Carcinosarcoma (malignant mixed mesodermal tumor) of the uterus: clinicoimmunohistochemical and histogenetic characteristics

Abstract

Aims: To search for favorable prognostic factors in CS on the basis of clinical, morphological and immunocytochemical data, while simultaneously considering  histogenesis of this neoplasm.

Methods and Results: Thirty two uterine CS patients were analyzed based on clinical and morphological data. In addition, each specimen was immunohistochemically stained with appropriately selected antibodies characterizing relevant types of cells and tissues. The presence of both carcinomatous and sarcomatous patterns was observed in all tumors. Among carcinomatous patterns, endometrioid carcinoma was most common, while serous, clear cell, and undifferentiated were less common. Among sarcomatous patterns, endometrioid sarcomas represented the largest group, while leiomyosarcomas, chondrosarcomas, fibrosarcomas, osteosarcomas, rhabdosarcomas were rarely observed. Mitotic activity was evidently higher in carcinomas. Among seven neoplasms  the expression of both cytokeratin and vimentin was noted in cells of carcinomatous patterns.

Conclusions: This study shows that an early diagnosis (stage I-II) and an initial aggressive surgical cytoreduction are favorable prognostic factors in CS. Furthermore, cytokeratin-vimentin positive cells in carcinomatous patterns suggest sarcomatous metaplasia of adenocarcinoma. Unfortunately, the study did not identify histological structures of prognostic value.