Pelvic Carcinosarcoma Showing a Diverse Histology and Hierarchical Gene Mutation with a Common POLE Mutation to Endometrial Endometroid Carcinoma: A Case Report

Int J Surg Pathol. 2022 Dec;30(8):891-899. doi: 10.1177/10668969221088880. Epub 2022 Mar 31.

Abstract

POLE mutation-type endometrial cancer is characterized by an extremely high tumor mutation burden. Most POLE mutation-type endometrial cancers are histologically endometrioid carcinomas, and POLE mutation-type carcinosarcomas are rare among endometrial cancers. We report a case of endometrial and pelvic cancer in a 53-year-old woman who was analyzed using next-generating sequencing. The endometrial lesion harbored a p.T457del POLE mutation with an elevated tumor mutation burden and low microsatellite instability. The pelvic lesion showed divergent histological features, consisting of high-grade endometrioid carcinoma, neuroendocrine carcinoma, and chondrosarcoma. In addition to the common POLE mutation detected in the endometrial lesion, the pelvic lesion in each element showed additional gene mutations in a hierarchical manner. Therefore, it is indicated that the p.T457del POLE mutation is a pathogenic mutation and may be related to POLE mutation-induced carcinogenesis and divergent morphogenesis in endometrial cancer.

Keywords: carcinosarcoma; divergent histology; endometrial cancer; p.T457del POLE mutation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Bone Neoplasms*
  • Carcinoma, Endometrioid* / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Endometrioid* / pathology
  • Carcinosarcoma* / genetics
  • Carcinosarcoma* / pathology
  • Endometrial Neoplasms* / genetics
  • Endometrial Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Mutation