Clinical markers of immunotherapy outcomes in advanced sarcoma.

BACKGROUND: Despite immunotherapy's promise in oncology, its use for sarcoma remains challenging. There are no sarcoma-specific biomarkers for immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). Previously, we reported our institutional experience highlighting ICI activity in 29 patients with sarcoma. In this study, we explore responses to ICI based on ICI regimen and other covariates to identify significant clinical factors in advanced sarcoma outcomes. METHODS: Patients in The Ohio State University Sarcoma Clinics were enrolled in the Sarcoma Retrospective ICI database from January 1, 2015 through November 1, 2021. Data included treatment regimen (single-agent ICI or ICI + combination) along with clinical covariates. ICI + combination was further categorized into ICI + medication, ICI + radiation, ICI + surgery, or ICI + multiple (more than 2 modalities). Statistical analysis included log-rank tests and proportional hazard regression. The primary objective was to evaluate overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). RESULTS: Of the patients in the database, 135 met inclusion criteria. We demonstrated improved OS in patients treated with ICI + combination (p = 0.014, median 64 weeks), but no effect on PFS (p = 0.471, median 31 weeks). Patients with a documented immune-related adverse event (irAE) of dermatitis had improved OS, but only in the ICI + combination cohort (p = 0.021). Patients who received single-agent ICI and whose change in the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) was less than 5 had an improved OS (p = 0.002); this was not seen in patients who received ICI + combination therapy (p = 0.441). There were no differences in OS based on age, gender, histology, or subcategories of ICI + combination. This was not the case for PFS; patients who received any ICI regimen and were younger than 70 had a worse PFS (p = 0.036) compared with their older counterparts in this dataset. Patients who developed an irAE, specifically colitis (p = 0.009), hepatitis (p = 0.048), or dermatitis (p = 0.003), had an improved PFS. There were no differences in PFS based on ICI regimen (or subcategories of ICI + combination), gender, histology, change in NLR, or grade of irAE. CONCLUSIONS: This retrospective study demonstrates that ICI + combination therapy can improve OS in some patients with advanced sarcoma. This is consistent with our prior results of ICI in sarcoma.

Modulation of the oral glucocorticoid system during black raspberry mediated oral cancer chemoprevention.

Recent reports suggest that glucocorticoids (GCs), which can be synthesized in the oral mucosa, play an important role in cancer development. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to characterize the role of the oral GC system in oral cancer, and determine the effect of black raspberry (BRB) administration on GC modulation during oral cancer chemoprevention. We determined the expression of GC enzymes in various oral cancer cell lines, and investigated the role of the GC inactivating enzyme HSD11B2 on CAL27 oral cancer cells using siRNA mediated knockdown approaches. Using two in vivo models of oral carcinogenesis with 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide carcinogen on C57Bl/6 mice and F344 rats, we determined the effect of BRB on GC modulation during head and neck squamous cell carcinoma chemoprevention. Our results demonstrate that HSD11B2, which inactivates cortisol to cortisone, is downregulated during oral carcinogenesis in clinical and experimental models. Knockdown of HSD11B2 in oral cancer cells promotes cellular proliferation, invasion and expression of angiogenic biomarkers EGFR and VEGFA. An ethanol extract of BRB increased HSD11B2 expression on oral cancer cells. Dietary administration of 5% BRB increased Hsd11b2 gene and protein expression and reduced the active GC, corticosterone, in cancer-induced mouse tongues. Our results demonstrate that the oral GC system is modulated during oral carcinogenesis, and BRB administration upregulates Hsd11b2 during oral cancer chemoprevention. In conclusion, our findings challenge the use of synthetic GCs in head and neck cancer, and support the use of natural product alternatives that potentially modulate GC metabolism in a manner that supports oral cancer chemoprevention.

Overview of the management of primary tumors of the spine.

STUDY DESIGN: Narrative review. OBJECTIVE: To provide a narrative review for diagnosis and management of Primary spine tumors. METHODS: A detailed review of literature was done to identify relevant and well cited manuscripts to construct this narrative review. RESULTS: Primary tumors of the spine are rare with some racial differences reported. There are numerous adjuvant technologies and developments that influence the way we currently manage these tumors. Collimated radiation allows for heavy dosage to be delivered and have been reported to give good local control both as an adjuvant and neoadjuvant setting. These have made surgical decision making even more intricate needing a multicentric approach. Dedicated care has been shown to significantly improve health quality of life measures and survival. CONCLUSION: While, it is beyond the scope of this paper to discuss all primary tumors subtypes individually, this review highlights the developments and approach to primary spine tumors.

Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumor Driven by Novel NUMA1-ALK Fusion Responds to ALK Inhibition.

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors (IMTs) are soft tissue neoplasms with rare metastatic potential. Approximately half of IMTs are positive for an ALK rearrangement, and ALK inhibitors have been used successfully in the treatment of IMTs with a variety of ALK fusions. This report describes a 21-year-old woman with an aggressive, metastatic IMT with a novel NUMA1-ALK fusion that showed a dramatic response to the ALK inhibitors crizotinib and alectinib. To our knowledge, this report provides the first published description of an IMT with a NUMA1-ALK fusion. The patient's aggressive IMT responded favorably to crizotinib and alectinib, suggesting that ALK inhibitors may be effective in IMT with NUMA1-ALK fusions. We review published reports of ALK-driven IMTs that have received ALK inhibitor therapy and suggest characteristics that may be associated with favorable response to treatment. We also discuss the strengths and limitations of immunohistochemistry, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and next-generation sequencing in the diagnosis and management of IMTs.

Liposarcoma: molecular targets and therapeutic implications.

Liposarcoma (LPS) is the most common soft tissue sarcoma and accounts for approximately 20 % of all adult sarcomas. Current treatment modalities (surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy) all have limitations; therefore, molecularly driven studies are needed to improve the identification and increased understanding of genetic and epigenetic deregulations in LPS if we are to successfully target specific tumorigenic drivers. It can be anticipated that such biology-driven therapeutics will improve treatments by selectively deleting cancer cells while sparing normal tissues. This review will focus on several therapeutically actionable molecular markers identified in well-differentiated LPS and dedifferentiated LPS, highlighting their potential clinical applicability.

Deletion of macrophage migration inhibitory factor inhibits murine oral carcinogenesis: Potential role for chronic pro-inflammatory immune mediators.

Oral cancer kills about 1 person every hour each day in the United States and is the sixth most prevalent cancer worldwide. The pro-inflammatory cytokine 'macrophage migration inhibitory factor' (MIF) has been shown to be expressed in oral cancer patients, yet its precise role in oral carcinogenesis is not clear. In this study, we examined the impact of global Mif deletion on the cellular and molecular process occurring during oral carcinogenesis using a well-established mouse model of oral cancer with the carcinogen 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4NQO). C57BL/6 Wild-type (WT) and Mif knock-out mice were administered with 4NQO in drinking water for 16 weeks, then regular drinking water for 8 weeks. Mif knock-out mice displayed fewer oral tumor incidence and multiplicity, accompanied by a significant reduction in the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines Il-1ß, Tnf-α, chemokines Cxcl1, Cxcl6 and Ccl3 and other molecular biomarkers of oral carcinogenesis Mmp1 and Ptgs2. Further, systemic accumulation of myeloid-derived tumor promoting immune cells was inhibited in Mif knock-out mice. Our results demonstrate that genetic Mif deletion reduces the incidence and severity of oral carcinogenesis, by inhibiting the expression of chronic pro-inflammatory immune mediators. Thus, targeting MIF is a promising strategy for the prevention or therapy of oral cancer.

Osteoblastomas of the spine: a comprehensive review.

Osteoblastomas are primary bone tumors with an affinity for the spine. They typically involve the posterior elements, although extension through the pedicles into the vertebral body is not uncommon. Histologically, they are usually indistinguishable from osteoid osteomas. However, there are different variants of osteoblastomas, with the more aggressive type causing more pronounced bone destruction, soft-tissue infiltration, and epidural extension. A bone scan is the most sensitive radiographic examination used to evaluate osteoblastomas. These osseous neoplasms usually present in the 2nd decade of life with dull aching pain, which is difficult to localize. At times, they can present with a painful scoliosis, which usually resolves if the osteoblastoma is resected in a timely fashion. Neurological manifestations such as radiculopathy or myelopathy do occur as well, most commonly when there is mass effect on nerve roots or the spinal cord itself. The mainstay of treatment involves surgical intervention. Curettage has been a surgical option, although marginal excision or wide en bloc resection are preferred options. Adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy are generally not undertaken, although some have advocated their use after less aggressive surgical maneuvers or with residual tumor. In this manuscript, the authors have aimed to systematically review the literature and to put forth an extensive, comprehensive overview of this rare osseous tumor.

Myxoid neurofibroma masquerading as lymphatic-venous malformation and poses a diagnostic challenge on fine needle aspiration biopsy.

BACKGROUND: Myxoid neurofibromas (NF) are uncommon, benign spindle cell tumors that originate from peripheral nerve sheaths, often posing a diagnostic challenge due to their hypocellularity on cytology specimens. Distinguishing myxoid spindle cell lesions can be challenging, given the broad range of potential differential diagnoses. CASE PRESENTATION: A 26-year-old female with a past medical history of embolized inguinal, flank, and retroperitoneal venolymphatic malformation presented with a left pelvic pain causing significant disability. CT scan showed an extensive 8.7 cm × 6.6 cm retroperitoneal mass. FNA was performed and alcohol-fixed papanicolaou-stained smears showed a hypocellular specimen with loosely arranged clusters of bland spindle cell proliferation in the background of a mucoid matrix. Spindle cells showed scant cytoplasm and elongated oval-shaped regular nuclei. Prominent nucleoli were not seen. An excisional biopsy revealed a bland spindle cell proliferation in a myxoid background associated with shredded collagen bundles. Immunohistochemical staining showed diffuse positivity for S100 and CD34. Based on the overall findings, a definitive diagnosis of myxoid neurofibroma was rendered. DISCUSSION: Cytological features of myxoid neurofibroma include the presence of hypocellular spindle-shaped cells arranged in small, loosely organized groups within a myxoid matrix background. Cells exhibit scant cytoplasm with regular oval and elongated nuclei. Nucleoli are typically not identified. The differential diagnosis includes myxoid neurofibroma, myxoma, myxoid liposarcoma, myxoid chondrosarcoma, myxoid dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma, and low-grade myxo-fibrosarcoma. CONCLUSION: We aim to highlight the importance of considering myxoid neurofibroma in the differential diagnosis of hypocellular myxoid spindle cell lesions encountered on fine-needle aspiration cytology.

Paraneoplastic scleroderma-like tissue reactions in the setting of an underlying plasma cell dyscrasia: a report of 10 cases.

INTRODUCTION: Systemic plasma cell dyscrasias have diverse manifestations in the skin and include an inflammatory paraneoplastic process. We encountered cases of scleroderma and eosinophilic fasciitis in the setting of an underlying plasma cell dyscrasia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten cases of scleroderma-like tissue reactions in the setting of an underlying plasma cell dyscrasia were encountered. The biopsies were stained for Transforming growth factor (Transforming growth factor) beta, IgG4, kappa, and lambda. RESULTS: Patients presented with a sclerodermoid reaction represented by eosinophilic fasciitis (5 cases), morphea (3 cases), and systemic scleroderma (2 cases). The mean age of presentation was 70 years with a striking female predominance (4:1). Acral accentuation was noted in 8 cases. In 6 of the cases, the cutaneous sclerosis antedated (4 cases) by weeks to 2 years or occurred concurrently (2 cases) with the initial diagnosis of the plasma cell. The biopsies showed changes typical of eosinophilic fasciitis and/or scleroderma. In 5 cases, light chain-restricted plasma cells were present on the biopsy. There was staining of the plasma cells for Transforming growth factor beta in 3 out of 5 cases tested. CONCLUSIONS: In any older patient presenting with a sudden onset of eosinophilic fasciitis or scleroderma especially with acral accentuation, investigations should be conducted in regards to an underlying plasma cell dyscrasia.

Solitary fibrous tumor of the accessory parotid gland: a unique case.

Solitary fibrous tumors are benign spindle-cell neoplasms, mostly originating from the visceral pleura. They are common in individuals aged 20-70 with no sex predilection. To our knowledge, this is the unique case of the solitary fibrous tumor originating from the accessory parotid gland in the literature.

An unusual presentation of extraskeletal vaginal Ewing sarcoma: A case report.

Ewing sarcoma (ES) is a rare, aggressive malignancy that typically arises from bone and is seen more in adolescents and young adults. In contrast, extraskeletal Ewing sarcoma (EES) is more prevalent in adults and women [1,2]. There is no standard treatment for extraskeletal tumors, especially those in sensitive areas, such as the vagina, where resection may cause a large cosmetic or functional deformity. This case features a woman in her 20s who presented with painless vaginal bleeding and was found to have a 4 × 5 × 4-mm EES of the posterior vaginal wall. The presentation raised both reproductive and functional concerns, as the patient was young, sexually active and of childbearing age. The patient underwent treatment with radiation therapy and chemotherapy every 3 weeks. Given the lack of guidance and proclivity of EES to metastasize, it is paramount to proceed with standard-of-care treatment even if it is small and there is a lack of metastatic disease. For women with vaginal EES who are of childbearing age, brachytherapy rather than surgical resection may be a more favorable option when considering the location and the potential impact of vaginectomy.

Prognostic factors and staging for soft tissue sarcomas: an update.

Soft tissue sarcoma (STS) staging is a constantly evolving process. Grading is still of utmost importance and has been adapted into a three-tier system. The STS most difficult to categorize are those with uncertain malignant potential, such as solitary fibrous tumors, gastrointestinal stromal tumors, and glomus tumors, some of which have developed completely separate staging systems and may not even be considered sarcomas. Beyond the current TNM staging system, a multitude of prognostic factors for STS will continue to be discovered and ultimately incorporated into future revisions of the staging system.