Insights on Lipomatosis after Platinum-Based Chemotherapy Use in Pediatric Oncology: A Case Report.

Agents of platinum-based chemotherapy, such as cisplatin or carboplatin, are used in the treatment of a wide range of malignancies that affect children, such as brain tumors, osteosarcoma, neuroblastoma, hepatoblastoma, and germ cell tumors (GCTs). The Cyclophosphamide Equivalent Dose (CED) calculator for reproductive risk does not take platinum-based chemotherapy into account, despite the fact that it accounts for the majority of chemotherapy medications that are typically administered for pediatric GCTs. As a result, exposure to platinum-based drugs throughout infancy can have predictable long-term effects such as infertility, as well as other rare encounters such as lipoma formation and lipomatosis. Lipomas are the most prevalent benign soft tissue tumor subtype. They may be either solitary entities or engaged in multiple lipomatosis, which may have a familial origin or be an acquired disorder. Chemotherapy is a possible cause of lipomatosis. Chemotherapy based on cisplatin has been linked to a variety of long-term consequences, including kidney damage, neurotoxicity, and pulmonary toxicity, and may even create secondary cancers. However, lipoma development is known to occur in fewer than 1 in 100 individuals, and only a few examples of multiple cutaneous lipomatosis triggered by this therapy have been documented. Here we present a very rare case of lipomatosis in a pediatric patient with GCT under cisplatin therapy, which might be the third report of this kind affecting children.

CLOVES Syndrome Diagnosis and Treatment in an Adult Patient.

CLOVES syndrome is a rare, nonheritable sporadic overgrowth disorder. In the world 130-200 cases have been reported. This is the first case of CLOVES described in Portugal, which had been not been diagnosed for the last 36 years. With this paper, the authors look to highlight the clinical features of this syndrome so that it does not go unrecognized in daily practice. The authors also underline the efficacy and safety of sirolimus, and that this treatment should not be denied, even in adult patients.

The effect of sirolimus on angiomyolipoma is determined by decrease of fat-poor compartments and includes striking reduction of vascular structures.

Renal angiomyolipomas hemorrhage is associated with their size and vascular constitution. The effects of sirolimus on different components of angiomyolipomas was analyzed in patients with tuberous sclerosis complex, sporadic lymphangioleiomyomatosis and multiple sporadic angiomyolipomas. Thirty angiomyolipomas from 14 patients treated with sirolimus were retrospectively evaluated. A Hounsfield-unit threshold was used to classify angiomyolipomas in fat-rich, fat-poor and intermediate-fat tumors, and to categorize tumor compartments in fat rich, fat poor, intermediate fat and highly vascularized. Diameter variations were measured to assess the effects on aneurysmatic/ectatic vascular formations. Volume reduction following treatment with sirolimus was higher in fat-poor than fat-rich angiomyolipomas. Tumor reduction was mainly determined by decrease of the fat-poor and highly-vascularized compartments while the volume of the fat-rich compartment increased. Broad liposubstitution was observed in some tumors. A median reduction of 100% (75 to 100) in the diameter of aneurysmatic/ectatic vascular structures was observed. Our study showed that sirolimus reduces the size of angiomyolipomas by decreasing primarily their highly-vascularized and fat-poor compartments. This effect is associated with a remarkable reduction of tumoral aneurysms/ectatic vessels, revealing the likely mechanism responsible for the risk-decreasing effect of mTOR inhibitors on angiomyolipoma bleeding. These findings support the role of mTOR in the development of angiomyolipoma blood vessels.

Neutralization of HSF1 in cells from PIK3CA-related overgrowth spectrum patients blocks abnormal proliferation.

PIK3CA-related overgrowth spectrum is caused by mosaicism mutations in the PIK3CA gene. These mutations, which are also observed in various types of cancer, lead to a constitutive activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, increasing cell proliferation. Heat shock transcription factor 1 (HSF1) is the major stress-responsive transcription factor. Recent findings indicate that AKT phosphorylates and activates HSF1 independently of heat-shock in breast cancer cells. Here, we aimed to investigate the role of HSF1 in PIK3CA-related overgrowth spectrum. We observed a higher rate of proliferation and increased phosphorylation of AKT and p70S6K in mutant fibroblasts than in control cells. We also found elevated phosphorylation and activation of HSF1, which is directly correlated to AKT activation. Specific AKT inhibitors inhibit HSF1 phosphorylation as well as HSF1-dependent gene transcription. Finally, we demonstrated that targeting HSF1 with specific inhibitors reduced the proliferation of mutant cells. As there is currently no curative treatment for PIK3CA-related overgrowth spectrum, our results identify HSF1 as a new potential therapeutic target.

Síndrome de CLOVES: tratamiento con rapamicina oral: reporte de dos casos / CLOVES syndrome: treatment with oral rapamycin: report of two cases

INTRODUCCIÓN: El síndrome de CLOVES se caracteriza por sobrecrecimiento lipomatoso asociado a malformaciones vasculares, representando un desafío diagnóstico y terapéutico. La rapamicina, un inhibidor de la vía mTOR, ha demostrado ser una buena alternativa terapéutica en un grupo de anomalías vasculares. Reportamos dos casos de síndrome de CLOVES con buena respuesta al tratamiento con rapamicina oral. OBJETIVO: Reportar la experiencia del uso de rapamicina oral en el tratamiento de dos pacientes con síndrome de CLOVES. CASOS CLÍNICOS: Caso 1: preescolar femenino de tres años de edad con sín drome de CLOVES e historia de hospitalizaciones reiteradas por infección severa de malformaciones linfáticas macroquísticas y episodios trombóticos. Evoluciona con mala calidad de vida, múltiples hospitalizaciones, riesgo quirúrgico y progresión de las lesiones, por lo que se indicó rapamicina oral. A los 6 meses de tratamiento se evidenció reducción clínica y radiológica del tamaño de las masas lipomatosas y linfáticas, ausencia de linforrea cutánea y mejoría significativa de la calidad de vida, sin requerir nuevas hospitalizaciones. Caso 2: escolar femenino de diez años de edad, portadora de síndrome de CLOVES, que desarrolló escoliosis y deterioro de su capacidad motora, haciéndose dependiente del uso de silla de ruedas. Se indicó rapamicina oral, evidenciándose a los cuatro meses de tratamiento mejoría en su capacidad física, independencia y autovalencia, con desaparición de la linforrea. CONCLUSIÓN: Proponemos la rapamicina oral para el tratamiento de pacientes con sín drome de CLOVES que presenten complicaciones y deterioro de la calidad de vida producto de su enfermedad.

INTRODUCTION: CLOVES syndrome is characterized by lipomatous overgrowth associated with vascular malforma tions, representing a diagnostic and a therapeutic challenge. Rapamycin, an mTOR inhibitor, has proved to be a good therapeutic option in some vascular anomalies. In this article, we report two ca ses of CLOVES syndrome with good response to oral rapamycin treatment. OBJECTIVE: To report the outcome of two patients with CLOVES syndrome treated with oral rapamycin. CLINICAL CASES: Case 1: A three-year-old female preschooler with CLOVES syndrome and history of repeated hospita lizations due to severe infections resulting from macrocystic lymphatic malformations and due to thrombotic episodes. The patient evolved with poor quality of life, multiple hospitalizations, surgical risk and progression of the lesions, therefore, oral rapamycin was indicated. After six months of treatment, clinical and radiological reduction in the size of the lipomatous and lymphatic masses, cutaneous lymphorrhea absence and a significant improvement of her quality of life were observed, without requiring new hospitalizations. Case 2: a ten-year-old female schooler with CLOVES syndro me, who developed scoliosis and deterioration of her motor skills, becoming wheelchair-dependent. Oral rapamycin was indicated, showing improvement in her physical capacity, independence and au tonomy, and absence of lymphorrhea after four months of treatment. CONCLUSION: We propose oral rapamycin for the treatment of patients with CLOVES syndrome who present with complications and deterioration in the quality of life as a result of the disease.

Alpelisib Treatment for Genital Vascular Malformation in a Patient with Congenital Lipomatous Overgrowth, Vascular Malformations, Epidermal Nevi, and Spinal/Skeletal Anomalies and/or Scoliosis (CLOVES) Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Most patients with phosphoinositide-3-kinase, catalytic, alpha polypeptide (PIK3CA)-related overgrowth spectrum become symptomatic early in life and need treatment before puberty. Recently, the specific inhibition of PIK3CA pathways has been proposed as a therapeutic option for these patients improving their surgical options and quality of life. Alpelisib, a specific alpha fraction inhibitor, has shown promising results. CASE: A 17-year-old girl presented with severe involvement of her external genitalia with a combined vascular malformation in the context of congenital, lipomatous, overgrowth, vascular malformations, epidermal nevi and spinal/skeletal anomalies and/or scoliosis syndrome, needing frequent blood transfusions for anemia due to vaginal bleeding and use of a crutch for walking. After failure of treatment with rapamycin, compassionate treatment with alpelisib was started with excellent response. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION: PIK3CA inhibitors might become a new option of treatment for PIK3CA-related overgrowth spectrum patients.

CLOVES syndrome: Treatment with oral Rapamycin. Report of two cases. / Síndrome de CLOVES: Tratamiento con Rapamicina oral. Reporte de dos casos.

INTRODUCTION: CLOVES syndrome is characterized by lipomatous overgrowth associated with vascular malforma tions, representing a diagnostic and a therapeutic challenge. Rapamycin, an mTOR inhibitor, has proved to be a good therapeutic option in some vascular anomalies. In this article, we report two ca ses of CLOVES syndrome with good response to oral rapamycin treatment. OBJECTIVE: To report the outcome of two patients with CLOVES syndrome treated with oral rapamycin. CLINICAL CASES: Case 1: A three-year-old female preschooler with CLOVES syndrome and history of repeated hospita lizations due to severe infections resulting from macrocystic lymphatic malformations and due to thrombotic episodes. The patient evolved with poor quality of life, multiple hospitalizations, surgical risk and progression of the lesions, therefore, oral rapamycin was indicated. After six months of treatment, clinical and radiological reduction in the size of the lipomatous and lymphatic masses, cutaneous lymphorrhea absence and a significant improvement of her quality of life were observed, without requiring new hospitalizations. Case 2: a ten-year-old female schooler with CLOVES syndro me, who developed scoliosis and deterioration of her motor skills, becoming wheelchair-dependent. Oral rapamycin was indicated, showing improvement in her physical capacity, independence and au tonomy, and absence of lymphorrhea after four months of treatment. CONCLUSION: We propose oral rapamycin for the treatment of patients with CLOVES syndrome who present with complications and deterioration in the quality of life as a result of the disease.

Targeted therapy in patients with PIK3CA-related overgrowth syndrome.

CLOVES syndrome (congenital lipomatous overgrowth, vascular malformations, epidermal naevi, scoliosis/skeletal and spinal syndrome) is a genetic disorder that results from somatic, mosaic gain-of-function mutations of the PIK3CA gene, and belongs to the spectrum of PIK3CA-related overgrowth syndromes (PROS). This rare condition has no specific treatment and a poor survival rate. Here, we describe a postnatal mouse model of PROS/CLOVES that partially recapitulates the human disease, and demonstrate the efficacy of BYL719, an inhibitor of PIK3CA, in preventing and improving organ dysfunction. On the basis of these results, we used BYL719 to treat nineteen patients with PROS. The drug improved the disease symptoms in all patients. Previously intractable vascular tumours became smaller, congestive heart failure was improved, hemihypertrophy was reduced, and scoliosis was attenuated. The treatment was not associated with any substantial side effects. In conclusion, this study provides the first direct evidence supporting PIK3CA inhibition as a promising therapeutic strategy in patients with PROS.

The Best-Laid Plans of "Back Mice" and Men: A Case Report and Literature Review of Episacroiliac Lipoma.

BACKGROUND: Back mice, or episacroiliac lipoma, represent a potentially treatable cause of low back pain that may be under-recognized in clinical practice. Despite being well characterized based on clinical history and physical examination findings, implementation of appropriate treatment may be delayed or missed based on a lack of familiarity with the diagnosis. OBJECTIVES: In this case report and literature review, we describe a 47-year-old woman with history of persistent low back pain who presented with a pain exacerbation consistent with a back mouse. The history, epidemiology, clinical characteristics, differential diagnosis, potential mechanisms for pain, and treatment options for back mice were then reviewed. STUDY DESIGN: Case report and literature review. SETTING: Academic university-based pain management center. RESULTS: Studies included one randomized clinical trial, 4 cross-sectional studies, 8 case reports or series, and 16 other publications prior to 1967. LIMITATIONS: A single case report. CONCLUSIONS: Firm, rubbery, mobile nodules that are located in characteristic regions of the sacroiliac, posterior superior iliac, and the lumbar paraspinal regions may represent fatty tissue that has herniated through fascial layers. When painful, these back mice may be confused with other causes of low back pain. In particular, the presence of point tenderness may mimic myofascial pain, and reports of radicular pain may imitate herniated nucleus pulposus. However, back mice may be distinguished from other entities based on findings from the history and physical examination such as absence of neurological deficit. Treatment consisting of injection of local anesthetic into the nodule with or without corticosteroid followed by repeated, direct needling has been reported to relieve pain in many case reports. The one clinical trial comparing injection of local anesthetic to normal saline, which did not include repeated needling, found only mild and transient benefit in the treatment group.

Resveratrol Potentiates Growth Inhibitory Effects of Rapamycin in PTEN-deficient Lipoma Cells by Suppressing p70S6 Kinase Activity.

Patients with phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) hamartoma tumor syndrome and germline mutations in PTEN frequently develop lipomatosis, for which there is no standard treatment. Rapamycin was shown to reduce the growth of lipoma cells with heterozygous PTEN deficiency in vitro, but concomitantly induced an upregulation of AKT phosphorylation. Since it was shown that resveratrol stabilizes PTEN, we asked whether co-incubation with resveratrol could suppress the rapamycin-induced AKT phosphorylation in PTEN-deficient lipoma cells. Resveratrol incubation resulted in decreased lipoma cell viability by inducing G1-phase cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. PTEN expression and AKT phosphorylation were not significantly changed, whereas p70S6 kinase (p70S6K) phosphorylation was reduced in PTEN-deficient lipoma cells after resveratrol incubation. Rapamycin/resveratrol co-incubation significantly decreased viability further at lower doses of resveratrol and resulted in decreased p70S6K phosphorylation compared to rapamycin incubation alone, suggesting that resveratrol potentiated the growth inhibitory effects of rapamycin by reducing p70S6K activation. Both viability and p70S6K phosphorylation of primary PTEN wild-type preadipocytes were less affected compared to PTEN-deficient lipoma cells by equimolar concentrations of resveratrol. These results support the concept of combining chemopreventive natural compounds with mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors to increase the efficacy of chemotherapeutic drugs for patients suffering from overgrowth syndromes.

[Episacral lipoma: a treatable cause of low back pain]. / Episakral lipoma: Bel agrisinin tedavi edilebilir bir nedeni.

Episacral lipoma is a small, tender subcutaneous nodule primarily occurring over the posterior iliac crest. Episacral lipoma is a significant and treatable cause of acute and chronic low back pain. Episacral lipoma occurs as a result of tears in the thoracodorsal fascia and subsequent herniation of a portion of the underlying dorsal fat pad through the tear. This clinical entity is common, and recognition is simple. The presence of a painful nodule with disappearance of pain after injection with anaesthetic, is diagnostic. Medication and physical therapy may not be effective. Local injection of the nodule with a solution of anaesthetic and steroid is effective in treating the episacral lipoma. Here we describe 2 patients with painful nodules over the posterior iliac crest. One patient complained of severe lower back pain radiating to the left lower extremity and this patient subsequently underwent disc operation. The other patient had been treated for greater trochanteric pain syndrome. In both patients, symptoms appeared to be relieved by local injection of anaesthetic and steroid. Episacral lipoma should be considered during diagnostic workup and in differential diagnosis of acute and chronic low back pain.

Canine lipomas treated with steroid injections: clinical findings.

Lipomas are common benign tumours of fat cells. In most cases, surgical excision is curative and simple to perform; however, such a procedure requires general anaesthesia and may be associated with delayed wound healing, seroma formation and nerve injury in deep and intramuscular tumours. The objective of this study was to evaluate treatment of subcutaneous, subfascial or intermuscular lipomas using intralesional steroid injections in dogs. Fifteen dogs presenting with lipomas were selected for treatment with ultrasound-guided intralesional injection of triamcinolone acetonide at a dose of 40 mg/mL. Nine subcutaneous and subfascial tumours showed a complete regression. The other lipomas decreased in diameter, achieving, in some cases, remission of discomfort and regression of lameness. Steroid injection was a relatively safe and effective treatment for lipomas in dogs; only six dogs experienced polyuria/polydipsia for about 2 weeks post-treatment.

Precocious puberty produced by an osteolipoma of the tuber cinereum.

Central precocious puberty (CPP) is fairly common in girls. In most girls, the etiology for the CPP is unknown. Among the more rare causes of CPP in girls are central nervous system tumors and hamartomas. Osteolipoma of the tuber cinereum, which is the most commonly diagnosed at autopsy, has been reported as a cause of CPP. We describe an 8-year-old girl with central precocious puberty in whom MRI demonstrated a lesion compatible with osteolipoma. Her symptom was breast development that begun at age 7 years and 9 months. Her case history, laboratory studies and imaging are presented. Her puberty was rapidly progressive. She was treated successfully with a GnRHa (Triptorelin 3.75 mg IM q 4 weeks). Her case brings to the forefront the need to perform an MRI in children with rapidly progressing puberty.