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  3. Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma
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Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma


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Other Names:
Malignant fibrohistiocytic tumors; UPS; Malignant fibrous histiocytoma
Categories:
Musculoskeletal Diseases; Rare Cancers

Summary Summary


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The following summary is from Orphanet, a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs.
orphanet

Orpha Number: 2023

Definition
An aggressive sarcoma of soft tissues or bone that can arise from any part of the body, clinically presenting as swelling, mass, pain, pathological fracture and occasional systemic features and is characterized by high local recurrence and significant metastasis.

Epidemiology
UPS ranks the 4th most common soft tissue sarcoma with a slight male preponderance. The incidence has been evaluated to be close to 0.8-1 new case per 100000 per year in one European series.

Clinical description
The tumor arises most commonly during the sixth and seventh decades of life. The most common sites of involvement include lower extremities (mainly thigh) followed by upper arms, retroperitoneum, viscera, head and neck (in childhood). Primary osseous UPS most commonly occurs in distal femur, proximal tibia, proximal femur and humerus. Patients may present pain, swelling / mass and pathological fractures. In the skin, UPS presents as a relatively painless, rapidly enlarging nodule. Anorexia, malaise, fever and weight loss are present in retroperitoneal and inflammatory forms of UPS. Most UPS recur locally; distant metastases are common (the most frequent is lung). Regional metastases are rare.

Etiology
UPS is thought to be derived from a primitive mesenchymal cell capable of differentiating into histiocytes, fibroblasts, myofibroblasts and osteoclasts. The etiology of the tumor remains unknown. Prior radiation therapy is a likely risk factor in some cases.

Diagnostic methods
Any tumor mass over 5 cm is suspected to be a sarcoma. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the imaging method of choice for limbs and shows a high signal on T2 weighted images. Histology of biopsy specimen prior to any treatment is crucial to reach diagnosis and shows pleomorphic spindle cell population with large atypical cells frequently exhibiting numerous irregular mitotic figures, associated regions of hemorrhage and necrosis, associated lymphohistiocytic infiltrate and invasion of dermis. Immunohistochemical staining is negative for S-100, HMB-45, CD34 and cytokeratin which assists in ruling out other soft tissue tumors. Most cases previously diagnosed as malignant fibrous histiocytoma have been reclassified into other histological types of sarcoma.

Differential diagnosis
When occurring in skin, UPS is difficult to differentiate from atypical fibroxanthoma or dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (see this term). Histological differential diagnoses include leiomyosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, lymphoma, and melanoma (see these terms).

Management and treatment
UPS should be referred to an expert/ reference center for primary biopsy, expert pathology review, and multidisciplinary treatment. Immediate surgery of a mass without knowledge of its histological nature is strongly discouraged because it is associated with an increased risk of death due to inappropriate resection and increased risk of relapse. UPS is best treated by wide surgical excision. Sometimes amputation may be necessary to remove the whole lesion. Adjuvant radiotherapy is given for high-grade, large (>5 cm), deep-seated tumors, in limb sparing surgeries and when negative margins are not obtained. For non-operable sarcomas, primary radiation therapy could be an option, but usually doxorubicin containing regimens are preferred options in first-line setting for locally irresectable and/or metastatic lesions. Chemotherapy (CHT) with ifosfamide, trabectedin, dacarbazine, pazopanib have demonstrated efficacy in UPS and are registered and available in most European Union countries.

Prognosis
A 5-year overall survival rate of 48% has been reported for patients with head and neck tumors versus 77% for patients with tumors arising on the trunk and extremities. The childhood variant appears have better prognosis.

Visit the Orphanet disease page for more resources.
Last updated: 6/1/2014

Symptoms Symptoms


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This table lists symptoms that people with this disease may have. For most diseases, symptoms will vary from person to person. People with the same disease may not have all the symptoms listed. This information comes from a database called the Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) . The HPO collects information on symptoms that have been described in medical resources. The HPO is updated regularly. Use the HPO ID to access more in-depth information about a symptom.

Showing of 9 |
Medical Terms Other Names
Learn More:
HPO ID
80%-99% of people have these symptoms
Abnormality of the lower limb
Lower limb deformities
0002814
Abnormality of the peritoneum 0002585
Soft tissue sarcoma 0030448
30%-79% of people have these symptoms
Abnormality of the musculature
Muscular abnormality
0003011
Fever 0001945
5%-29% of people have these symptoms
Abnormality of the upper limb 0002817
Anorexia 0002039
Fatigue
Tired
Tiredness
[ more ]
0012378
Weight loss 0001824
Showing of 9 |
Do you have more information about symptoms of this disease? We want to hear from you.
Last updated: 2/1/2021
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Find a Specialist Find a Specialist


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If you need medical advice, you can look for doctors or other healthcare professionals who have experience with this disease. You may find these specialists through advocacy organizations, clinical trials, or articles published in medical journals. You may also want to contact a university or tertiary medical center in your area, because these centers tend to see more complex cases and have the latest technology and treatments.

If you can’t find a specialist in your local area, try contacting national or international specialists. They may be able to refer you to someone they know through conferences or research efforts. Some specialists may be willing to consult with you or your local doctors over the phone or by email if you can't travel to them for care.

You can find more tips in our guide, How to Find a Disease Specialist. We also encourage you to explore the rest of this page to find resources that can help you find specialists.

Healthcare Resources

  • To find a medical professional who specializes in genetics, you can ask your doctor for a referral or you can search for one yourself. Online directories are provided by the American College of Medical Genetics and the National Society of Genetic Counselors. If you need additional help, contact a GARD Information Specialist. You can also learn more about genetic consultations from MedlinePlus Genetics.

Research Research


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Research helps us better understand diseases and can lead to advances in diagnosis and treatment. This section provides resources to help you learn about medical research and ways to get involved.

Clinical Research Resources

  • ClinicalTrials.gov lists trials that are related to Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma. Click on the link to go to ClinicalTrials.gov to read descriptions of these studies.

    Please note: Studies listed on the ClinicalTrials.gov website are listed for informational purposes only; being listed does not reflect an endorsement by GARD or the NIH. We strongly recommend that you talk with a trusted healthcare provider before choosing to participate in any clinical study.

Organizations Organizations


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Support and advocacy groups can help you connect with other patients and families, and they can provide valuable services. Many develop patient-centered information and are the driving force behind research for better treatments and possible cures. They can direct you to research, resources, and services. Many organizations also have experts who serve as medical advisors or provide lists of doctors/clinics. Visit the group’s website or contact them to learn about the services they offer. Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement by GARD.

Organizations Supporting this Disease

  • Sarcoma Alliance for Research through Collaboration (SARC)
    24 Frank Lloyd Wright Drive
    Lobby A, Suite 3100
    Ann Arbor, MI 48105
    Telephone: +1-734-930-7600
    Fax: +1-734-930-7557
    E-mail: sarc@sarctrials.org
    Website: https://sarctrials.org
Do you know of an organization? We want to hear from you.

Learn More Learn More


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These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

Where to Start

  • The National Cancer Institute provides the most current information on cancer for patients, health professionals, and the general public.

In-Depth Information

  • The Monarch Initiative brings together data about this condition from humans and other species to help physicians and biomedical researchers. Monarch’s tools are designed to make it easier to compare the signs and symptoms (phenotypes) of different diseases and discover common features. This initiative is a collaboration between several academic institutions across the world and is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Visit the website to explore the biology of this condition.
  • Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) is a catalog of human genes and genetic disorders. Each entry has a summary of related medical articles. It is meant for health care professionals and researchers. OMIM is maintained by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. 
  • Orphanet is a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs. Access to this database is free of charge.
  • PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.

News & Events News & Events


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News

  • Rare Disease Day at NIH 2021
    March 1, 2021

GARD Answers GARD Answers


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Questions sent to GARD may be posted here if the information could be helpful to others. We remove all identifying information when posting a question to protect your privacy. If you do not want your question posted, please let us know.

Have a question? Contact a GARD Information Specialist.
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