Pathological characteristics and immune microenvironment of SMARCA4-deficient undifferentiated uterine sarcoma

Diagn Pathol. 2023 May 16;18(1):62. doi: 10.1186/s13000-023-01347-3.

Abstract

SMARCA4-deficient undifferentiated uterine sarcoma (SDUS) is a highly invasive single-gene malignant tumor caused by mutations in the SMARCA4 gene. SDUS has a poor prognosis, with no established treatment strategy at present. Further, there is a lack of relevant research on the role of the immune microenvironment in SDUS worldwide. Here, we report a case of SDUS that was diagnosed and analysed using morphological, immunohistochemical, and molecular detection techniques, along with the analysis of the immune microenvironment. By immunohistochemistry, the tumor cells showed retained INI-1 expression, focal CD10 expression, and loss of BRG1, CK-pan, synaptophysin, desmin, and ER expression. Further, some of the immune cells expressing CD3 and CD8 had infiltrated into the SDUS, but no PD-L1 expression was detected. The multiple immunofluorescent staining results showed that a proportion of the immune cells and SDUS cells expressed CD8/CD68/PD-1/PD-L1. Therefore, our report will help in the diagnostic awareness of SDUS.

Keywords: Immune microenvironment; NGS analysis; SMARCA4; SMARCA4-deficient undifferentiated uterine sarcoma; Undifferentiated uterine sarcoma.

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers, Tumor / analysis
  • DNA Helicases / genetics
  • Endometrial Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Mutation
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • Sarcoma* / diagnosis
  • Sarcoma* / genetics
  • Sarcoma* / pathology
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Tumor Microenvironment
  • Uterine Neoplasms* / genetics
  • Uterine Neoplasms* / pathology

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • SMARCA4 protein, human
  • DNA Helicases
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Transcription Factors