Sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma of papillary origin. A case report and cytogenic evaluation

Sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma (SRCC) is an aggressive tumor variant thought to arise predominantly from dedifferentiation of clear cell carcinoma. A few reports of SRCC associated with non-clear cell tumors led to the presumption that SRCC may arise from any renal cell carcinoma, although direct evidence of this is lacking. Cytogenetic studies on 3 previously documented SRCCs associated with papillary renal cancers showed either 3p deletions or absence of trisomy 7, 17 in the sarcomatoid tumors, suggesting origin from a coexistent clear cell tumor. The present case represents the first conclusive evidence of direct progression of non-clear cell carcinoma to SRCC with both tumor components containing multiple copies of chromosomes 7 and 17. Many genetic anomalies, including p53 mutations, frequently recognized in SRCC were not recognized in this case, highlighting the importance of cytogenetic evaluation of all SRCC. The patient is well and without evidence of tumor progression 1 year after surgery, and the sinister outlook of SRCC in association with clear cell carcinoma may not apply in SRCC of non-clear cell origin.