MEIS1::NCOA1 Primitive Spindle Cell Sarcoma of the Kidney : Report of 7 Cases of a Distinctive Clinicopathologic

Pedram Argani1, Sintawat Wangsiricharoen2, Maria Tretiakova3

  • 1Departments of Pathology and Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD.

Insights

New primitive renal sarcomas with MEIS1::NCOA1 gene fusions were identified. These tumors share features with MEIS1::NCOA2 sarcomas but can be mistaken for other kidney cancers.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Pathology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Primitive sarcomas with MEIS1::NCOA2 gene fusions were first identified in the kidney in 2018.
  • These neoplasms exhibit variable cellularity and specific growth patterns, lacking skeletal muscle differentiation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe 7 new cases of primary primitive renal sarcomas with MEIS1::NCOA1 gene fusions.
  • To compare their morphology and clinicopathologic features with previously described MEIS1::NCOA2 renal sarcomas.

Main Methods:

  • Morphological and immunohistochemical analysis of 7 primary renal sarcomas.
  • Genetic analysis to identify MEIS1::NCOA1 gene fusions.

Main Results:

  • The 7 new sarcomas showed overlapping morphology with MEIS1::NCOA2 renal sarcomas, with 3 cases containing adipose tissue.
  • Four cases were initially misdiagnosed as malignant mixed epithelial stromal tumor (MEST) due to admixed epithelial elements and patchy WT1/estrogen receptor expression.
  • Clinicopathologic features ranged from low-grade to high-grade, with one low-grade case metastasizing after 9 years and a high-grade case leading to death within a year.

Conclusions:

  • MEIS1::NCOA1 primitive renal sarcomas are a distinct entity that can be mistaken for MEST.
  • These neoplasms present a spectrum of behavior, necessitating long-term clinical follow-up even for low-grade tumors.