Could spindle cell lung carcinoma be considered and treated as sarcoma, according to its clinical course, morphology, immunophenotype and genetic finding?

Pathol Oncol Res. 2013 Jan;19(1):129-33. doi: 10.1007/s12253-012-9562-4. Epub 2012 Aug 26.

Abstract

The actual nature of spindle cell carcinoma has been debated extensively because of its rarity. It carries a poor prognosis, even when early-stage disease is diagnosed and resected. In view of the rarity and the significance of the histological diagnosis, we report a patient with rapidly progressing spindle cell lung carcinoma with soft tissue metastasis. Diagnosis was confirmed by immunohistochemistry finding. Analysis of the TP53 gene mutations by polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing revealed insertion of single thymine resulting in frameshift mutation in the exon 8. Prognosis of spindle cell lung carcinoma might be determined by the sarcoma component of the tumor and, based on that, we wonder if this type of lung carcinoma could be followed-up and treated by strategies for soft tissue sarcomas, because of its rapid, sarcomatous type of growth, beside the properly lung carcinoma oncological treatment.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Base Sequence
  • Carcinoma / genetics
  • Carcinoma / immunology
  • Carcinoma / pathology
  • Carcinoma / therapy*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunophenotyping
  • Lung Neoplasms / genetics
  • Lung Neoplasms / immunology
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Lung Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutation
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local
  • Prognosis
  • Sarcoma / genetics
  • Sarcoma / immunology
  • Sarcoma / pathology
  • Sarcoma / therapy*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / genetics

Substances

  • TP53 protein, human
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53