ABSTRACT
Background: FUS-TFCP2 gene fusion is a recently identified and highly distinct molecular subtype of spindle cell/sclerosing rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), with fewer than 40 cases being reported to date. Due to its low incidence, clinical studies on this subtype are limited. Here, we report a new case of this rare entity to describe and summarize its unique clinical characteristics and treatment process, aiming to emphasize the importance of molecular testing for spindle cell/sclerosing RMS and increase the understanding of this subtype. By summarizing and comparing with previous reports on RMS with the EWSR1/FUS-TFCP2 fusion mutation, we hope to make some new hints for its management. Case Description: In this report, we describe a rare case of spindle cell/sclerosing RMS in a 13-year-old boy, who had a massive destructive lesion involving the mandible. Next-generation sequencing of tumor tissue revealing a FUS-TFCP2 fusion. The tumor was extremely aggressive and showed resistance to polychemotherapy, after 4 cycles of multi drug combined chemotherapy, the primary tumor still continued to grow, and suspicious chest metastasis occurred. Even after aggressive total resection of the primary tumor and postoperative chemotherapy, systemic metastasis to the vertebra and chest could not be prevented yet, ultimately with a fatal outcome within 6 months. We additionally summarize 37 cases of RMS with the EWSR1/FUS-TFCP2 fusion mutation reported in the literature. This subtype was found to be almost exclusively primary in bone and histologically showed a common origin of epithelium and muscle. The high aggressiveness made the conventional standard chemoradiotherapy ineffective. Because most tumors of this subtype express ALK protein, ALK inhibitors seem to be a new target for its therapy. Conclusions: Spindle cell/sclerosing RMS with FUS-TFCP2 fusion has its unique clinical characteristics and progression. It shows a marked skeletal predilection and an aggressive clinical course, typically resistant to traditional standard treatments for RMS. Therefore, molecular detection is crucial in managing this subtype. Once the diagnosis is clear, a more aggressive treatment plan is needed. In addition, almost all cases were found to have a positive expression of ALK. So ALK inhibitors can be a choice of targeted therapy.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS) is a rare autosomal dominant cancer predisposition syndrome caused by germline TP53 gene mutations. It is characterized by high risk of early-onset cancer, and has been confirmed as associated with multiple tumors clinically. So pediatricians should be more alert to LFS in children with tumors. Choroid plexus carcinoma (CPC) is a rare, malignant tumor which account for less than 1% of all central nervous system (CNS) tumors. However, when such tumorigenesis occurs, it is important to be vigilant for the presence of LFS. CASE PRESENTATION: The first patient is a 32-month-old boy admitted for convulsions and then was found intracranial space-occupying lesion. Underwent operation, he was diagnosis as choroid plexus carcinoma (WHO Grade III). After 5 months, his elder sister, a 13-year-old girl, was brought to emergency department for confusion and intermittent convulsions. Surgery was performed immediately after head CT examination found the lesion. The pathology result indicated glioblastoma. Because the siblings of the same family have successively suffered from malignant tumors, we performed genetic testing on this family. TP53 gene mutation occurred in both children of these two cases from their father, and their other brother was not spared either. So the two siblings both met the diagnostic criteria of LFS. Then they all received systematic anti-tumor therapy, and follow-up hitherto. CONCLUSION: Here we reported a rare LFS case that two siblings were inherited the same TP53 germline mutations from their father. They suffered from choroid plexus carcinoma and glioblastoma and were finally diagnosed with LFS. In this LFS family, the primary tumors of the two children were both central nervous system tumors, which were not reported in the previous literature. It is suggested that clinicians should be alert to LFS related tumors, which is helpful for early diagnosis. Timely detection of TP53 gene is an important way for early diagnosis of LFS, especially in children with tumor. The incidence of secondary tumor in LFS patients is significantly higher, and other family members of the LFS patient also have an increased risk of suffering from the tumors. Therefore, early diagnosis and timely tumor surveillance can obtain better therapeutic effect and prognosis for both proband and their family.
