Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma

Title

Other Names:

Malignant fibrohistiocytic tumors; UPS; Malignant fibrous histiocytoma

Categories:

Musculoskeletal Diseases; Rare Cancers

Summary Summary

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

Orpha Number: 2023

Disease definition

Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS) is 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: 6/15/2014

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Research Research

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 studying or have studied 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.

Living With Living With

Living with a genetic or rare disease can impact the daily lives of patients and families. These resources can help families navigate various aspects of living with a rare disease.

Genetics 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 GeneTests, 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 Genetics Home Reference.

Learn More Learn More

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

News

Don’t Miss the NCATS Toolkit for Patient-Focused Therapy Development Event
August 31, 2017
Funding Opportunities Now Available for the Undiagnosed Diseases Network (UDN) Phase II
August 30, 2017
IRDiRC Goals 2017-2027: New Rare Disease Research Goals for the Next Decade
August 10, 2017
Young Investigator Initiative Career Development and Grant Mentoring Program
June 21, 2016

NCATS Co-Sponsored Conferences

Overcoming Barriers to International Clinical Trials for Rare Cancers Friday, December 10, 2010
Location: Bethesda, Maryland
Description: The goals of this conference were to introduce key institutional players to the topic of international clinical trials in rare cancers and to establish an ongoing dialogue. Participants left the meeting with a set of specific priorities that need to be enacted to promote these trials. The meeting promoted consensus on the way that resources are prioritized to address rare cancers. Participants were asked to convey the content of the meeting to their constituencies and to follow up with pilot concepts.

Contact: Jack Welch, M.D., Ph.D., jack.welch@nih.govjack.welch@nih.gov

Co-funding Institute(s): National Cancer Institute, Office of Rare Diseases Research
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