Synchronous extraskeletal Ewing’s sarcoma/PNET and gallbladder carcinoma: a case report and literature review

Introduction

The Ewing’s sarcoma (ES) family of tumours includes ES and primitive neuroectodermal tumour (PNET), which are primary malignant small round cell tumours of bone and soft tissue. ES and PNET have a similar neuronal phenotype and, because they share an identical chromosome translocation, they should be viewed as two variants of the same tumour that differ only in their degree of neuronal differentiation. Tumours that demonstrate neuronal differentiation are labeled PNETs, and those that are undifferentiated are diagnosed as ES. This distinction has no clinical significance [1]. However, characteristics and outcomes differ among patients with extraskeletal ES/PNET in comparison with those with skeletal ES/PNET (Table 1) [2–4]. ES/PNETs represent 1% of soft tissues sarcomas [2]. This neoplasm has been reported in various locations, but to the best of our knowledge, the case in question is the first case of ES/PNET located in the hilus of liver and as a synchronous neoplasm.
Gallbladder carcinoma represents the most common and aggressive type among the biliary cancers. It occurs two to six times more often in women and its rate increases with age. About 90% of cases are connected with gallstone disease. The most frequent type of the tumour is adenocarcinoma that accounts for more than 80% of gallbladder cancers [5]. The simultaneous occurrence of gallbladder adenocarcinoma and other malignancies has been reported only in a few cases involving the coexistence of adenocarcinoma of pancreas, lymphoma of mucosa associated lymphoid tissue of the gallbladder, hepatocellular carcinoma, uterine endometrioid adenocarcinoma and ovarian endometrioid carcinoma [6–9].

Case report

Laparoscopic simple cholecystectomy was performed in a 70-year old female due to the chronic cholelithiasis. The postoperative abdominal ultrasound was free of any suspicious changes. Pathological examination of the gallbladder specimen revealed the presence of adenocarcinoma. One month later, a hypoechogenic mass of 54 × 52 × 43 mm located in the hilus of the liver was found on control ultrasonography (USG) and computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen (Fig. 1A). Computed tomography of the chest was free of any changes. The patient stayed asymptomatic with performance status (PS) 0 at that time. This lesion was diagnosed as ES/PNET after core biopsy under sonographic control. Skeletal scintigraphy showed no abnormalities. The patient underwent 2 cycles of intravenous chemotherapy according to the protocol of British Columbia Cancer Agency (BCCA) for ES/PNET – SAIME (etoposide 100 mg/m², mesna 720 mg/m², ifosfamide 1800 mg/m²) given for 5 consecutive days every 3 weeks alternating with SAVAC (vincristine 1.5 mg/m², doxorubicin 75 mg/m², cyclophosphamide 1200 mg/m²) given over one day every 3 weeks. Control CT scans after two cycles showed a 57% tumour mass reduction in the biggest dimension (Fig. 1B). Thereafter, the patient was operated and resection of the hilus of the liver, hepato-duodenal ligament and local lymph nodes was performed. The patient stayed asymptomatic under regular control of every 3 months. Two years later, a mass of 46 × 25 mm between inferior vena cava, left liver lobe and the head of the pancreas, and a second mass of 17 × 14 mm in the common bile duct were revealed on the control CT (Fig. 1C). The patient’s PS was 2 and she presented with jaundice. She underwent ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography) with insertion of the stent to the common bile duct. Core biopsy revealed the recurrence of gallbladder adenocarcinoma with infiltration of the pancreas. Metastatic lesion was also presented in the liver on subsequently performed control CT. The patient underwent palliative intravenous chemotherapy of cisplatin (25 mg/m²) and gemcitabine (1000 mg/m²) given both on the first and eighth day of the cycle repeated every 3 weeks. Partial regression according to RECIST (Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours) 1.1 of the lesions located in the hilus of the liver and left liver lobe was observed on control CT scan after 2 cycles of chemotherapy and thus chemotherapy has been continued till 6 cycles. After that time stable disease on control CT of the abdomen has been observed. One month later the patient’s PS was 4 and she presented again with jaundice. A flow-restoring procedure was performed on the intra-biliary stent. The patient was admitted to the palliative care department, where she died. No postmortem examination was conducted.

Material and methods

Biopsy materials were examined with usage of formalin fixed, paraffin wax embedded tissue stained routinely with hematoxilin and eosine (HE). Immunohistochemistry included antibodies to cytokeratine 7 (CK7), cytokeratine 18 (CK18), leucocyte common antigen (LCA), epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), chromogranin, synaptophysin, vimentin, desmin, neurone specific enolase (NSE), thyroid transcription factor (TTF), cluster differentiation 117 (CD117), S-100 protein, Ki67 and MyoD1.
A wide panel of immunohistochemical stainings was performed to exclude the diseases within the scope of the differential diagnosis of Ewing’s sarcoma. Briefly, a representative HE section was selected for immunohistochemical investigation and 4 µm sections were prepared. The immunohistochemistry was performed by standard method: the slides were de-waxed, rehydrated and incubated in 3% peroxide solution for 10 minutes to block the endogenous peroxidase activity. Antigen retrieval was carried out by microwaving in citrate buffer (pH = 6) or EDTA (pH = 8) for 5 minutes at 700 W, then for 5 minutes at 600 W. The Lab-Vision detection system was used. The primary antibodies and the respective technical details are summarised in Table 2.

Results

Removed gallbladder, length 11 cm, with thickened wall, filled with gallstones was sent for the histological examination. This revealed the presence of adenocarcinoma with infiltration of muscularis propria, T1bNxM0 (Fig. 2A). An operative margin was free of cancer but a small group of cancer cells was visible in the lumen of the gallbladder at the resection margin. Most probably this finding was irrelevant and the cancer cells were placed there when cutting the material.
Microscopic examination of the lesion located in the hilus of the liver, diagnosed as ES/PNET showed a small cell neoplasm with membranous expression of CD99, NSE, vimentin and synaptophysin. Proliferative activity defined as the percentage of cells positive in Ki67 was higher than 90%. Staining for CK7, CK18, LCA, EMA, chromogranin, TTF1, CD117 and S-100 protein were negative. Expression of MyoD1 was weak, cytoplasmatic and not characteristic for neoplasms of muscular origin (Fig. 2B–D). After chemotherapy for ES/PNET, examination of the specimens removed within surgery has revealed inflammatory cell infiltration and necrosis with no presence of neoplastic cells. The histological picture together with the results of immunohistochemical reactions were consistent with ES/PNET, which is a highly cellular neoplasm consisting of sheets and nests of small, uniform, round or polygonal cells with scanty cytoplasm and usually high mitotic activity.

Discussion

Presented case report highlights an extremely rare type of soft tissue sarcoma within atypical location. Unusual is also elderly age of the patient and existence of GBC in the same region as a synchronous neoplasm. Additionally, this case documents pathological diagnosis of ES/PNET, which is based on both histology and immunohistochemistry (the gold standard) and may be problematic due to the rarity of these tumours and no typical location [10]. Core biopsy, as it has been shown, is usually sufficient for making diagnosis. Immunohistochemistry is essential as the family of small round cell tumours is large and includes a lot of different neoplasms, for instance, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, neuroblastoma, alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, mesenchymal chondrosarcoma, retinoblastoma and desmoplastic small round cell tumour. Membranous expression of CD99 coexisting with positive expression of NSE or synaptophysin are sufficient for the diagnosis of ES/PNET. Other negative immunohistochemical reactions (for instance LCA, MyoD1) are helpful in eliminating neoplasms from the small round cell tumours family [1, 10]. Genetic studies are useful because translocation t(11;22)(q24;q12) and expression of a fusion gene EWS-FLI1 are specific for ES/PNETs but they are not always available [11]. It should be borne in mind that up to 15% of ES/PNETs can be negative for this translocation, which is connected with presence of other rare mutations. It is also known that the presence of this translocation is not likely to be considered diagnostic of ES and PNET in the absence of supporting histological evidence [12].
Treatment of EES/PNET usually includes multimodal chemotherapy combined with aggressive surgical treatment or radiotherapy [13]. In contrast to ES/PNET, surgery plays a major role [14]. Multi-agent chemotherapy is superior to single agent one, includes cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide, etoposide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and should be given 12–24 weeks before operation [15]. The presented patient was treated with multimodal chemotherapy of BCCA. Surgery should be performed after neoadjuvant chemotherapy because the probability of achieving complete resection with microscopic free margins is increased. In our case chemotherapy resulted in the regression on CT imaging and finally, necrosis of the neoplasm, which was a sign of good response to the treatment and could be considered as a good prognostic factor. The recommended operation is a wide resection encompassing a rim of 2–3 cm of normal tissue. When resection is either incomplete or impossible, radiotherapy is an alternative with the same dosage as in ES/PNET [14]. The value of adjuvant chemotherapy in clinical improvement remains not clear [15].
About 30–40% of patients with ES experience recurrence. The rate for patients with EES remains unclear and might be similar [15]. Therapy for refractory or relapsed disease consists of participation in clinical trials, chemotherapy with/without radiotherapy and surgery, if possible. New strategies for the treatment of ES/PNET include stem cell transplantation, antiangiogenic agents (bevacizumab, vinblastine, celecoxib), mTOR pathway inhibition (sirolimus), bisphosphonates, anti-insulin-like growth factor receptor 1 (IGFR1) agents (cixutumumab, R1507) and anti-CD99 agents [16].
At our patient no recurrence of PNET/EES has been reported within 42 months after diagnosis till her death, which was caused by the relapse of the GBC. Complete resection is the only potential curative treatment of GBC, however only 10% of patients are considered candidates for surgical treatment. Data concerning treatment of T1b stage disease are scant, however National Comprehensive Cancer Network recommends in this case radical cholecystectomy [17]. Even for a patient undergoing aggressive surgery, a 5-year survival rate is mere 5–10%. Several retrospective reports suggest beneficial effects of both adjuvant and neoadjuvant (chemo)radiotherapy. In relapsed disease, palliative chemotherapy should be considered. Combination of cisplatin and gemcitabine has been used as a standard treatment because it has been shown to increase survival rate (11.7 vs. 8.1 months) comparing with gemcitabine as the only agent [18].
Summing up, this case confirms that EES/PNET is a chemotherapy-sensitive neoplasm. The most beneficial therapy for this tumour remains systemic treatment combined with surgery. New strategies of treatment for EES/PNET are under investigation and thus hopeful. Unfortunately, the overall survival of patients with GBC remains poor and the recurrence rate is still high. That is why this major challenge in oncology requires the initiation of new clinical efforts and trials as well as the integration of the ones conducted previously.

The authors wish to thank Paweł Różanowski and Monika Merdalska, the patient’s attending physicians, for access to medical documentation and their valuable remarks regarding the case.
The authors declare no conflict of interest.

References

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Address for correspondence

Andrzej Plis
Clinic of Hematology and Oncology
Transplant and Palliative Medicine
University Hospital in Greifswald
Sauerbruch St.,
Greifswald, Germany
e-mail: andrzejplis@wp.pl

Submitted: 5.06.2014
Accepted: 7.04.2015