Abstract
Introduction: Pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma (PSC) is a rare subtype of non-small cell lung cancer with chemo/radio-resistance and a poor prognosis. Few studies about this entity have been reported.
Aims: Characterize the clinicopathologic features of PSC in patients treated at our institution.
Methods: Retrospective data analysis from patients with PSC diagnosed and treated at our institution from 2011 to 2015.
Results: Seven cases were identified and are summarized in the table.
Case | Gender/age | Smoking history | Date of diagnosis | Histologic subtype/molecular analysis | Stage | Treatment | Follow-up |
1 | Male(M)/77 | Yes | 2/2011 | Pleomorphic/not available (NA) | cT4NxM1b | Best supportive care | Death (3/2012) |
2 | Female(F)/70 | No | 3/2011 | Spindle cell/NA | pT2bN1M0 | Pneumonectomy | Death (2/2012) |
3 | M/55 | Yes | 1/2012 | Pleomorphic/NA | cT4N2M1 | Urgent radiotherapy | Death (1/2012) |
4 | M/61 | Yes | 5/2013 | Pleomorphic/NA | NA | NA | Death (7/2013) |
5 | M/43 | Yes | 8/2014 | Pleomorphic/EGFR -, ALK - | pT2aN2M1b | Brain metastasectomy»whole brain radiation therapy»neoadjuvant chemotherapy»lobectomy»adjuvant chemotherapy | Regular computed tomography scan (CT) |
6 | M/51 | Yes | 2/2015 | Pleomorphic/EGFR -, ALK -, RET fusion + | pT2aN0M0 | Lobectomy»adjuvant chemotherapy | Progressive disease (PD)»pemetrexed monotherapy»PD»nivolumab»partial remission |
7 | M/57 | Yes | 5/2015 | NA | pT3N2M0 | Pneumonectomy»adjuvant chemotherapy»sequential radiotherapy | Regular CT |
Conclusions: This paper aims to alert for this rare and aggressive tumor, affecting mostly smoking male, which remains poorly explored. The better knowledge of PSC biology and molecular profile is critical for understanding the role of immunotherapy and targeted agents in this difficult to treat disease.
- Copyright ©the authors 2016