Proliferation, ploidy and prognosis in uterine smooth muscle tumours

Bone and soft tissue tumors at the borderlands of malignancy

This review examines findings of musculoskeletal neoplasms whose equivocal imaging and/or histopathologic features make it difficult to determine if they will show aggressive behavior. We include both intermediate tumors as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), and a single low-grade malignancy, low-grade central osteosarcoma, which mimics a benign lesion on imaging and histology. Intermediate tumors are a broad category and are subdivided into tumors that have risk of local recurrence only, and ones that have a risk of distant limb and pulmonary metastases. Difficult intermediate musculoskeletal lesions include atypical cartilaginous tumor/grade 1 chondrosarcoma, atypical lipomatous tumor/grade 1 liposarcoma, and solitary fibrous tumor. We review diagnostic criteria, differential diagnosis, and recommendations for surveillance.

Estrogen and Progesterone Receptors Expression in Uterine Malignant Smooth Muscle Tumors: Correlation with Clinical Outcome

Uterine leiomyosarcomas are associated with a poor prognosis, although a considerable diversity in behavior may be found, and prolonged survival may occur. The aim of this study was to analyze the expression of estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR) receptors in tumor specimens from uterine leiomyosarcomas, and to test their correlation with disease-free interval and cause-specific survival. This additional information may help the clinician differentiate between patients who have minimal risk of recurrence and those at greater risk of developing progressive disease. We examined specimens from 31 uterine leiomyosarcoma patients with clinical history and known follow-up. Disease-free interval and cause-specific survival rates were calculated according to the Kaplan-Meier method. According to univariate analysis, with Cox proportional hazards models, the ER expression (P=0.006 and P=0.016, respectively), PR expression (P=0.005 and P=0.016, respectively), and FIGO stage disease (P=0.011 and P=0.007, respectively) were independent predictors of the risk of recurrence and death from disease.

Predisposing factors for fibroids and outcome of laparoscopic myomectomy in infertility

Introduction:

Fibroids are very common tumors affecting women for centuries, however surprising that no significant data is still available as to what could be the cause of fibroid? What could be the predisposing or risk factors? Does it has any impact on fertility? Outcomes of Laparoscopic myomectomy in infertility?

Setting:

Advanced Tertiary Gynecologic endoscopic unit.

Aims and Objectives:

1) What are the predisposing factors to develop fibroids? 2) Do fibroids lead to infertility? 3) What are the indications for removal of fibroids in infertility? 4) Is laparoscopic surgery better than open surgery? 5) Is the risk of rupture uterus more after laparoscopic myomectomy? 6) What is the success in terms of pregnancy rate after myomectomy? 7) What are the chances of abortions with or without myomectomy?

Materials and Methods:

A retrospective research study was carried out on 2540 women at the National Institute of Laser and Endoscopic Surgery and Aakar IVF Centre, Mumbai, a referral centre in India. This study was done over a period of 14 years. Women varied in age from 23 to 51 years and infertility of at least more than three years. The woman had fibroids from one to seventeen in number and two centimeters to eighteen centimeters in size which were either submucous, intramural, serosal, cervical or broad ligament. The women requiring hysteroscopic myoma resection were excluded in this study and Laparoscopic myomectomy done in woman other than infertility are also excluded from the study.

Results:

During the course of our study we found that the diet, weight, hypertension, habits had a bearing on incidence of fibroid. In one of the most promising research fact we found that fibroids itself produce prolactin and due to three times high level of aromatase had higher level of estradiol locally compared to normal myometrium. This was detrimental to fertility. A mild elevation of blood levels of prolactin usually in the range of 40 – 60 ng/ml was noticed in nearly 42% of the cases. Fibroids with infertility as a major complaint along with excessive vaginal bleeding in 33%, pain abdomen and dysmenorhea 10%, pressure symptoms in 3%, accidental finding of a large mass in 5% were the major indications for laparoscopic myomectomy. The pregnancy rate after removal of fibroids with active fertility treatment was 42 % and in donor oocyte IVF was 50%, abortion rate was 5%, 64% LSCS, 31% vaginal deliveries. There was no scar rupture in all pregnancies post laparoscopic myomectomy.

Conclusion:

Presence of fibroids in first degree female relative, predominantly red meat eating women, excess weight and high Blood pressure increased incidence of fibroids. Pregnancies & oral contraceptives decreased chances of fibroids. In infertile patient fibroids of significant size, multiple, had high local prolactin & aromatase level affecting fertility. Laparoscopic removal of fibroids increased pregnancy rate to 37.2% & 50% in donor oocyte IVF.

A panel of antibodies to determine site of origin and malignancy in smooth muscle tumors

Leiomyosarcomas are malignant smooth muscle tumors that occur most commonly in the gynecologic tract and soft tissue. There are different diagnostic criteria of malignancy for smooth muscle tumors arising at gynecologic and soft tissue sites and they may be managed differently but determining the primary site of a smooth muscle tumor can be difficult in some cases. In addition, the distinction between malignant and benign gynecologic tract smooth muscle tumors on morphologic grounds can be challenging. Using a series of tissue microarrays that contain 245 cases of leiomyosarcomas (102 gynecologic) with survival data, and 49 cases of uterine leiomyoma, we examined the ability of selected immune-markers (estrogen receptor (ER) and WT1) to distinguish between leiomyosarcomas of gynecologic and nongynecologic origin. In addition, we examined whether immunostains for p16, p53 and Ki-67 could distinguish between malignant and benign gynecologic smooth muscle tumors. ER nuclear positivity was observed in 3 and 50% of the nongynecologic and gynecologic leiomyosarcomas, respectively (P<0.001). Nuclear WT1 positivity was seen in 0 and 8% of the nongynecologic and gynecologic leiomyosarcomas, respectively (P<0.001). 87% of primary gynecologic leiomyosarcomas and 2% of uterine leiomyomas showed diffuse (>or=50% of cells) p16 staining (P<0.001). 23% of gynecologic leiomyosarcomas showed p53 immunopositivity (>or=50% of cells) whereas none of the leiomyomas were positive for p53 (P<0.001). 65% of the gynecologic leiomyosarcomas and 0% of the leiomyomas exhibited >10% Ki-67 proliferation index (P<0.001). Diffuse p16 and p53 immunopositivity and high Ki-67 proliferation index, singly or in combination, yielded an overall sensitivity of 92% and specificity of 98% for distinguishing between gynecologic leiomyosarcomas and leiomyomas and can be used as indicators of malignancy for gynecologic smooth muscle tumors. Although ER positivity can be used to support the gynecologic origin of a leiomyosarcomas, nuclear WT1 immunostaining is of little use.

Borderline Smooth Muscle Tumors of the Uterus

At present, decision regarding where to place a uterine smooth muscle tumor that deviates from the most obvious leiomyoma and leiomyosarcoma groups still depends on time-honored conventional criteria. The focus of categorization should be the clinical outcome and not nosology. To improve accuracy in predicting clinical behavior, a multivariate approach is needed. This involves combining background clinical information, intraoperative and gross findings,multiple relevant morphologic criteria, and immunohistochemical studies. The authors believe that in future, as the number of cases with intermediate clinical outcome and morphologic features increases, and as molecular markers of prognosis are studied, managing these tumors will become more objective.

Analysis of Allelic Loss as an Adjuvant Tool in Evaluation of Malignancy in Uterine Smooth Muscle Tumors

Uterine smooth muscle tumors of uncertain malignant potential (STUMPs) are difficult both from the diagnostic and patient management standpoint because they cannot be classified as benign or malignant by conventional histologic criteria. This study's aim was to determine the diagnostic utility of allelic imbalance (AI) analysis in uterine smooth muscle tumors. Using microdissection and genotyping, we tested 5 leiomyomas, 6 STUMPs, and 10 leiomyosarcomas with follow-up for AI across a panel of seven tumor suppressor genes (p16, p21, p53, VHL, XRCC3, RB, and NM-23). None of the 6 patients with STUMP experienced recurrent disease, whereas 8 of the 10 patients diagnosed with leiomyosarcoma died of disease at follow-up. The mean frequency of allelic loss (FAL) for leiomyomas (18%) was not significantly different from that of STUMPs (21%) (P = 1), whereas leiomyosarcomas displayed a significantly higher FAL (52%) than both leiomyomas (P = 0.001) and STUMPs (P = 0.002). Loss of NM-23, a reported tumor metastasis suppressor gene, was found only in leiomyosarcomas (5 of 9, or 56%), and 4 of 5 (80%) of these were the only cases that demonstrated distant metastases (P = 0.04). Additionally, an FAL of >50% correlated with both NM-23 loss (P = 0.008) and distant metastatic disease (P = 0.04). In conclusion, leiomyomas and STUMPs displayed similar mean FALs and all were clinically benign, whereas uterine leiomyosarcomas had significantly higher frequencies of allelic loss than both leiomyomas and STUMPs. Molecular profiling may thus provide a valuable tool in assessment of malignancy in uterine smooth muscle tumors. Additionally, NM-23 is a promising candidate gene for determination of metastatic potential in these tumors.

Ki-67 expression in patients with uterine leiomyomas, uterine smooth muscle tumors of uncertain malignant potential (STUMP) and uterine leiomyosarcomas (LMS)

BACKGROUND

The aim of the current study was to evaluate the expression of Ki-67 in uterine smooth muscle tumors, comparing leiomyomas, uterine smooth muscle tumors of uncertain malignant potential (STUMP) and uterine leiomyosarcomas (LMS) and to prove the accuracy of a Ki-67 expression as a useful parameter in the diagnosis of LMS.

METHODS

Ki-67 was assessed using immunohistochemistry from paraffin-embedded tissue in 20 patients with uterine LMS, 22 cases of STUMP and 25 cases of leiomyomas.

RESULTS

Ki-67 was present in 10/20 (50%) LMS, in 0/22 (0%) STUMP and in 2/25 (8%) leiomyomas. Significant differences regarding the frequency of Ki-67 expression were observed between LMS and STUMP (p = 0.0001) as well as between LMS and leiomyomas (p = 0.002), but not between STUMP and leiomyomas (p = 0.491). Likewise, the staining intensity differed significantly between LMS and leiomyomas (p = 0.018) as well as between LMS and STUMP (p = 0.002), but not between STUMP and leiomyomas (p = 0.368).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results demonstrate that the significantly elevated Ki-67 antigen expression in LMS, which correlates well with the rapid growth of these malignant tumors, may be a useful immunohistochemical parameter to distinguish between cases of malignant smooth muscle tumors and those of uncertain or borderline histology.

The values of intratumoral mast cell count and Ki-67 immunoreactivity index in differential diagnosis of uterine smooth muscle neoplasms

In this study, the role of the count of intratumoral mast cells was examined and compared with the proliferative activity exhibited by Ki-67 indices in the differential diagnosis of uterine smooth muscle tumors. Sixteen cases of leiomyosarcoma, nine cases of atypical leiomyoma and 16 cases of ordinary leiomyoma were included. The pathological features of the cases were determined by reviewing the archive materials including the patient records and hematoxylin-eosin-stained sections. Toluidine blue stain was used to highlight the intratumoral mast cells and they were counted in at least 40 high power fields. A standard streptavidin-biotin method was applied to the sections to highlight the Ki-67 immunoreactive tumor cell nuclei. These proliferative cells were counted in at least 10 high-power fields. Atypical leiomyomas tended to have a higher quantity of intratumoral mast cells than leiomyosarcomas and ordinary leiomyomas (P = 0.027 and P = 0.021, respectively). Leiomyosarcomas tended to have higher Ki-67 immunoreactivity rates than atypical leiomyomas, although the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.82). We concluded that the quantity of intratumoral mast cells is useful in the differential diagnosis between leiomyosarcomas and atypical leiomyomas, while the cell proliferation rate expressed by Ki-67 immunoreactivity has a limited value.

Recent advances in the pathology of smooth muscle tumours of the uterus

Smooth muscle tumours of the uterus are common and the majority are benign leiomyomas. However, there are some tumours which exhibit unusual morphological features or growth patterns that cause difficulty in their distinction from malignant neoplasms and those with endometrial stromal differentiation. Such lesions are reviewed in this article with detailed descriptions of their morphology, differential diagnosis and correlation with biological behaviour.

MIB-1 (Ki-67), p53, estrogen receptor, and progesterone receptor expression in uterine smooth muscle tumors

The diagnosis of benign, uncertain malignant potential, and malignant uterine smooth muscle tumors depends on mitotic counts, nuclear atypia, and other morphologic features. This study was undertaken to evaluate the utility of selected immunohistochemical markers in differentiating these tumors. Fifteen cases of cellular leiomyoma, 7 cases of smooth muscle tumor of uncertain malignant potential (STUMP), and 12 cases of leiomyosarcoma were immunostained for MIB-1 (Ki-67), p53, estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor (PR) using monoclonal antibodies and the avidin-biotin-peroxidase method. The percentage of cells stained was subjectively assessed to the nearest 5%. One percent was used for rare positive cells. MIB-1 expression of > or =15% was seen in 11 and expression of p53 in > or =15% cells was present in 5 of 12 leiomyosarcomas. MIB-1 and/or p53 expression of >15% was seen in all 12 leiomyosarcomas but in none of the 7 STUMP or 15 cellular leiomyomas. PR was absent in 10 of 12 leiomyosarcomas but present in 7 of 7 STUMP and 14 of 15 cellular leiomyomas. MIB-1 of 5% to 10% was seen in 6 of 7 STUMP but in only 1 of 15 cellular leiomyomas. MIB-1, p53, and PR are useful in differentiating leiomyosarcoma from STUMP and cellular leiomyoma. MIB-1 is useful in distinguishing STUMP from cellular leiomyomas.

Uterine smooth muscle tumors: utility of classification by proliferation, ploidy, and prognostic markers versus traditional histopathology

CONTEXT

Accurate categorization of uterine smooth muscle neoplasms by light microscopic examination is difficult. Multiple classification schemes have been proposed based on mitotic rate, nuclear atypia, and the presence or absence of necrosis. None of these classification systems has been entirely successful. Multiple ancillary techniques have been tested for their ability to predict behavior of uterine smooth muscle tumors.

OBJECTIVE

We assayed 45 smooth muscle neoplasms for a variety of proliferation markers, oncogene protein products, and DNA ploidy level to determine if these markers supplied prognostically useful information over and above that obtained by routine light microscopic assessment.

STUDY DESIGN

Forty-five uterine smooth muscle neoplasms were assessed for DNA ploidy; silver-staining nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs); percent nuclear proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA); expression of p53, Her-2/neu, and MDM-2 protein; mitotic rate; and nuclear grade. These markers were correlated with histologic diagnosis and the occurrence of a clinically adverse event (death, metastasis, or recurrence).

RESULTS

Diagnostic category (P <.001), nuclear grade (P <.002), mitotic activity (P <.001), mean AgNORs (P <.001), percent nuclear PCNA (P =.02), and expression of p53 (P =.02) all correlated with clinical outcome. No statistically significant correlation between clinical outcome and the categories MDM-2 expression, Her-2/neu expression, or DNA ploidy was seen. Nuclear grade, p53 expression, mitotic rate, AgNORs, and percent nuclear PCNA correlated with diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Diagnostic category, mitotic rate, AgNOR counts, PCNA, and p53 expression dichotomized uterine smooth muscle neoplasms into prognostically favorable and unfavorable groups. Although highly significant, the category AgNORs was no more successful than mitotic rate in dividing uterine smooth muscle neoplasms into prognostically favorable and unfavorable groups. Expression of p53 and percent nuclear PCNA dichotomized uterine smooth muscle neoplasms into prognostic groups, but neither technique reached the level of significance achieved by mitotic rate. Our data indicate that mitotic rate and the classification system of Kempson and Bari are at least as effective as the tested markers in separating uterine smooth muscle neoplasms into prognostic categories.