Epithelioid Hyalinizing Sarcoma With MGA-NUTM1 Fusion

Am J Clin Pathol. 2020 Nov 4;154(6):859-866. doi: 10.1093/ajcp/aqaa113.

Abstract

Objectives: Soft tissue sarcomas are a group of tumors derived from the mesenchymal origin. Historically, they have been classified according to morphologic and immunohistochemical characteristics. The advent of multiplexed next-generation sequencing (NGS), specifically RNA sequencing, has modified the classification of such tumors and others by determining categorization based on molecular alterations. The NUTM1 rearrangement, previously thought to be present only in carcinomas, has recently been reported in poorly differentiated high-grade sarcomas of the soft tissue. We present the first reported case of an epithelioid hyalinizing sarcoma harboring the MGA-NUTM1 fusion in an acral site.

Methods: Histopathologic, immunohistochemical, and molecular testing were performed on resection tissue.

Results: Histologically, the tumor showed an epithelioid morphology with prominent background hyalinization. Immunohistochemically, the tumor expressed CD99 and nuclear NUT-1. By NGS the tumor harbors MGA-NUTM1 fusion.

Conclusions: Our findings support more extensive use of NGS for accurate sarcoma classification and identification of potential therapeutic targets. Furthermore, they corroborate the fact that NUTM1-rearranged soft tissue tumors represent a spectrum of heterogeneous morphologic entities. This case also highlights the utility of NUT-1 immunohistochemical study as a possible screening tool for NUTM1-fused sarcomas.

Keywords: NUT1; Epithelioid; Hyalinizing; Sarcoma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / genetics*
  • Cyclophosphamide / therapeutic use
  • Dactinomycin / therapeutic use
  • Etoposide / administration & dosage
  • Etoposide / analogs & derivatives
  • Foot
  • Foot Bones / pathology
  • Gene Fusion
  • Humans
  • Hyalin
  • Ifosfamide / administration & dosage
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Muscle, Skeletal / pathology
  • Neoplasm Metastasis / drug therapy
  • Neoplasm Metastasis / pathology
  • Neoplasm Proteins / genetics*
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / pathology
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics*
  • Organophosphorus Compounds / administration & dosage
  • Sarcoma / genetics*
  • Sarcoma / pathology*
  • Sarcoma / surgery
  • Vincristine / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
  • MGA protein, human
  • NUTM1 protein, human
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Organophosphorus Compounds
  • Dactinomycin
  • etoposide phosphate
  • Vincristine
  • Etoposide
  • Cyclophosphamide
  • Ifosfamide

Supplementary concepts

  • VAC protocol