Prognostic factors and clinical outcomes of urological soft tissue sarcomas

Ureteric Leiomyosarcoma

Ureteric leiomyosarcoma is a rare but aggressive tumor among other sarcomas. There is no established epidemiological data due to the scarcity of literature on this uncommon disorder. The present literature comprises about 20 case reports mostly of women above 40 years of age. The presenting complaint is mostly pain in the abdomen with only a few reporting urological symptoms like hematuria. Understandably, this tumor is diagnosed by histopathological examination with immunohistochemistry. We report one such case of a 32-year-old female who underwent an exploratory laparotomy with preoperative suspicion of adnexal neoplastic mass only to find normal ovaries and left ureteric tumor intraoperatively. She was managed with excision of the tumor with partial resection of the involved ureter and end-to-end anastomosis of the ureter followed by chemotherapy and radiation.

Imaging of ureter: a primer for the emergency radiologist

In this review article, we will discuss the gamut of abnormalities involving the ureters. In the emergency department, ureterolithiasis is the most common indication for imaging abdomen and pelvis. However, spectrum of ureteral abnormalities including congenital, infectious and inflammatory, primary and secondary ureteral malignancies, retroperitoneal fibrosis rare described in this article may be encountered. Thus, we will describe acute subacute as well as chronic conditions that may affect ureter. Knowledge of common, as well as rare entities and their imaging features, is of utmost importance to enable appropriate management.

[A CASE OF RENAL UNDIFFERENTIATED/UNCLASSIFIED SARCOMA WITH LONG-TERM SURVIVAL AFTER PRIMARY AND METASTATIC LESIONS]

(Case) A 56-year-old woman who complained of urinary frequency and macrohematuria. Abdominal US, enhanced CT and MRI revealed a left renal tumor. A left radical nephrectomy was performed in May 1997, and the pathological diagnosis was renal fibrosarcoma. Follow-up computed CT was performed routinely. A metastatic lesion in the right lung revealed 19 months after the nephrectomy.She underwent partial pneumonectomy in January 1999, and the pathological diagnosis was also fibrosarcoma. She was followed up until 2009 without recurrence.In 2015, she was admitted in the Department of Orthopedics due to femoral neck fracture in 2015, thus we could find out she was alive, tumor-free 18 years after the nephrectomy. We added the immunohistochemistical study to her specimen of kidney and lung, and the diagnosis was changed to undifferentiated/unclassified sarcoma. (Conclusion) Metastatic renal sarcoma has a poor prognosis in general. We experienced a long-term survival case of undifferentiated/unclassified renal sarcoma with lung metastasis, and report it with some literature review.

Prognostic Value of a Three-DNA Methylation Biomarker in Patients with Soft Tissue Sarcoma

Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are a highly aggressive and heterogeneous group of malignant mesenchymal tumors. The prognosis of patients with advanced or metastatic STS remains poor, and the main therapy of STS patients combines primary surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Aberrant DNA methylation shows close association with the pathogenesis and tumor progression. Therefore, DNA methylation biomarkers might have the potential in accurately predicting the survival of STS patients. In order to identify a prognostic biomarker based on DNA methylation sites, a comprehensive analysis of the DNA methylation profile of STS patients in the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database was performed. All samples were randomly divided into training and testing datasets. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was performed to identify a prognostic biomarker that contains three DNA methylation sites. The Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated that the 3-DNA methylation biomarker discriminated patients into high-risk and low-risk groups, both in the training and in the testing datasets, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve values (AUCs) were 0.844 (P < 0.001, 95% CI: 0.740-0.948) and 0.710 (P = 0.002, 95% CI: 0.595-0.823), respectively. Besides, this biomarker presented superior prognostic performance in STS patients with different age, sex, tissue of origin, therapy, and histologic subtypes. Compared with other prognostic biomarkers, this biomarker tended to be a more precise prognostic factor in STS patients. Moreover, methylation sites in this biomarker might provide a new way for clinicians to make decisions regarding the intervention and assess the effectiveness of an individual therapeutic strategy.

Paratesticular Mesenchymal Malignancies: A Single-Center Case Series, Clinical Management, and Review of Literature

Background: Primary soft tissue sarcomas arising from the male urinary and genital tract are rare tumors, only accounting for 1% to 2% of all malignancies of the genitourinary tract. Clinical management of advanced disease is lacking in standardized recommendations due to the rarity of the disease. To date, complete and extensive surgery represents the only curative and standardized approach for localized disease, while the impact of retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy and adjuvant treatments on clinical outcomes are still unclear. Similarly, a standardized systemic treatment for advanced metastatic disease is still missing. Cases Presentation: Four out of 274 patients have been identified in our sarcoma population. The mean age was 54 years (range = 45-73). The histotypes showed liposarcoma in 2 cases and leiomyosarcoma in the remaining 2 cases. In all 4 cases, the disease was localized at presentation, patients underwent complete surgery, and no adjuvant treatments were done. Three cases presented a recurrence of disease at a mean follow-up of 86 months (range = 60-106 months), more than 7 years. Two cases were treated with a second surgery and chemotherapy and 1 case only with chemotherapy. Discussion and Conclusions: Sharing data about clinical management of paratesticular mesenchymal tumors is a key issue due to the rarity of this tumor's subtype. In this article, we report the clinical history of 4 patients affected by paratesticular mesenchymal tumor. In particular, main issues of interest are the decision of postoperative treatment and systemic treatment at time of disease recurrence.

Evaluation of incidence and histolopathological findings of soft tissue sarcomas in genitourinary tract: Uludag university experience

Purpose:

In this study we aimed to review urological soft tissue sarcomas of genitourinary tract that were diagnosed in our institution and their prognostic factors for survival.

Materials and Methods:

The clinical and pathological records of 31 patients who had diagnosis of soft tissue sarcomas primarily originating from the genitourinary tract between 2005-2011 were reviewed.

Results:

The most common site was kidney (17 cases, 54.8%), and most common diagnosis was leiomyosarcoma (11 cases, 35.4%). A total of 24 patients (77.4%) had surgical excision. The surgical margins were positive in 7 patients who presented with local recurrence after primary resection. Twelve patients developed metastatic disease. During follow-up (range 9-70 month), 26 of the 31 patients (88.9%) were alive. Significant survival differences were found according to histological type (p: 0.001), with lower survival rates for malignant fibrous histiocytoma. The tumor size, the presence of metastasis at the time of diagnosis and tumor localization were not statistically significant for overall survival.

Conclusions:

In our series, prostate sarcomas, paratesticular rhabdomyosarcoma and malignant fibrous histiocytoma had poor prognosis, especially in patients presenting with metastatic disease.

Partial cystectomy for a primary locally advanced leiomyosarcoma of the bladder: a case report and review of the literature

Partial cystectomy with wide local excision may be considered a suitable option for selective cases of locally advanced bladder leiomyosarcoma without evidence of distant metastasis; thereby preserving the functional outcome and quality of life. A negative margin, complete tumor resection, and frequent follow-up in such patients are mandatory.

Adult genitourinary sarcoma: Clinical characteristics and survival in a series of patients treated at a high-volume institution

OBJECTIVES

To report our institutional experience in the management of adult genitourinary sarcoma.

METHODS

This was a retrospective analysis of data on adult genitourinary sarcoma treated at the West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China from 1985 to 2010. Clinicopathological parameters were analyzed to determine their impact on overall, recurrence-free and metastasis-free survivals.

RESULTS

A total of 46 women and 142 men were included, with a median age of 42 years. Of these, 152 cases were high-grade. The most common site was the paratesticular region. Surgical resection was carried out in 155 patients (82.4%), with negative margin in 106. After a minimum follow up of 5 years, 20 patients (11.6%) survived disease-free, 14 (8.1%) were alive with disease and 138 (80.2%) died of disease. Survival rates at 1, 3 and 5 years were 91.3%, 64.0% and 47.7%. In univariate analyses, liposarcoma, high grade, metastasis at diagnosis, a lack of surgical resection and positive margin were predictive of unfavorable survival. In multivariate analyses, high grade, a lack of surgical resection and chemotherapy were independent predictors of poor survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Adult genitourinary sarcoma is an aggressive malignancy, usually presenting at advanced stage, with a high incidence of recurrence and metastasis. Complete resection and selective combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy might constitute the optimal treatment for this disease.

Unusual Visceral Sarcomas: Report of 2 Cases with Review of Literature

Sarcomas account for only 1% of adult solid tumours. Visceral sarcomas except Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumours (GIST) are rare and therefore little is known about the natural history and prognosis of these tumours. They tend to occur in older adults with no sex predilection and are characterized by an aggressive behaviour. Proper evaluation of these tumours is necessary because these are uncommon tumours which often present with advanced disease in an anatomically complex location. Since there are very few published studies on visceral sarcomas, the data is insufficient to suggest prognosis and optimum treatment strategies. We present two cases of such unusual malignancies in spleen and urinary bladder.

High-grade Primary Renal Leiomyosarcoma

Objectıve

To investigate the clinical characteristics, prognosis, survival and diagnosis of high-grade primary renal leiomyosarcoma.

Materıals and Methods

From January 2003 to April 2013, 10 cases of high-grade primary renal leiomyosarcoma were retrospectively reviewed. We analyzed clinical manifestations, treatment and prognosis of our group and correlated to the literature.

Results

Ten cases (five male and five female patients; age range 43–77 years, mean=57±std d:12.3 ) were enrolled. The mean diameter of the tumor masses was 9.35±4.5 cm (range 3-18 cm). 40% of the patients were asymptomatic while the major symptom of 60% patients was lumbar pain. Nephrectomy was performed in 90% of patients. Partial nephrectomy surgery was preferred for only one patient. Pleomorphism and necrosis with high-grade, pink spindle cell cytoplasm were viewed in all patients. All patients were high-grade, pink spindle cell cytoplasm and pleomorfism and necrosis were observed in all. In an immunohistochemical examination, vimentin was seen in 100%, desmin in 90% and smooth muscle actin in 80% of the patients. CD117 was negative in all patients. All of the cases were followed-up, and the time of survival varied from 6 to 68 months (mean 23.9±std d:20.1). No patient received adjuvant CTx and/or RTx.

Conclusıon

High-grade primary renal leiomyosarcomas (LMSs) are rare and highly malignant and the prognosis is poor. Early diagnosis and radical nephrectomy can prolong the patient’s life. Surgery is the main treatment modality for renal (leiomyosarcoma) LMS.

Adult Urological Soft Tissue Sarcomas: A Multicenter Study of the Anatolian Society of Medical Oncology (ASMO)

OBJECTIVE

To analyze clinicopathological characteristics, prognostic factors and survival rates of the patients with urological soft tissue sarcomas treated and followed up in Turkey.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

For overall survival analyses the Kaplan-Meier method was used. From medical records, nine prognostic factors on overall survival were analysed.

RESULTS

For the 53 patients (34 males, 19 females) whose charts were reviewed, the median age was 53 (range 22 to 83) years. Most frequently renal location (n=30; 56.6%) was evident and leiomyosarcoma (n=20, 37.7%) was the most frequently encountered histological type. Median survival time of all patients was 40.3 (95% CI, 14.2-66.3) months. In univariate analysis, male gender, advanced age (≥50 years), metastatic stage, unresectability, grade 3, renal location were determined as worse prognostic factors. In multivariate analysis, metastatic stage, unresectability and grade 3 were determined as indicators of worse prognosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Urological soft tissue sarcomas are rarely seen tumours in adults. The most important factors in survival are surgical resection, stage of the tumour at onset, grade and location of the tumour, gender and age of the patients.

Primary spindle cell sarcoma of the prostate and (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron-emission tomography/computed tomography findings

Background:

Primary sarcoma of the prostate is extremely rare and accounts for 0.1% of all prostate cancers. This type of cancer is associated with poor prognosis due to aggressive biological behavior. The World Health Organization histologically classified prostate sarcomas as stromal tumor of unknown malignant potential (STUMP) and stromal sarcoma.

Patients and Methods:

A 39-year-old patient presented with lower urinary tract symptoms over the last few months. On digital rectal examination, the right lobe of the prostate was diffusely hard on palpation. Prostate-specific antigen was 0.5 ng/ml. A biopsy specimen was obtained with the guidance of transrectal ultrasonography. Immunohistochemical examination revealed positive staining for vimentin, actin, and desmin.

Results:

¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron-emission tomography/computed tomography scans obtained for staging purposes with the diagnosis of primary spindle cell carcinoma of the prostate revealed widespread lung and liver metastases. A doxorubicin-based systemic chemotherapy (CTx) was initiated.

Conclusion:

Spindle sarcomas of the prostate have quite aggressive nature and they have high potential to metastase. Average life expectancy is <1 year and the prognosis is poor. CTx and radiation therapy can’t yield curative effects due to poor differentiation.

Prognostic features of renal sarcomas (Review)

The aim of the present review was to evaluate the prognostic features of primary sarcomas of the kidney. A literature review was conducted using a number of databases, including Medline (PubMed) and Scopus, for studies published between January 1992 and December 2013. Of the studies published in English, those describing the prognostic features of primary sarcomas of the kidney were recorded. The electronic search was limited to the following keywords: Sarcoma, renal sarcoma, prognosis, diagnosis, immunohistochemistry, genetic and survey. Subsequent to the search, no review articles and/or meta-analyses associated with the prognosis of primary sarcomas of the kidney were identified. In total, 31 studies, which consisted of case studies, case series and studies concerned with the overall prognosis of urological soft-tissue sarcomas, were reviewed. Primary sarcoma of the kidney has a poor prognosis compared with other sarcomas of the urogenital system. In addition to the surgical excision of renal sarcomas, pathological, molecular and genetic prognostic factors are also considered. Due to the small number of cases, previous studies have not randomized the prognostic features of primary sarcomas of the kidney. The elucidation of the so-called ‘chaotic’ genetic and molecular basis of renal sarcomas will help to predict patient prognoses. Surgical excision is the most significant parameter for determining the prognosis of sarcomas of the kidney. However, sarcomas also exhibit prognostic features that are based upon pathological, genetic and molecular factors. The present review suggests that additional factors may be important in predicting the prognosis of patients with renal sarcomas, and that clinicians should plan treatment and follow-up regimens according to these factors.

Histologic variability and diverse oncologic outcomes of prostate sarcomas

Purpose

Primary prostate sarcomas are a rare type of prostate cancer that account for less than 0.1% of primary prostate malignancies. We analyzed the experience of a single institution with prostate sarcoma over 20 years.

Materials and Methods

In this case series, the medical records of 20 patients with prostate sarcoma were reviewed from June 1990 to December 2013 to identify symptoms at presentation, diagnostic procedures, metastasis presence and development, histologic subtype, French Fédération Nationale des Centres de Lutte Contre le Cancer grade, primary tumor grade and size, and treatment sequence, including surgery and preoperative and postoperative therapies. The average follow-up period was 23.6 months (range, 1.4-83.3 months).

Results

The average patient age was 46.3±16.7 years. Most patients presented with lower urinary tract symptoms (55%). The histologic subtype was spindle cell sarcoma in five patients (25%), rhabdomyosarcoma in three patients (15%), synovial sarcoma in three patients (15%), liposarcoma in three patients (15%), stromal sarcoma in three patients (15%), and Ewing sarcoma, nerve sheath tumor, and adenocarcinoma with sarcomatoid component (5% each). For liposarcoma, two patients were alive after complete surgical resection and had a good prognosis. At last follow-up, 15 patients had died of sarcoma. The 2- and 5-year actuarial survival rates for all 20 patients were 53% and 12%, respectively (medial survival, 20 months).

Conclusions

The disease-specific survival rate of prostate sarcoma is poor. However, sarcoma that is detected early shows a better result with proper management including surgical intervention with radio-chemotherapy than with no treatment. Early diagnosis and complete surgical resection offer patients the best curative chance.

High grade myofibroblastic sarcoma of paratesticular soft tissues

Tumors of the paratesticular region most often arise from the soft tissue surrounding the spermatic cord and the epididymis or from the soft tissue (dartos muscle) of the scrotal wall. Paratesticular tumors, despite their rarity, present a high incidence of malignancy (30%), and the therapeutic approach of choice is surgical resection with negative margin. The grade, the histology type, the presence of metastases during the diagnosis, the size of the tumor, the age of the patients, and the surgical margins are all important prognostic factors. We present a case report of a 86-year-old patient with a high grade paratesticular and scrotum sarcoma of soft tissues which was presented as a hard painful mass of the scrotum. The patient was subjected to high ligation of the spermatic cord and received no further treatment and 6 months after the operation no local or systematic recurrence was observed.

Mesenchymal tumours of the bladder and prostate: an update

Mesenchymal tumours of the urinary bladder and prostate are infrequent neoplasms. The body of literature is growing with isolated case reports and short series, and the majority of cases are benign neoplasms. Other than stromal tumour of uncertain malignant potential and prostatic stromal sarcoma, both neoplasms derived from the specific prostatic stroma, the mesenchymal neoplasms in these locations are identical to their counterparts seen in other organs. However, the limited amount of tissue generated by biopsy and rarity of mesenchymal lesions in these sites create unique diagnostic difficulties, while correct classification of the neoplasm often bears significant impact on prognosis and therapeutic strategy. In this review we summarise the diagnostic features, focus on the differential diagnosis, and highlight the potential diagnostic pitfalls of mesenchymal tumours of the bladder and prostate.

Prostate embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma in adults: Case report and review of literature

INTRODUCTION

Prostate embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (ERMS) is a common tumour in infants and children, with a median occurrence age of 5 years, but it is rare in adults. It is characterized by a high degree of malignancy, both local rapid growth with formation of large pelvic masses, often leading to renal failure due to urethral obstruction, and systemic spread, commonly to the lungs, liver and bone. Several therapeutic approaches have been employed in the effort to treat prostate ERMS, but all of them have failed to gain a significant survival benefit in adult patients.

CASE REPORT

We report on a case of a stage IV prostate ERMS, approached with combined-modality treatment, with the administration of 5 courses of doxorubicin, ifosfamide and 2-mercaptoethane sulfonate sodium (mesna), and, subsequent radiotherapy to the prostatic bed (60 Gy/30 fxs). The patient remained free of progression of disease for about 1 year to finally experience a systemic relapse with multiple lung metastases and pleural effusion. The patient died for metastatic disease 27 months following the initial diagnosis.

CONCLUSION

While it remains questionable which therapeutic approach for prostate ERMS in adults is the most appropriate, our report demonstrates that a chemo-radiation combined treatment can control the prostate disease, reducing the symptoms and improving the quality of life of these patients, for the most part destined to die for systemic progression of disease.

Leiomyosarcoma of the urinary bladder: A review and a report of two further cases

OBJECTIVES

To review the published cases of leiomyosarcoma of the urinary bladder and to report two further cases.

METHODS

The databases Pubmed and Hinari were searched using the keywords 'bladder', 'leiomyosarcoma' and 'smooth muscle neoplasm'. The 14 articles identified were reviewed, and we present a further two cases.

RESULTS

Of more than 100 cases reported, 77 were reviewed. There is a lack of consensus about the standard treatment, and little is known about the natural history and prognosis of the tumour, due to its very low incidence. These tumours occur in older adults of either sex and are characterised by an aggressive behaviour. There is usually an unfavourable outcome, with the lungs being the most common site of metastasis. The two further cases we report had a different presentation and outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

Because of the limited experience with this rare tumour, there are insufficient data to suggest the optimum management strategy and prognosis.