Pericytoma With t(7;12) and ACTB-GLI1 Fusion: Reevaluation of an Unusual Entity and its Relationship to the Spectrum of GLI1 Fusion-related Neoplasms

Am J Surg Pathol. 2019 Dec;43(12):1682-1692. doi: 10.1097/PAS.0000000000001360.

Abstract

The entity "pericytoma with t(7;12)" was described as a rare, distinct perivascular myoid neoplasm provisionally classified within the family of myopericytic tumors that demonstrates t(7;12)(p22;q13) translocation with resultant ACTB-GLI1 fusion and biologically was felt to behave in an indolent fashion. However, a recent study showed that tumors with this and similar translocations may have variable morphology and immunohistochemical phenotype with inconsistent myopericytic characteristics and a propensity for metastasis, raising questions regarding the most appropriate classification of these neoplasms. Herein, we report 3 additional patients with tumors harboring t(7;12) and ACTB-GLI1 fusion. The tumors arose in adults and involved the proximal tibia and adjacent soft tissues, scapula and adjacent soft tissues, and ovary. All tumors were composed of round-to-ovoid cells with a richly vascularized stroma with many small, delicate, branching blood vessels, where the neoplastic cells were frequently arranged in a perivascular distribution. Both tumors involving bone showed histologic features of malignancy. By immunohistochemistry, all tested tumors were at least focally positive for smooth muscle actin (3/3) and CD99 (patchy) (2/2), with variable staining for muscle-specific actin (2/3), S100 protein (1/3), epithelial membrane antigen (2/3), and pan-keratin (1/3); all were negative for desmin and WT1 (0/3). The 2 patients with bone tumors developed metastases (27 and 84 mo after diagnosis). Whether these tumors are best classified as malignant myopericytoma variants or an emerging translocation-associated sarcoma of uncertain differentiation remains to be fully clarified; however, our study further documents the potential for these tumors to behave in an aggressive fashion, sometimes over a prolonged clinical course.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Actins / genetics*
  • Adult
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics*
  • Bone Neoplasms / classification
  • Bone Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Bone Neoplasms / pathology
  • Bone Neoplasms / therapy
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 12*
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 7*
  • Female
  • Gene Fusion*
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Myopericytoma / classification
  • Myopericytoma / genetics*
  • Myopericytoma / secondary
  • Myopericytoma / therapy
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / classification
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / pathology
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / therapy
  • Phenotype
  • Sarcoma / classification
  • Sarcoma / genetics*
  • Sarcoma / secondary
  • Sarcoma / therapy
  • Translocation, Genetic*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Zinc Finger Protein GLI1 / genetics*

Substances

  • Actins
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • GLI1 protein, human
  • Zinc Finger Protein GLI1