Expanding the Clinicopathologic and Molecular Spectrum of Lipoblastoma-Like Tumor in a Series of 28 Cases

William J Anderson; Adrian Mariño-Enríquez; Kiril Trpkov; Jason L Hornick; Marisa R Nucci; Brendan C Dickson; Christopher D M Fletcher

doi:10.1016/j.modpat.2023.100252

Expanding the Clinicopathologic and Molecular Spectrum of Lipoblastoma-Like Tumor in a Series of 28 Cases

Mod Pathol. 2023 Oct;36(10):100252. doi: 10.1016/j.modpat.2023.100252. Epub 2023 Jun 22.

Authors

William J Anderson¹, Adrian Mariño-Enríquez¹, Kiril Trpkov², Jason L Hornick¹, Marisa R Nucci¹, Brendan C Dickson³, Christopher D M Fletcher⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
² Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
³ Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
⁴ Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts. Electronic address: cfletcher@bwh.harvard.edu.

PMID: 37355153
DOI: 10.1016/j.modpat.2023.100252

Abstract

Lipoblastoma-like tumor (LLT) is a rare adipocytic neoplasm with a predilection for the vulva. Since 2002, <30 cases have been reported, characterizing it as an indolent tumor that may sometimes recur locally. Diagnosis can be challenging due to its rarity and morphologic overlap with other adipocytic tumors. Thus far, there are no specific molecular or immunohistochemical features to aid in the diagnosis of LLT. Recent case reports have described LLT arising at other sites, including the spermatic cord and gluteal region, suggesting wider anatomical distribution. We present a large series of LLT to further characterize its clinicopathologic and molecular features. Twenty-eight cases of LLT were retrieved from departmental and consult archives (including 8 from a prior series). The cohort comprised 28 patients (8 males, 20 females) with a median age of 28 years (range: 1-80 years). There were 17 primary LLT of the vulva. Other anatomical sites included the scrotum (n = 3), spermatic cord (n = 2), inguinal region (n = 2), limbs (n = 2), pelvis (n = 1), and retroperitoneum (n = 1). Median tumor size was 6.0 cm (range: 1.8-30.0 cm). The tumors had a lobulated architecture and were typically composed of adipocytes, lipoblasts, and spindle cells in a myxoid stroma with prominent thin-walled vessels. Using immunohistochemistry, a subset showed loss of Rb expression (12/23 of samples). Follow-up in 15 patients (median: 56 months) revealed 8 patients with local recurrence and 1 patient with metastases to the lung/pleura and breasts. Targeted DNA sequencing revealed a simple genomic profile with limited copy number alterations and low mutational burden. No alterations in RB1 were identified. The metastatic LLT showed concurrent pathogenic PIK3CA and MTOR activating mutations, both in the primary and in the lung/pleural metastasis; the latter also harbored TERT promoter mutation. One tumor had a pathogenic TSC1 mutation, and one tumor showed 2-copy deletion of CDKN2A, CDKN2B, and MTAP. No biologically significant variants were identified in 8 tumors. No gene fusions were identified by RNA sequencing in 4 tumors successfully sequenced. This study expands the clinicopathologic spectrum of LLT, highlighting its wider anatomical distribution and potential for occasional metastasis. Molecularly, we identified activating mutations in the PI3K-MTOR signaling pathway in 2 tumors, which may contribute to exceptional aggressive behavior.

Keywords: lipoblastoma-like; sarcoma; soft tissue; vulva.