Project description:Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS), previously known as malignant fibrous histiocytoma, is a neoplasm that occurs most often in the extremities, trunk, and retroperitoneum. Rarely, UPS can occur in the cardiac chambers and great vessels. The diagnosis of UPS is difficult to establish with noninvasive imaging techniques, and these tumors may be mistaken for benign neoplasms preoperatively. Surgical excision is the standard therapy, although the extent and location of the tumor may limit the ability to perform a complete resection. Adjuvant chemotherapy and/or radiation are often used for incomplete resections. We report the case of a 57-year-old woman with a large right ventricular UPS who presented with signs of right-sided heart failure. Preoperative imaging was suggestive of a myxoma; however, histopathologic evaluation of the specimen confirmed a diagnosis of UPS. Microscopic margins of the specimen were positive, and adjuvant chemotherapy was given. We discuss diagnostic and treatment considerations for this unusual cardiac tumor. <Learning objective: The diagnosis and treatment of primary cardiac tumors are challenging. Noninvasive imaging often lacks the sensitivity and specificity to differentiate between benign and malignant neoplasms. In addition, the extent and location of tumor involvement may limit the ability to perform a complete resection. The diagnosis and treatment of right ventricular undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma are discussed.>.
Project description:Analysis of undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma/malignant fibrous histiocytoma-like tumors from LSL-KrasG12D, p53Fl/Fl mouse model of soft tissue sarcoma.
Project description:Analysis of undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma/malignant fibrous histiocytoma-like tumors from LSL-KrasG12D, p53Fl/Fl mouse model of soft tissue sarcoma. Murine soft tissue sarcomas (n = 17) were compared to normal muscle (n = 4). Tumors were isolated surgically from soft tissue sarcomas generated by conditional Kras and p53 alleles. Tumors were induced using an adenovirus expressing Cre recombinase. Normal muscle samples were isolated from mice of the same genotype without tumor induction.
Project description:BackgroundUndifferentiated pleomorphic sarcomas are one of the most common subtypes of soft tissue sarcomas. These are aggressive mesenchymal tumors and are devoid of the major known biomarkers except vimentin. Our objective was to establish and characterize a primary cell population from a mandibular UPS specimen.MethodsThe tumor was surgically removed from the right mandible of a 24-year-old male with IRB approved signed consent. Tumor was dissected, cultured ex vivo, and a cell population, MUPS-1, were isolated from outgrowths. Gene and protein expression profiles of both the primary tumor and the derived there from cells were obtained by quantitative RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry and included markers of epithelial, endothelial, and mesenchymal differentiation. To better define potential biomarkers, MUPS-1 cells were additionally characterized by RNA sequencing analysis.ResultsPathological analysis of primary tumor tissue revealed a sarcoma demonstrating multiple pathways of differentiation simultaneously with myxoid, fibrous, and osseous tissue. The isolated cells had a spindle cell-like morphology, were maintained in culture for greater than 20 passages, and formed colonies in soft agar indicating tumorigenicity. The cells, similar to the primary tumor, were strongly positive for vimentin and moderately expressed alkaline phosphatase. RNA-seq analysis revealed the tumor over-expressed several genes compared to normal tissue, including components of the Notch signaling pathway, NOTCH3 and JAG1.ConclusionsWe have successfully established an undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma cell population, which will provide a valuable resource for studying fundamental processes and potentially serving as a platform for exploring therapeutic strategies for sarcomas.
Project description:Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (eRMS) shows the most myodifferentiation among sarcomas, yet the precise cell of origin remains undefined. Using Ptch1, p53 and/or Rb1 conditional mouse models and controlling prenatal or postnatal myogenic cell of origin, we demonstrate that eRMS and undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS) lie in a continuum, with satellite cells predisposed to giving rise to UPS. Conversely, p53 loss in maturing myoblasts gives rise to eRMS, which have the highest myodifferentiation potential. Regardless of origin, Rb1 loss modifies tumor phenotype to mimic UPS. In human sarcomas that lack pathognomic chromosomal translocations, p53 loss of function is prevalent, whereas Shh or Rb1 alterations likely act primarily as modifiers. Thus, sarcoma phenotype is strongly influenced by cell of origin and mutational profile.
Project description:Melanoma-associated antigen 3 (MAGE-A3) expression is generally restricted to the placenta and germline cells of the testis, but it may also be expressed in sarcoma and other cancers and is associated with poor prognosis. Immunotherapy approaches targeting MAGE-A3 in other cancers have shown mixed results in the clinic, however, use of cancer testis antigens such as MAGE-A3 may have therapeutic value in the treatment of soft tissue sarcomas. Based on the recent success of anti-programmed death-1 (PD-1) therapy in undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma, we hypothesize that MAGE-A3-based immunotherapies may also provide benefits in this sarcoma type. We analyzed MAGE-A3 expression of sarcoma subtypes available in the Cancer Genome Atlas and Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia and show that undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma/myxofibrosarcoma (UPS/MFS) expresses this potential target gene. We have identified high protein expression by tissue microarray of 106 UPS cores. We also found that high MAGE-A3 mRNA and protein expression is associated with worse overall survival in UPS/MFS. Furthermore, our results show no human leukocyte antigen (HLA) expression loss and relatively high lymphocyte infiltration by lymphocyte specific protein tyrosine kinase (LCK) marker expression. Based on these results, we propose targeting MAGE-A3 in UPS/MFS by immunotherapy techniques.
Project description:As a high-grade soft-tissue sarcoma (STS), undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS) is highly recurrent and malignant. UPS is categorized as a tumor of uncertain differentiation and has few options for treatment due to its lack of targetable genetic alterations. There are also few cell lines that provide a representative model for UPS, leading to a dearth of experimental research. Here, we established and characterized new cell lines derived from two recurrent UPS tissues. Cells were obtained from UPS tissues by mincing, followed by extraction or dissociation using enzymes and culture in a standard culture environment. Cells were maintained for several months without artificial treatment, and some cell clones were found to be tumorigenic in an immunodeficient mouse model. Interestingly, some cells formed tumors in vivo when injected after aggregation in a non-adherent culture system for 24 h. The tissues from in vivo study and tissues from patients shared common histological characteristics. Pathways related to the cell cycle, such as DNA replication, were enriched in both cell clones. Pathways related to cell-cell adhesion and cell-cell signaling were also enriched, suggesting a role of the mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition for tumorigenicity in vivo. These new UPS cell lines may facilitate research to identify therapeutic strategies for UPS. [BMB Reports 2023; 56(4): 258-264].
Project description:Nonrhabdomyosarcoma soft-tissue sarcomas (STSs) are a class of 50+ cancers arising in muscle and soft tissues of children, adolescents, and adults. Rarity of each subtype often precludes subtype-specific preclinical research, leaving many STS patients with limited treatment options should frontline therapy be insufficient. When clinical options are exhausted, personalized therapy assignment approaches may help direct patient care. Here, we report the results of an adult female STS patient with relapsed undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS) who self-drove exploration of a wide array of personalized Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIAs) level and research-level diagnostics, including state of the art genomic, proteomic, ex vivo live cell chemosensitivity testing, a patient-derived xenograft model, and immunoscoring. Her therapeutic choices were also diverse, including neoadjuvant chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgeries. Adjuvant and recurrence strategies included off-label and natural medicines, several immunotherapies, and N-of-1 approaches. Identified treatment options, especially those validated during the in vivo study, were not introduced into the course of clinical treatment but did provide plausible treatment regimens based on FDA-approved clinical agents.