Multiple carcinosarcomas of the kidney: A case report and review of the literature

Epidemiology of and prognostic factors for patients with sarcomatoid carcinoma: a large population-based study

Sarcomatoid carcinoma (SC) is regarded as a rare malignant neoplasm associated with poor outcomes. This study aimed to explore the epidemiological characteristics and prognostic factors of SC, and establish a clinical predictive model. The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database was used for data inquiry of patients with SC. Relevant population materials were used for age-adjusted incidence, limited-duration prevalence and prognostic analyses, and also for nomogram construction and validation. A total of 17,917 cases of SC were identified. Among them, 12,276 (68.52%) were women and 14,265 (79.62%) were white. Most cases occurred in the female genital system, accounting for 41.10% of all SCs. The median age at diagnosis was 68 years. The incidence and prevalence of SC increased substantially over time. The age-adjusted incidence increased from 0.31/100,000 in 1973 to 1.26/100,000 by 2014, a 4.06-fold change. Among site groups, the incidence of SC in the female genital and the respiratory system increased most significantly (P < 0.001). As for stage and grade, the incidence increased the most in distant and high-grade SC, respectively (P < 0.001). Moreover, the survival duration varied significantly by site, histology, stage and grade (P < 0.001). The multivariable analyses showed that the year of diagnosis, age, sex, race, grade, stage, and site were all significant prognostic factors (P < 0.001). Among these, stage and primary tumor site were the most valuable indicators of outcomes. Furthermore, a nomogram comprising age, histology, grade, stage and site were established to predict the 3-/5-year survival probability. The concordance indexes of the nomogram were 0.745 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.737-0.753) and 0.743 (95% CI: 0.728-0.756) for the internal and external validations, respectively. The calibration plot demonstrated satisfactory consistency between the actual and predicted outcomes in both the internal and external validations. In conclusion, increasing incidence and prevalence of SC was observed in our study, suggesting that SC is more prevalent than previously reported. Clinicians should be familiar with the characteristics of these tumors. Furthermore, the established nomogram could accurately predict the 3-/5-year survival rate of patients with SC, which may be of value for patient counselling and risk stratification.

Possible reversibility between epithelioid and sarcomatoid types of mesothelioma is independent of ERC/mesothelin expression

Background

Mesothelioma is histologically divided into three subgroups: epithelioid, sarcomatoid, and biphasic types. The epithelioid or sarcomatoid type is morphologically defined by polygonal or spindle-like forms of cells, respectively. The biphasic type consists of both components. It is not yet understood how histological differentiation of mesothelioma is regulated. ERC/mesothelin is expressed in most cases of the epithelioid type, but not in the sarcomatoid type of mesothelioma. Consequently, its expression is well correlated to the histological subtype. We hypothesized that ERC/mesothelin expression influences the histological differentiation of mesothelioma, and tested this hypothesis.

Methods

We performed studies using the overexpression or knockdown of ERC/mesothelin in mesothelioma cells to examine its effect on cellular morphology, growth kinetics, or migration/invasion activity, in vitro. We then transplanted ERC/mesothelin-overexpressing and control cells into the intraperitoneal space of mice. We examined the effect of ERC/mesothelin overexpression on mouse survival and tumor phenotype.

Results

In vitro cell culture manipulations of ERC/mesothelin expression did not affect cellular morphology or proliferation, although its overexpression enhanced cellular adhesion and the migration/invasion activity of mesothelioma cells. The survival rate of mice following intraperitoneal transplantation of ERC/mesothelin-overexpressing mesothelioma cells was significantly lower than that of mice with control cells. The histological evaluation of the tumors, however, did not show any morphological difference between two groups, and our hypothesis was not validated. Unexpectedly, both groups (ERC/mesothelin-overexpressing and control) of mesothelioma cells that were morphologically monophasic and spindle-like in vitro differentiated into a biphasic type consisting of polygonal and spindle-like components in the transplanted tumor, irrespective of ERC/mesothelin expression.

Conclusions

These results suggested that the histological transition of mesothelioma between epithelioid and sarcomatoid types may be reversible and regulated not by ERC/mesothelin, but by other unknown mechanisms.

Managing the unexpected: Carcinosarcoma of the kidney parenchyma A case with the longest follow-up

INTRODUCTION

We present the management of the second reported case of carcinosarcoma of the kidney parenchyma with malignant degeneration of both epithelial and mesenchymal components.

CASE REPORT

A 36-year-old woman came to our attention for an incidental sonographic finding of a lesion in the lower pole of the left kidney. A contrasted computed tomography scan confirmed the presence of a 50 × 52 mm² contrasted lesion in the left lower kidney pole. The patient underwent a challenging laparoscopic left partial nephrectomy and para-aortic lymphadenectomy. The histological examination led to the diagnosis of a carcinosarcoma of the kidney parenchyma with malignant degeneration of both epithelial and mesenchymal components. The patient underwent adjuvant chemotherapy with paclitaxel at 175 mg/m² plus carboplatin area under the curve 6 intravenously for six cycles. At a follow-up of 42 months, the patient is alive and does not show any local recurrences or distant metastases.

CONCLUSION

A multi-disciplinary therapeutic approach, combined with an adequate doctor-patient relationship and a close and detailed follow-up, is of fundamental importance in obtaining good outcomes in such rare and challenging cases.

The prognosis of subsequent surgical treatment in patients with sarcomatoid carcinoma in the liver: A retrospective study

BACKGROUND

Sarcomatoid hepatocellular carcinoma (SHC) is a rare disease with a poor prognosis. Due to the scarcity of patients with this condition, the optimal treatment for SHC has not been established. In this study, we compared the benefits of subsequent treatments for surgical SHC patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Clinical records were retrospectively studied. The SHC patients were divided into two groups according to whether subsequent treatment was performed. The overall survival (OS) rates and disease-free survival (DFS) rates were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method, and comparisons were made using the log-rank test. Univariate and multivariate analyses were evaluated using the Cox proportional hazards regression model.

RESULTS

The study included 25 patients; 9 (36%) had subsequent treatments following surgery. The median OS of the treatment group and non-treatment group were 8.8 months [95% confidence interval (CI) 8.4-9.1] and 5.4 months [95% CI 4.3-6.5], respectively. OS showed statistical significance between the two groups (log-rank, P = 0.025). Univariate analysis suggested that two factors were poor predictors of OS: without subsequent treatment and with capsule formation. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that only subsequent treatment significantly influenced OS.

CONCLUSION

After surgery, SHC patients with subsequent treatment showed better outcomes. However, a more effective treatment is yet to be found. Further studies with a larger patient population are needed.

Biphasic malignant tumours of the abdominal cavity

Carcinosarcomas (CS) are uncommon, highly aggressive, biphasic tumours consisting of both sarcomatous and carcinomatous elements. They appear to originate from a common cell of origin, either via transformation from a single premature precursor or conversion of a mature epithelial cell through an epithelial-mesenchymal transition. CS should be considered a unique cancer subtype with cells typically displaying diffuse mitotic activity and widespread atypical mitoses predisposing to early metastasis and a tendency to local recurrence following resection. This review addresses the pathophysiology of CS and discusses its presentation, natural history and management at a variety of sites within the abdominal cavity and retroperitoneum.