cochairs from the 2012 International TSC Consensus Group were invited to meet face-to-face over two days at the 2018 World TSC Conference on July 25 and 26 in Dallas, TX, USA. Before the meeting, working group cochairs worked with group members via e-mail and telephone to (1) review TSC literature since the 2013 publication, (2) confirm or amend prior recommendations, and (3) provide new recommendations as required.

RESULTS

Only two changes were made to clinical diagnostic criteria reported in 2013: "multiple cortical tubers and/or radial migration lines" replaced the more general term "cortical dysplasias," and sclerotic bone lesions were reinstated as a minor criterion. Genetic diagnostic criteria were reaffirmed, including highlighting recent findings that some individuals with TSC are genetically mosaic for variants in TSC1 or TSC2. Changes to surveillance and management criteria largely reflected increased emphasis on early screening for electroencephalographic abnormalities, enhanced surveillance and management of TSC-associated neuropsychiatric disorders, and new medication approvals.

CONCLUSIONS

Updated TSC diagnostic criteria and surveillance and management recommendations presented here should provide an improved framework for optimal care of those living with TSC and their families.

Improving Survival in Lymphangioleio-myomatosis: A 16-Year Observational Study in a Large Cohort of Patients

BACKGROUND

Over the last 2 decades, great progress has been made in the understanding of the clinical aspects and pathogenesis of lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM), leading to publication of guidelines and approval of an effective therapy.

OBJECTIVES

Aim of our study was to describe how the management and the natural history of this rare disease have changed after the publication of the ERS and American Thoracic Society/Japanese Respiratory Society guidelines and the introduction of sirolimus.

METHODS

We examined 162 LAM patients followed at our center between 2001 and 2017, reporting clinical characteristics and diagnostic approach. Response to sirolimus in patients undergoing long-term treatment and mortality risk, estimated in terms of cumulative incidence taking into account organ transplantation as a competing cause of the event, were evaluated. The difference in the cumulative incidence between the patients admitted to the observation before 2011 and after 2011, year of the publication of the MILES trial for the efficacy of sirolimus, has also been estimated.

RESULTS

Sixty-one patients had a histological diagnosis (22 from 2010 onward). 101 patients received a radiological diagnosis according to the guidelines criteria. Pulmonary function tests remained stable over a 3-year treatment period in patients who received sirolimus for over 12 months. The cumulative incidence of mortality after 10 years in the whole population was 25.5%. The cumulative incidence of mortality after 5 years was significantly lower in patients who entered the study since 2011 (after publication of the MILES trial) than in patients who entered the study before.

CONCLUSIONS

We provide the data supporting the long-term efficacy of sirolimus therapy in a large cohort of patients with functional impairment and other manifestations of the disease. Our results also suggest that the advent of sirolimus and the publication of international guidelines changed the natural history of the disease lowering the mortality and reducing the need of invasive diagnostic techniques.

Spindle cell lesion on fine needle aspiration as an initial step for diagnosis of lymphangioleiomyomatosis: Report of a rare case

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare systemic disease of women of reproductive age characterized by proliferation of abnormal smooth muscle like cells (LAM cells). Patients with LAM characteristically present with chronic dyspnea and cough and less commonly with spontaneous pneumothorax. Manifestation of extrapulmonary LAM as an initial presenting symptom is rare with a renal angiomyolipoma and lymphangioleiomyoma being most common. Although histologic findings of LAM are well-described, the cytological features; however, have been described only in few case reports, which focus on pulmonary LAM. Here, we report a case where initial diagnosis of LAM was made on pelvic "lymph node" fine needle aspiration (FNA) and biopsy in otherwise asymptomatic 25-year-old female, leading to further investigation and detection of developing cystic lung lesions. FNA cytology from the pelvic "lymph node" yielded proliferation of spindle cells without cytologic atypia. This case presented both clinical and histopathologic challenge, requiring clinical correlation and immunohistochemical staining for diagnosis. While rare, it is important to consider LAM in the differential diagnosis of spindle cell lesions in aspirate from nodules around vascular bundles in women of reproductive age even without history of lung lesion.

Exploring the Role of Matrix Metalloproteinases as Biomarkers in Sporadic Lymphangioleiomyomatosis and Tuberous Sclerosis Complex. A Pilot Study

Background: Lymphangioleiomyomatosis can develop in a sporadic form (S-LAM) or in women with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). The matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are extracellular matrix-degrading enzymes potentially involved in cystic lung destruction, and in the process of migration of LAM cells. The aim of the study was to explore the role of MMP-2 and MMP-7, such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) -C and -D in women with LAM, including patients with minor pulmonary disease (i.e., <10 lung cysts), and TSC with or without LAM.

Methods: We evaluated 50 patients: 13 individuals affected by S-LAM, 20 with TSC-LAM, of whom six with minor pulmonary disease, and 17 with TSC without pulmonary involvement. Sixteen healthy women were used as controls.

Results: MMP-2 resulted higher in LAM compared to healthy volunteers, and TSC patients (p = 0.040). MMP-7 was higher in TSC-LAM patient, with even greater values in patients with TSC-LAM minor pulmonary disease, than in S-LAM patients, and in controls (p = 0.001). VEGF-D level was lower than 800 pg/mL in all healthy controls and resulted higher in S-LAM and TSC-LAM than in TSC patients and controls (p < 0.001). VEGF-C values were not statistically different in the study population (p = 0.354). The area under ROC curves (AUCs) of MMP-2, and MMP-7 for predicting LAM diagnosis were of 0.756 ± 0.079 (p = 0.004), and 0.828 ± 0.060 (p < 0.001), respectively. Considering only patients with TSC, the AUCs for MMP-2, and MMP-7 in predicting LAM were 0.694 ± 0.088 (p = 0.044), and 0.713 ± 0.090 (p = 0.027), respectively.

Conclusions: Our data suggest that MMP-2 and MMP-7 could be promising biomarkers for LAM diagnosis.

The effect of sirolimus on angiomyolipoma is determined by decrease of fat-poor compartments and includes striking reduction of vascular structures

Renal angiomyolipomas hemorrhage is associated with their size and vascular constitution. The effects of sirolimus on different components of angiomyolipomas was analyzed in patients with tuberous sclerosis complex, sporadic lymphangioleiomyomatosis and multiple sporadic angiomyolipomas. Thirty angiomyolipomas from 14 patients treated with sirolimus were retrospectively evaluated. A Hounsfield-unit threshold was used to classify angiomyolipomas in fat-rich, fat-poor and intermediate-fat tumors, and to categorize tumor compartments in fat rich, fat poor, intermediate fat and highly vascularized. Diameter variations were measured to assess the effects on aneurysmatic/ectatic vascular formations. Volume reduction following treatment with sirolimus was higher in fat-poor than fat-rich angiomyolipomas. Tumor reduction was mainly determined by decrease of the fat-poor and highly-vascularized compartments while the volume of the fat-rich compartment increased. Broad liposubstitution was observed in some tumors. A median reduction of 100% (75 to 100) in the diameter of aneurysmatic/ectatic vascular structures was observed. Our study showed that sirolimus reduces the size of angiomyolipomas by decreasing primarily their highly-vascularized and fat-poor compartments. This effect is associated with a remarkable reduction of tumoral aneurysms/ectatic vessels, revealing the likely mechanism responsible for the risk-decreasing effect of mTOR inhibitors on angiomyolipoma bleeding. These findings support the role of mTOR in the development of angiomyolipoma blood vessels.

The effects of total pleural covering on pneumothorax recurrence and pulmonary function in lymphangioleiomyomatosis patients without history of pleurodesis or thoracic surgeries for pneumothorax

Background

Total pleural covering (TPC) is an innovative surgical procedure in which the entire visceral pleura is wrapped with sheets of oxidized regenerated cellulose (ORC) mesh under video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. We have previously reported that TPC could successfully prevent pneumothorax recurrence in patients with lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM). However, the actual efficacy and preventive effect of TPC on pneumothorax recurrence remains unclear as many LAM patients already had pleural adhesion prior to TPC that was induced by thoracic surgery and/or pleurodesis. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of TPC on pneumothorax recurrence and pulmonary function in LAM patients with no history of thoracic surgeries or pleurodesis.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed medical charts of 52 patients (60 hemithoraces) who underwent TPC at our center, from January 2003 to September 2019, as a first surgical intervention for pneumothorax.

Results

Pneumothorax recurrence occurred in 12 patients [14 of 60 hemithoraces (23.3%)] during the observation period [27 months (14.7; 56.4) = median (lower; upper quartiles)]. The probability of recurrence-free hemithorax post TPC was 81.1% at 2.5 years and 64.1% at 5 years. TPC did not produce a significant decrease in either VC %predicted (pred) or FEV₁/FVC. The pre- vs. post-TPC median (lower; upper quartiles) VC %pred was 85.7% (79.7; 98.0) vs. 87.2% (72.3; 95.6), P=0.535 and the FEV₁/FVC was 84.6% (75.7; 89.6) vs. 83.0% (71.8; 87.0), P=0.667. Mechanistic/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors (mTORI) were subsequently initiated in 19 patients (36.5%) because of the progression of LAM. The postoperative FEV_1%pred was significantly lower in patients who required mTORI than in those who did not [68.1% (57.3; 82.9) vs. 88.7% (84.6; 89.8), P=0.020]; the decline rate in FEV_1%pred/year from pre to post TPC was significantly greater in LAM patients who required mTORI than in those who did not [-9.37% (-4.73; 12.9) vs. -1.94% (1.52; -4.50), P=0.029]. Postoperative complications were found in 25 of 52 hemithoraces (48.1%).

Conclusions

TPC can prevent pneumothorax recurrence without causing ventilatory impairment or severe pleural symphysis in LAM patients. TPC is an effective treatment option for LAM-associated pneumothorax based on its efficacy and safety.

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis: a clinical review

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a diffuse cystic lung disease. There are two main types of LAM: sporadic, and LAM associated with the tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), which is caused by mutations in the TSC1 and TSC2 genes. LAM is characterised by cystic lung disease resulting in progressive dyspnoea, renal angiomyolipomas and lymphatic complications. Pneumothorax occurs frequently (70%) and definitive management with pleurodesis is recommended as the risk of recurrence is high. Characteristic thin-walled cysts are seen on computed tomography and the presence of elevated serum levels of a vascular endothelial growth factor-D has good diagnostic specificity. Currently, no single clinical or serological factor has been shown to predict prognosis. However, over the past decade, significant advances in our understanding of the pathophysiology of LAM has led to improved recognition of this rare disease and identification of treatment options. Mechanistic target of rapamycin inhibitors slow the rate of lung function decline and can resolve chylous effusion and regress angiomyolipomas. Life expectancy in patients with LAM is favourable, with a mean transplant-free survival >20 years from the time of diagnosis. Continued advances in understanding the molecular basis of LAM will lead to improved therapeutic targets and the development of more robust prognostic indicators.

Educational aims

To illustrate the clinical features, common presentations and radiological features of LAMTo outline the diagnostic approach to LAM, including the role of VEGF-DTo review the current prognostic indicators in LAM, and outline the impact of lung function, hormonal status, VEGF-D and clinical presentation on outcomeTo inform clinicians on the management options for LAM both pharmacological and nonpharmacological.

A Case of Tuberous Sclerosis Complex with Lymphangioleiomyomatosis and Renal Cell Carcinoma

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare disease affecting young women, which occurs sporadically or in patients with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). The main manifestations of TSC in the kidney include cysts and angiomyolipoma (AML). Although renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is not a manifestation of TSC, it has a 2–4% incidence in TSC patients. Furthermore, LAM is rare in patients with RCC. Herein, we present a case of a 40-year-old woman with LAM and RCC in the right kidney. We checked for mutations in the TSC1 and TSC2 genes from both blood and kidney lesions and found a heterozygous mutation of c.1717–30G> A in intron 16 of TSC2 gene. In TSC patients, the diagnosis of RCC is challenging because the cancer is rare, and it is often difficult to distinguish it from AML with conventional imaging techniques. Therefore, it is recommended that patients with TSC undergo renal imaging follow-ups annually for kidney masses.

Pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis masquerading as unilateral heterogeneous emphysema

Pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare, well-described pathology and usually is exclusive to females of a reproductive age. We present a 45 year-old lady who presented to the surgeons 1 year after an admission with acute dyspnoea following influenza infection. Initial computed tomography imaging findings demonstrated severe, heterogenous right-sided bullous emphysematous changes, but histopathological analysis of the post-operative specimen favoured a diagnosis of LAM. This case demonstrates the importance of considering LAM as a differential diagnosis for findings of unilateral emphysema or lobar emphysema, in which alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency has been excluded and in those without a significant smoking history.

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis Presenting as Recurrent Pneumothorax

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a disorder that causes cystic disease in the lungs. This condition is associated with renal angiomyolipomas and commonly occurs in individuals with tuberous sclerosis. Despite its frequent association with tuberous sclerosis, LAM is a rare condition and is often underdiagnosed. An identification of the array of signs for LAM is necessary to start the patient on appropriate long-term guideline-directed medical therapy.

A 24-year-old female patient with a past medical history of tuberous sclerosis, gestational hypertension, stable renal angiomyolipoma, and recent pneumothorax presented to our emergency department complaining of four weeks of productive cough. On presentation, she was found to have stable vital signs, and on examination, she had absent breath sounds in the right basilar and anterior mid-lung field compared to the left. Subsequent imaging confirmed a recurrence of pneumothorax from her visit three months prior to her current presentation as well as progressive cystic lung disease and an unchanged angiomyolipoma, suggestive of LAM.

We present this article with the hope of raising the index of suspicion for LAM in the setting of the particular signs and symptoms and to encourage prompt stabilization of the patient and initiation of guideline-directed medical therapy and strict follow-up to provide the greatest possible improvement in the patient’s quality of life.

A rare pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis disease in a male with tuberous sclerosis complex

Background

Pulmonary Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is an uncommon disease and may be associated with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). LAM is reported to occur exclusively in females of the premenopausal age group. Here we report a rare entity of lymphangioleiomyomatosis in a male patient of tuberous sclerosis, who developed pneumothorax following mechanical ventilation.

Case summary

A young adult presented to the emergency room with history of recurrent seizures since the 6th month of his age. He was intubated in the emergency room for protection of the airway and was initially maintained on manual ventilation using Bain's circuit. Neuroimaging revealed multiple calcified subcortical nodules and giant cell astrocytoma in left lateral ventricle. On the third day of hospitalization, he developed subcutaneous emphysema on his neck and anterior wall of chest. Contrast-enhanced CT chest revealed presence of subcentimetric thin walled cystic lesions in lungs, pneumomediastinum, right sided pneumothorax, and diffuse subcutaneous emphysema. Right sided pneumothorax was managed by intercostal chest tube drainage. CECT abdomen showed well defined heterogeneously enhancing lesions in right kidney suggestive of angiomyolipoma. A final diagnosis of Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) in tuberous sclerosis (TSC) was made. Considering the high recurrence of pneumothorax, pleurodesis was done and sirolimus (2 mg per oral OD) was initiated.

Conclusion

Cystic lung disease consistent with LAM is a rare entity in males with TSC, which can be missed easily in patients with extra-pulmonary manifestations. Treating clinician or intensivist should remain vigilant. Active follow-up, chest imaging and pulmonary function testing should be advised to screen the patients for coincidental finding of LAM.

Quantitative analysis of airway obstruction in lymphangioleiomyomatosis

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare, cystic lung disease with progressive pulmonary function loss caused by progressively proliferating LAM cells. The degree of airway obstruction has not been well investigated within the pathogenesis of LAM.Using a combination of ex vivo computed tomography (CT), microCT and histology, the site and nature of airway obstruction in LAM explant lungs was compared with matched control lungs (n=5 each). The total number of airways per generation, total airway counts, terminal bronchioles number and surface density were compared in LAM versus control.Ex vivo CT analysis demonstrated a reduced number of airways from generation 7 on (p<0.0001) in LAM compared with control, whereas whole-lung microCT analysis confirmed the three- to four-fold reduction in the number of airways. Specimen microCT analysis further demonstrated a four-fold decrease in the number of terminal bronchioles (p=0.0079) and a decreased surface density (p=0.0079). Serial microCT and histology images directly showed the loss of functional airways by collapse of airways on the cysts and filling of the airway by exudate.LAM lungs show a three- to four-fold decrease in the number of (small) airways, caused by cystic destruction which is the likely culprit for the progressive loss of pulmonary function.

High Mobility Group AT-Hook 2 (HMGA2) Oncogenicity in Mesenchymal and Epithelial Neoplasia

High mobility group AT-hook 2 (HMGA2) has been associated with increased cell proliferation and cell cycle dysregulation, leading to the ontogeny of varied tumor types and their metastatic potentials, a frequently used index of disease prognosis. In this review, we deepen our understanding of HMGA2 pathogenicity by exploring the mechanisms by which HMGA2 misexpression and ectopic expression induces mesenchymal and epithelial tumorigenesis respectively and distinguish the pathogenesis of benign from malignant mesenchymal tumors. Importantly, we highlight the regulatory role of let-7 microRNA family of tumor suppressors in determining HMGA2 misexpression events leading to tumor pathogenesis and focused on possible mechanisms by which HMGA2 could propagate lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM), benign mesenchymal tumors of the lungs. Lastly, we discuss potential therapeutic strategies for epithelial and mesenchymal tumorigenesis based on targeting the HMGA2 signaling pathway.

The efficacy and safety of pharmacological treatments for lymphangioleiomyomatosis

Background

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare, low-grade multisystem neoplastic disease. Most LAM patients are at a high risk of losing lung function at an accelerated rate and developing progressive dyspnea. Recently, several studies have reported their experience with pharmacological treatments for LAM. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the efficacy and safety of these therapies.

Methods

PubMed (Medline), EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and EBSCO Host were searched (until March 31, 2019) for eligible prospective studies regarding LAM patients treated with pharmacological treatments. Random effect models were used for quantitative analysis.

Results

Fourteen prospective studies regarding five pharmacological treatments (including sirolimus, everolimus, doxycycline, triptorelin, and a combination therapy of sirolimus and hydroxychloroquine) were enrolled in our systematic review, and ten of them were used for the meta-analysis. Seven prospective studies reported that sirolimus was effective at improving or stabilizing lung function and alleviating renal angiomyolipoma (AML) in LAM patients. Subsequent quantitative analyses showed that during sirolimus treatment, the pooled values of lung function and 6-min walk distance (6MWD) were not significantly changed (P > 0.05), with the pooled response rate of AML being 0.62 (95% confidence intervals [CIs]: 0.43 to 0.82, I² = 65%). Regarding everolimus, three prospective studies reported similar effects to those of sirolimus with regard to preserving lung function and reducing AMLs. The meta-analysis showed that the changes in lung function during everolimus treatment were not statistically significant (P > 0.05), while the pooled response rate of AML was 0.78 (95% CI: 0.68 to 0.88, I² = 8%). Neither the qualitative nor the quantitative results confirmed the benefits of doxycycline or triptorelin treatment, and the effects of the combination therapy were unclear in LAM patients. Most of the adverse events during pharmacological treatments were low or moderate grade and tolerable.

Conclusions

Overall, sirolimus and everolimus were recommended for the treatment of LAM because they could stabilize lung function and alleviate renal AML. Doxycycline and triptorelin were not recommended for the treatment of LAM because no beneficial outcomes were consistently observed. The efficacy and safety of combination therapy remain to be further explored.

Favorable survival even with high disease-specific complication rates in lymphangioleiomyomatosis after lung transplantation-long-term follow-up of a Japanese center

BACKGROUND

Lung transplantation (LT) is a reliable therapeutic option for end-stage pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM). Long-term outcome of LAM recipients after LT remains unknown. The aim of this study was to describe the outcomes of LT for LAM with a long-term follow-up, comparing those for other diseases in the same period.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed consecutive 145 LT recipients between 1998 and 2015 at Okayama University Hospital with minimum 3-year follow-up.

RESULTS

Twelve LAM recipients including nine sporadic-LAM and three tuberous sclerosis complex -LAM were identified. Nine of 12 underwent bilateral LT including four living-donor lobar LT. There was no significant difference in overall survival between the two groups. (P = 0.15). Chronic lung allograft dysfunction free survival rate in LAM compared with other diseases tended to be better (P = 0.058). However, the rate of requiring hemodialysis was significantly higher in LAM recipients than in the recipients of other diseases (P = 0.047). Notably, 8 of 12 (67%) LAM patients encountered LAM-related complication including chylothorax and pneumothorax, seven (58%) had proliferative diseases consisting of renal angiomyolipoma and recurrent LAM. Nine patients required mTOR inhibitors for LAM-related problems, contributing to improved control of LAM-related problems. While all nine recipients of bilateral LT have still survived, two patients died of diseases in their native lungs and one required re-LT among three recipients of single LT.

CONCLUSION

Although the rates of LAM-related complications were unexpectedly high in the long term, LT is a feasible therapeutic option for patients with advanced pulmonary LAM.

The pleura and the endocrine system

The functioning of the pleura and the endocrine system are not entirely independent of each other. Some hormones can reach a greater concentration in the pleural exudate than in the blood. However, the clinical significance of this finding remains unknown. In some circumstances, hormonal changes are responsible for pathological manifestations in the pleura. Hypothyroidism is one of the most common diseases that can cause a pleural effusion, likely resulting from alterations in capillary permeability. The presence of ectopic endometrial tissue within the lung parenchyma, pleura, pericardium or diaphragm is known as thoracic endometriosis and is one of the causes of catamenial pneumothorax and /or catamenial hemothorax, which can affect women of childbearing age and arises within 72 h from the onset of menstruation. Treatment and prevention of recurrent catamenial pneumothorax / hemothorax usually requires an approach that combines surgery and hormone therapy. Malignant pleural effusion from breast cancer may contain estrogen receptor-positive cells. In such a case, endocrine treatment may be effective in reducing the amount of pleural fluid and the associated symptoms. Thyroid cancer and lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) are further hormone-sensitive malignancies in which pleura is frequently involved. The solitary fibrous tumor of pleura (SFPT) is an example of a pleural disease that can cause hormonal balance disorders. It can lead to a rise in the releasing factor for growth hormone (GHRH), human beta chorionic gonadotropin (Beta-hCG), and insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2). The consequence of such hormonal imbalance include hypertrophic pulmonary osteoarthropathy, gynecomastia, and refractory hypoglycemia, respectively.

Role of thoracic imaging in the management of lymphangioleiomyomatosis

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare diffuse lung cystic disease (DLCD) that occurs sporadically or in association with Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC). The diagnostic pathway is tracked on the identification of the disease hallmarks on chest High-Resolution Computed Tomography (HRCT). Aim of this review is to discuss the thoracic HRCT pathognomonic features, essential to rule out other DLCD. It also examines the new evidences emerging from Computed Tomography (CT) quantitative studies that, by demonstrating a specific cysts distribution and a pathological aspect of the parenchyma near the cysts, could improve our understanding of this rare disorder and supply pulmonologists with a new tool for a more appropriate long-term management. Finally, the contribution of other image techniques as low dose chest CT, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Ultrasound (US) is discussed.

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a disease, which is most commonly seen in women of childbearing age. The objective of this article was to provide education about the typical clinical presentation, radiologic findings, histology, treatment approaches, and differential diagnosis. Pulmonary LAM is a cystic lung disease, usually generalized and progressive and extremely difficult to treat and is considered to have a poor prognosis. Patients with LAM often present with an insidious onset of dyspnea; this could be secondary to pneumothorax. However, it could also be present as chylothorax and hemoptysis. We discussed a case who presented with chest pain and shortness of breath due to pneumothorax and retrospectively diagnosed with LAM.

Safe and effective use of nivolumab for treating lung adenocarcinoma associated with sporadic lymphangioleiomyomatosis: a rare case report

BACKGROUND

Sporadic lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare form of diffuse parenchymal lung disease. PD-1 blocking antibodies constitute an essential treatment option for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The effect of immune checkpoint inhibitors in lymphangioleiomyomatosis patients with non-small cell lung cancer is unknown: concomitant symptomatic interstitial lung disease or the use of immunosuppressors was a key exclusion criterion in the original studies of immune checkpoint inhibitors, especially regarding the risk of interstitial lung disease exacerbation.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 48-year-old female, active smoker (36 pack-years), diagnosed with sporadic LAM since 2004 suffered from metastatic adenocarcinoma of the lung. Third-line therapy with nivolumab was started in 2015, with a major partial response. Due to pulmonary function alterations, sirolimus was also reinitiated in 2017 in conjunction with nivolumab, without any undesirable effects and a major partial response continuing up to May 2018.

CONCLUSIONS

This case highlights the safe and effective use of nivolumab for managing metastatic lung adenocarcinoma that occurred in a patient with sporadic LAM. In the current case, immunotherapy proved highly successful in managing the NSCLC tumor that occurred upon LAM follow-up, with both a significantly prolonged partial response and acceptable safety profile.

Efficacy and safety of low-dose Sirolimus in Lymphangioleiomyomatosis

BACKGROUND

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis is a rare disease caused by unregulated activation of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signalling pathway. Sirolimus showed efficacy in a phase 3 trial of patients with lymphangioleiomyomatosis, but the optimal dose remains unclear.

METHODS

We investigated the efficacy and safety of low-dose compared with conventional-dose sirolimus. Clinical data of 39 patients with lymphangioleiomyomatosis (mean age, 34.8 years; median treatment period, 29.6 months) who received sirolimus were retrospectively reviewed. Low-dose sirolimus was defined as any dose that maintained mean blood trough levels lower than those maintained with conventional doses (5-15 ng/mL).

RESULTS

Fifty-one percent of patients received low-dose therapy. The rate of decline in lung function decreased after treatment in the whole group (forced expiratory volume in 1 s [FEV₁], - 0.12 ± 0.47 [before] vs. 0.24 ± 0.48% predicted/month [after], p = 0.027; diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide [DLco], - 0.33 ± 0.61 vs. 0.03 ± 0.26% predicted/month, p = 0.006) compared with before treatment. In the low-dose group, the rate of decline in FEV₁ (- 0.08 ± 0.38 [before] vs. 0.19 ± 0.51% predicted/month [after], p = 0.264) and DLco (-0.13 ± 0.62 vs. 0.02 ± 0.28% predicted/month, p = 0.679) showed a numeric trend towards improvement after treatment; however, the conventional-dose group showed significant improvement in FEV₁ (- 0.26 ± 0.54 [before] vs. 0.22 ± 0.38 [after] % predicted/month, p = 0.024) and DLco (- 0.55 ± 0.58 vs. 0.04 ± 0.25% predicted/month, p = 0.002) after treatment. Adverse events (AEs) occurred in 89.7% of patients and the most common AEs was hypercholesterolaemia (43.6%), followed by stomatitis (35.9%). The occurrences of AE were similar between the low- and conventional-dose groups (85.0% vs. 94.7%, p = 0.605).

CONCLUSIONS

Low-dose sirolimus may stabilise lung function decline in lymphangioleiomyomatosis patients, but its efficacy appears to be inferior to that of conventional-dose sirolimus.

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis: a case report and review of diagnosis and treatment

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare disease that generally affects young women and involves the abnormal proliferation of smooth muscle-like cells (LAM cells) in the lungs (pulmonary LAM) and extrapulmonary sites (extrapulmonary LAM). This disease is rare in males. It is hard to distinguish between lung cancer and pulmonary LAM, especially during early stages. Herein, we present a case of a 66-year-old man with a small nodule in the right upper lobe that was first diagnosed as a lung malignancy using a chest CT scan. After a wedge dissection, a pathologist performed a histologic and immunohistochemical examination, and a diagnosis of pulmonary LAM was made. We further performed a 518-gene panel analysis using next-generation sequencing, and only three genes, BARD1, BLM, and BRCA2, were found to have mutations. We also provide a summary of the diagnosis and treatment of this disease.

COPD assessment test as a possible tool for evaluating health-related quality of life in lymphangioleiomyomatosis

BACKGROUND

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a progressive, cystic lung disease that causes an obstructive ventilatory impairment similar to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and impairs the health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Here, we extended the use of the COPD assessment test (CAT) to patients with chronic respiratory diseases other than COPD. Specifically, the CAT was administered to patients with LAM for the first time.

METHODS

Using data from 25 patients with LAM at Juntendo University who participated in the Multicenter Lymphangioleiomyomatosis Sirolimus Trial for Safety (MLSTS), we evaluated changes in pulmonary function, responses to HRQoL questionnaires (the CAT, St. George׳s Respiratory Questionnaire [SGRQ], EuroQOL Visual Analogue Scale [EuroQOL-VAS], and Functional Performance Inventory [FPI]), and the association between pulmonary function and HRQoL during a 24-month period of sirolimus treatment.

RESULTS

Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁), forced vital capacity (FVC), and CAT total scores improved over the 24 months of sirolimus treatment (5.33 ± 1.20 ml/month, 2.61 ± 1.16 ml/month, and -0.127 ± 0.022 score/month, respectively), whereas SGRQ total score, EuroQOL-VAS score, and FPI score did not. Most pulmonary functions at baseline were associated with the CAT breathlessness score during the first year. Longitudinal changes in FEV₁, FEV_1%predicted, or FEV₁/FVC correlated significantly with the scores of CAT total, CAT breathlessness, and SGRQ activity. When analyzed by stepwise multivariate regression within a linear mixed-effects model, CAT breathlessness and confidence scores were significantly associated with a change in FEV₁ from the baseline value (P = 0.0011, and P = 0.0441).

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that the CAT is a useful instrument for assessing HRQoL in sirolimus-treated patients with LAM.

The efficacy and adverse events of mTOR inhibitors in lymphangioleiomyomatosis: systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare lung disease and the mammalian target of the rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors has been used as an effective therapy. Here we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis with the aims to quantify the efficacy and safety of mTOR inhibitors in LAM patients.

Methods

The following databases were searched for clinical trials regarding LAM patients treated with mTOR inhibitors until December 2017: Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane Library and OVID medicine. Random effect models were used for the quantitative analysis.

Results

Nine eligible studies were included in our systematic review, 7 of which were used for the meta-analysis. In LAM patients, mTOR inhibitors improved forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV₁) and forced vital capacity (FVC) significantly, with the weighted mean difference (WMD) 0.15 L (95%CI: 0.08 to 0.22, P < 0.01, I² = 0%) and 0.22 L (95%: 0.11 to 0.32, P < 0.01, I² = 0%) respectively. There was no significant change in neither the diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (WMD: 0.51 ml/mm Hg/min, 95%CI: -0.48 to 1.49, P = 0.31, I² = 0%) nor 6-min walking distance (WMD: 5.29 m, 95%CI: -18.01 to 28.59, P = 0.66, I² = 1%). The weighted partial response rate was 0.68 (95%CI: 0.53 to 0.84, P < 0.01, I² = 72%) for renal angiomylipoma. The cumulative incidence rates of common safety events were 50, 40, 23, 20 and 19% for oral mucositis, hyperlipidemia, headache, bone marrow suppression, and diarrhea, respectively. And most events were low grade and tolerant.

Conclusions

In LAM patients, there are improvements of FEV₁ and FVC after the application of mTOR inhibitors and over a half achieved the shrinkage of renal angiomyolipoma.

Trial registration

PROSPERO registration number: CRD42018085470. Registered 22 January 2018.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13023-018-0874-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Roles of human epidermal growth factor receptor family in pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare and refractory disease that affects women of reproductive age. Several target therapies are used to manage LAM, but no curative modes of treatment have been reported yet. Therefore, in this study, we focused on targeting human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER) family proteins as a treatment strategy for LAM. In antibody array analysis, HER signaling was detected in the proteins extracted from LAM tissues. We then evaluated the expression of HER family members in 34 pulmonary LAM specimens using both immunohistochemistry and quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Hierarchical clustering analysis was performed to classify the cases based on the immunohistochemistry results. Both epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and HER4 were expressed in all 34 cases. HER3 was expressed in 25 of 34 cases, but HER2 was not expressed in any case. In addition, results of quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis confirmed the expression of EGFR and HER4 expression in LAM cells. Patients with HER3- or HER4-positive tissues were younger and had a history of pneumothorax. The cases were classified into 4 different clusters based on the results of hierarchical cluster analysis. One of these clusters was associated with EGFR, HER3, and HER4; the patients in this cluster were significantly younger and had a history of pneumothorax. These results indicated that HER family could contribute to the progression of pulmonary LAM, and treatments targeted against HER family might be effective for treating pulmonary LAM.

Immunohistological features related to functional impairment in lymphangioleiomyomatosis

Background

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a low-grade neoplasm characterized by the pulmonary infiltration of smooth muscle-like cells (LAM cells) and cystic destruction. Patients usually present with airway obstruction in pulmonary function tests (PFTs). Previous studies have shown correlations among histological parameters, lung function abnormalities and prognosis in LAM. We investigated the lung tissue expression of proteins related to the mTOR pathway, angiogenesis and enzymatic activity and its correlation with functional parameters in LAM patients.

Methods

We analyzed morphological and functional parameters of thirty-three patients. Two groups of disease severity were identified according to FEV1 values. Lung tissue from open biopsies or lung transplants was immunostained for SMA, HMB-45, mTOR, VEGF-D, MMP-9 and D2-40. Density of cysts, density of nodules and protein expression were measured by image analysis and correlated with PFT parameters.

Results

There was no difference in the expression of D2-40 between the more severe and the less severe groups. All other immunohistological parameters showed significantly higher values in the more severe group (p ≤ 0.002). The expression of VEGF-D, MMP-9 and mTOR in LAM cells was associated with the density of both cysts and nodules. The density of cysts and nodules as well as the expression of MMP-9 and VEGF-D were associated with the impairment of PFT parameters.

Conclusions

Severe LAM represents an active phase of the disease with high expression of VEGF-D, mTOR, and MMP-9, as well as LAM cell infiltration. Our findings suggest that the tissue expression levels of VEGF-D and MMP-9 are important parameters associated with the loss of pulmonary function and could be considered as potential severity markers in open lung biopsies of LAM patients.

Clinical characteristics in lymphangioleiomyomatosis-related pulmonary hypertension: an observation on 50 patients

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare diffuse cystic lung disease. Knowledge on LAM-related pulmonary hypertension (PH) is limited. This study aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics of LAM with elevated pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) and evaluate the potential efficacy of sirolimus. The study involved 50 LAM patients who underwent echocardiography. According to the tricuspid regurgitation velocity (TRV), these patients were divided into the TRV ⩽ 2.8 m/s group and TRV > 2.8 m/s group. Both groups comprised 25 females with an average age of 38.6 ± 8.1 and 41.5 ± 8.9 years. In the TRV > 2.8 m/s group, the estimated systolic PAP (SPAP) was significantly elevated (52.08 ± 12.45 mmHg vs. 30.24 ± 5.25 mmHg, P < 0.01). Linear analysis showed that SPAP was correlated with forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV₁), diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide, alveolar arterial oxygen gradient (P_A-aO₂), and 6 min walking distance (r =-0.392, -0.351, 0.450, and -0.591, respectively; P < 0.05), in which P_A-aO₂ was a risk factor for SPAP elevation (β = 0.064, OR = 1.066, P < 0.05). Moreover, in 10 patients who received sirolimus therapy, SPAP decreased from 57.0 12.6 mmHg to 35.2 ± 11.1 mmHg. The study showed that LAM patients with PH exhibit poor pulmonary function and hypoxemia and may benefit from sirolimus treatment.

A Phase II Clinical Trial of an Aromatase Inhibitor for Postmenopausal Women with Lymphangioleiomyomatosis

RATIONALE

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a progressive cystic lung disease that predominantly affects women and can worsen with pregnancy, estrogen treatment, and the menstrual cycle, suggesting an important role for estrogen in disease pathogenesis.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the efficacy and safety of the aromatase inhibitor letrozole in the treatment of LAM.

METHODS

Seventeen postmenopausal women with LAM were enrolled in this phase II trial and randomized to receive letrozole 2.5 mg daily (n = 9) or placebo (n = 8) for a period of 12 months. Five patients in each group were also taking sirolimus at baseline and remained on the drug throughout the treatment period. Lung function, exercise capacity, quality of life, and serum vascular endothelial growth factor D (VEGF-D) were measured at baseline and at 3-month intervals.

RESULTS

Fifteen patients completed the study. Two patients withdrew. There were no differences in adverse events in the letrozole and placebo groups. The target enrollment of 25 patients per arm was not met, so the efficacy of letrozole could not be assessed as planned. After adjusting for sirolimus use, we found that the rate of change in FEV₁ for all subjects was -3 ± 3 ml/mo (P = 0.4), and for serum VEGF-D, the rate of change was -0.024 ± 0.009 pg/ml/mo (P = 0.015), showing a steeper decline in the letrozole group (-0.029 ± 0.013; P = 0.025). All patients who were taking sirolimus had a reduction in VEGF-D levels from baseline to the last visit, compared with only half of the patients who were not taking sirolimus. In a post hoc analysis, eight matched letrozole-treated-placebo-treated pairs were constructed, six of which demonstrated better FEV₁ improvement for the letrozole-treated patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Letrozole treatment appears to be safe and well tolerated in postmenopausal patients with LAM, including those taking sirolimus. Enrollment in this trial was compromised by the publication of an effective treatment (sirolimus) in the same month as the study opened, resulting in limited power to detect treatment effects. Post hoc matched pairs exploration studies provide tentative support for additional studies of letrozole in LAM. Considering the reduced rate of lung function decline in postmenopausal patients, future studies will likely require enhanced study designs, such as selective enrollment of those with prognostic biomarkers predictive of decline. Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01353209).

Pulmonary lymphangioleimyomatosis and systemic lupus erythematosus in a menopausal woman

Background

Pulmonary lymphangioleimyomatosis (PLAM) is a rare disease involving lung. PLAM primarily affects young women, a characteristic it shares with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Estrogen has long been assumed to play an important role both in PLAM and SLE. We report a menopausal woman, who was found to have PLAM 1 year after she was diagnosed with SLE. Her chest radiograph was normal in the early phase of SLE.

Case presentation

A 52-year-old Chinese woman was referred to our hospital in August 2014 because of swelling in both legs. She also reported a malar rash and intermittent generalized arthralgia. Laboratory examination showed leukopenia. Her serum albumin level was 23 g/L; 24-h urinary protein excretion was 5.3 g. She tested positive for anti-Smith (Sm) antibody and anti-SS-A antibody. Renal biopsy indicated Class V + IV(G)-A lupus nephritis (LN). The condition of SLE and LN improved on a regime of tapering prednisolone and intermittent intravenous cyclophosphamide therapy until 1 year later when she developed exertional dyspnea accompanied with frequent cough. Thoracic computed tomography revealed numerous well-defined cysts and the diagnosis of PLAM was confirmed by lung biopsy. In the follow-up period, the patient continued to be on prednisolone and mycophenolate mofetil for the treatment of SLE, but only agreed to receive symptomatic treatment for PLAM. One year after the diagnosis of PLAM, during which time the SLE was stable, she died of respiratory failure and cor pulmonale.

Conclusion

We report a patient with coexisting SLE and PLAM, who was treated with immunosuppressive therapy. SLE was stable but PLAM was not improved. Although the coexistence of SLE and PLAM might be a coincidence, the occurrence of these two diseases in a menopausal woman may warrant further mechanistic exploration.

Sporadic lymphangioleiomyomatosis with multiple atypical features: A case report and literature review

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare, genetically determined, progressive interstitial lung disease, which almost exclusively affects women, especially at the childbearing age. The initial symptoms and radiographic changes in a patient with LAM are always associated with the respiratory system. Here, we present a case of mediastinal and abdominal LAM of a 22-year-old male, where LAM cells are negative for human melanoma black-45 ( HMB-45). The report of this uncharacterized LAM case will make a significant contribution to the realization of LAM associated clinical features, diagnostic approaches, and its afterward treatments.

Effect of beta-agonists on LAM progression and treatment

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM), a rare disease of women, is associated with cystic lung destruction resulting from the proliferation of abnormal smooth muscle-like LAM cells with mutations in the tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) genes TSC1 and/or TSC2 The mutant genes and encoded proteins are responsible for activation of the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), which is inhibited by sirolimus (rapamycin), a drug used to treat LAM. Patients who have LAM may also be treated with bronchodilators for asthma-like symptoms due to LAM. We observed stabilization of forced expiratory volume in 1 s over time in patients receiving sirolimus and long-acting beta-agonists with short-acting rescue inhalers compared with patients receiving only sirolimus. Because beta-agonists increase cAMP and PKA activity, we investigated effects of PKA activation on the mTOR pathway. Human skin TSC2^+/- fibroblasts or LAM lung cells incubated short-term with isoproterenol (beta-agonist) showed a sirolimus-independent increase in phosphorylation of S6, a downstream effector of the mTOR pathway, and increased cell growth. Cells incubated long-term with isoproterenol, which may lead to beta-adrenergic receptor desensitization, did not show increased S6 phosphorylation. Inhibition of PKA blocked the isoproterenol effect on S6 phosphorylation. Thus, activation of PKA by beta-agonists increased phospho-S6 independent of mTOR, an effect abrogated by beta-agonist-driven receptor desensitization. In agreement, retrospective clinical data from patients with LAM suggested that a combination of bronchodilators in conjunction with sirolimus may be preferable to sirolimus alone for stabilization of pulmonary function.

Efficacy and Safety of Long-Term Sirolimus Therapy for Asian Patients with Lymphangioleiomyomatosis

RATIONALE

Sirolimus has been shown in a randomized, controlled clinical trial to stabilize lung function in patients with lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) treated for a 12-month time period; however the pretreatment decline in lung function after the drug was discontinued indicated that continued exposure is required to suppress disease progression.

OBJECTIVES

To elucidate the durability and tolerability of long-term sirolimus treatment in Asian patients with LAM.

METHODS

We conducted a single-arm, open-label, investigator-initiated safety and efficacy study of sirolimus in 63 women with LAM at 9 sites in Japan. Subjects received sirolimus for 2 years at doses adjusted to maintain a trough blood level of 5-15 ng/ml.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Fifty-two subjects (82.5%) completed the trial with mean drug compliance of more than 80% overall during the study. The number of adverse events was greatest during the initial 6 months of therapy, but they continued to occur with declining frequency throughout the 2-year study period. Of the 1,549 adverse events, 27 were classified as serious, including reversible sirolimus pneumonitis in 3 patients. New hypercholesterolemia occurred in 30 patients (48%); microcytosis in 10 patients; loss of body weight in 33 patients; and increase in blood pressure that required treatment in 5 patients. FEV₁, FVC, and quality-of-life parameters were stable in the overall study cohort during the study period, but baseline to 2-year improvements in lung function occurred in the subset of patients with a prior history of chylothorax.

CONCLUSIONS

Although long-term sirolimus treatment of Asian patients with LAM was associated with a large number of adverse events, including three episodes of pneumonitis, most patients completed the 2-year course of medication with good drug compliance and stable quality of life and lung function.

Urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) is critical for progression of tuberous sclerosis complex 2 (TSC2)-deficient tumors

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a fatal lung disease associated with germline or somatic inactivating mutations in tuberous sclerosis complex genes (TSC1 or TSC2). LAM is characterized by neoplastic growth of smooth muscle-α-actin-positive cells that destroy lung parenchyma and by the formation of benign renal neoplasms called angiolipomas. The mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) inhibitor rapamycin slows progression of these diseases but is not curative and associated with notable toxicity at clinically effective doses, highlighting the need for better understanding LAM's molecular etiology. We report here that LAM lesions and angiomyolipomas overexpress urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA). Tsc1^-/- and Tsc2^-/- mouse embryonic fibroblasts expressed higher uPA levels than their WT counterparts, resulting from the TSC inactivation. Inhibition of uPA expression in Tsc2-null cells reduced the growth and invasiveness and increased susceptibility to apoptosis. However, rapamycin further increased uPA expression in TSC2-null tumor cells and immortalized TSC2-null angiomyolipoma cells, but not in cells with intact TSC. Induction of glucocorticoid receptor signaling or forkhead box (FOXO) 1/3 inhibition abolished the rapamycin-induced uPA expression in TSC-compromised cells. Moreover, rapamycin-enhanced migration of TSC2-null cells was inhibited by the uPA inhibitor UK122, dexamethasone, and a FOXO inhibitor. uPA-knock-out mice developed fewer and smaller TSC2-null lung tumors, and introduction of uPA shRNA in tumor cells or amiloride-induced uPA inhibition reduced tumorigenesis in vivo These findings suggest that interference with the uPA-dependent pathway, when used along with rapamycin, might attenuate LAM progression and potentially other TSC-related disorders.