Adenocarcinoma of the female urethra: Clear-cell variant. Radiol Case Rep. 2011;6:490. [PMID: 27307909 PMCID: PMC4900055 DOI: 10.2484/rcr.v6i3.490]

Personalized chemotherapy in clear cell adenocarcinoma of the urethra: A case report

BACKGROUND

Clear cell adenocarcinoma of the urethra is a rare type of aggressive cancer with a poor prognosis. Clear cell carcinoma of the urethra represents less than 0.02% of all malignancies in women. Adenocarcinomas account for 10% of female urethral carcinomas, of which 40% are the clear cell variant. Determining the presence or absence of certain mutations through genetic testing may predict whether a patient with cancer may benefit from a particular chemotherapy regimen.

CASE SUMMARY

A 40-year-old woman presented with a 3-year history of slow urinary flow and a 3-mo history of urinary urgency and frequency as well as gross hematuria. An abdominal and pelvic computed tomography scan demonstrated enlarged lymph nodes in the abdomen and pelvis. A biopsy of a left inguinal lymph node microscopically confirmed a metastatic adenocarcinoma of the urethra. Specialized genetic testing determined personalized chemotherapy. She was treated successfully with a non-platinum-based chemotherapy consisting of paclitaxel and bevacizumab. Following 3 cycles of paclitaxel and bevacizumab, she attained significant clinical improvement, and response by FDG-Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging showed a definite improvement in size and metabolic activity. She achieved complete response after 6 cycles of therapy by PET scan. The patient concluded 11 cycles of paclitaxel and bevacizumab, and a subsequent PET scan confirmed progression of metastatic disease. The patient was then treated with two cycles of doxorubicin after which a PET scan revealed a mixed response to the treatment.

CONCLUSION

We report the first case of a patient with metastatic clear cell adenocarcinoma of the urethra who underwent personalized chemotherapy after testing for cancer gene alterations. Our unique case represents the safe and effective use of non-platinum-based chemotherapy in clear cell adenocarcinoma of the urethra.

Unusual Features of Clear Cell Adenocarcinoma of the Female Urethra: A Case Report and Literature Review

Background

There has been scarce information about clear cell adenocarcinoma of the urethra (CCAU), an extremely rare type of cancer. A few case reports show that CCAU tends to have similar clinical manifestation to the other urethral carcinomas, urethrocystoscopy can easily identify tumoral lesions in the urethra, and bloody drainage from the urethral meatus is often seen during physical exams.

Methods

A 52-year-old woman presented with dysuria for 6 months. Urethrocystoscopy did not reveal abnormality, and there was no bloody vaginal drainage or bloody drainage from the urethral meatus during physical exams. Ultrasonography demonstrated a solid mass with well-defined margins located between the anterior vaginal wall and the posterior urethral wall. Computed tomography showed the mass with smooth margins at the level of vaginal fornix, and magnetic resonance imaging showed the same location of the tumor as ultrasonography.

Results

Surgical removal of the tumor was successfully performed and histological and immunohistochemical analysis confirmed the final diagnosis of CCAU.

Conclusion

Abnormality in urethrocystoscopy and bloody drainage during the physical exam were not found in this case, which is in contrast to the findings reported in literature. These unusual features add new knowledge about CCAU that deserves dissemination for improved CCAU diagnosis and management.

Histology and immunohistochemistry of clear cell adenocarcinoma of the urethra: histogenesis and diagnostic problems

Clear cell adenocarcinoma (CCAC) of the urethra is a rare neoplasm, morphologically identical to its homologue arising in the female genital tract. The histogenesis of this neoplasm is uncertain. We present clinical, histopathologic, and immunohistochemical findings of four CCAC of the urethra and discuss the histogenesis and difficulties in diagnosis and differential diagnosis. CCAC of the urethra occurred in females (4/4). Two neoplasms were identified in urethral diverticulum; one of the two cases, in close proximity to a nephrogenic adenoma. CCAC exhibited tubulocystic, papillary, and diffuse/solid growth patterns. The neoplastic cells were cuboidal or columnar with eosinophilic or clear cytoplasm, and nuclear pleomorphism of at least moderate degree. Hobnail features and tumor necrosis were also observed. CCAC expressed p53 (4/4), AMACR (3/4), vimentin (3/4), PAX8 (2/4), CK7 (2/4), cytokeratin 34betaE12 (2/4), RCC (1/4), and CK20 (1/4) and were negative for PSA, WT1, ER, CA 125, uroplakin III, p16, and p63. The immunohistochemical profile supports a possible renal tubular cell differentiation/mesonephric origin for some urethral CCAC. Nephrogenic adenoma and metastatic clear cell carcinoma are the most important differential diagnostic considerations. Multicenter studies on more cases may improve our understanding of this malignancy.