Next Article in Journal
Immunophenotype Rearrangement in Response to Tumor Excision May Be Related to the Risk of Biochemical Recurrence in Prostate Cancer Patients
Next Article in Special Issue
Does the Use of Peripheral Immune-Related Markers Indicate Whether to Administer Pazopanib, Trabectedin, or Eribulin to Advanced Soft Tissue Sarcoma Patients?
Previous Article in Journal
Imaging Tests in the Early Diagnosis of Giant Cell Arteritis
Previous Article in Special Issue
Cancer Stem Cells as a Source of Drug Resistance in Bone Sarcomas
 
 
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
Article

Efficacy of Sirolimus Treatment in PEComa–10 Years of Practice Perspective

by
Tomasz Świtaj
1,
Aleksandra Sobiborowicz
1,2,
Paweł Teterycz
1,3,
Anna Klimczak
1,
Donata Makuła
4,
Michał Wągrodzki
5,
Anna Szumera-Ciećkiewicz
5,6,
Piotr Rutkowski
1,† and
Anna M. Czarnecka
1,7,*,†
1
Department of Soft Tissue/Bone, Sarcoma and Melanoma, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, 02-781 Warsaw, Poland
2
Medical Faculty, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland
3
Department of Computational Oncology, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, 02-781 Warsaw, Poland
4
Department of Radiology I, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, 02-781 Warsaw, Poland
5
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Diagnostics, Maria Skłodowska-Curie Institute-Oncology Center, 02-781 Warsaw, Poland
6
Department of Diagnostic Hematology, Institute of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, 00-791 Warsaw, Poland
7
Department of Experimental Pharmacology, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences Warsaw, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Equal senior authors.
J. Clin. Med. 2021, 10(16), 3705; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm10163705
Submission received: 13 July 2021 / Revised: 6 August 2021 / Accepted: 17 August 2021 / Published: 20 August 2021
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Pathogenic Mechanisms and Therapeutic Approaches for Sarcomas)

Abstract

:
Perivascular epithelioid cell tumors (PEComa) represent a family of rare mesenchymal tumors resultant from deregulation in mTOR pathway activity. The aim of this study is to evaluate the long-term efficacy of targeted PEComa treatment. We reviewed all consecutive patients with PEComa who started systemic treatment with sirolimus in our reference sarcoma center between January 2011 and August 2020. Histopathology of PEComa was reviewed and confirmed in all cases by a designated sarcoma pathologist. Any surviving progression-free patients were censored at the last follow-up (31 March 2021). Survival curves were calculated according to Kaplan–Meier method and compared with the log-rank test or a Cox proportional hazard model. Fifteen (12 females and 3 males) consecutive PEComa patients were treated. The median age of patients treated systemically was 50 years. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 4.9 months (95% CI: 3.8-NA) for first-line chemotherapy and was not reached (95% CI: 42.0-NA) for sirolimus as first-line therapy. There was one objective response (OR) in the chemotherapy group. The OR rate reached 73% (11/15 cases) for sirolimus regardless of the treatment line. All patients archived disease control. Three patients died due to disease progression after 55, 32, and 32 months since metastatic disease diagnosis. After a median follow-up of 55.7 (range: 3.2–220) months, the 5 yr OS was 65% (CI 95% 39–100). Our study is the largest single-institution report on PEComa systemic targeted therapy and fills the gap in the field of advanced PEComa care since the FDA/EMEA approval of sirolimus.

1. Introduction

Perivascular epithelioid cell tumors (PEComa) are rare mesenchymal tumors composed of epithelioid cells characterized by histological and immunohistochemical evidence of both smooth muscle and melanocytic differentiation. The PEComa family includes angiomyolipomas (AML), lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM), clear-cell sugar tumors (CCST)—pulmonary and extrapulmonary (PEST, primary extrapulmonary sugar tumour), clear-cell myomelanocytic tumors (CCMMT), and primary cutaneous PEComas (CCCMT, cutaneous clear cell myomelanocytic tumors), as well as PEComa NOS (not otherwise specified) tumors [1]. PEComa NOS is a joint term for a broad group of tumors with perivascular epithelioid differentiation, not qualifying for the specific subtype. PEComa family tumors are rare (up to 1 case per 4 million population) and usually occur sporadically. Radical resection may be the curative treatment of most PEComa cases [2,3]. Nevertheless, selected cases show malignant behavior with infiltrative growth, local recurrences after surgical resection, and/or metastatic spread [2,4]. These include renal and extrarenal epithelioid AMLs, extrapulmonary LAM, and malignant PEComa NOS and require a multidisciplinary therapeutic approach, including systemic treatment [5]. No effective chemotherapy for malignant PEComa has been described. Over recent years, significant progress in the understanding of molecular events underlying PEComa development has been achieved. Therefore, the first effective systemic treatment of PEComa tumors was developed based on their underlying biology with deregulation in mTOR pathway activity [4,6].
PEComas, especially bilateral renal AMLs and LAM, are among typical physical manifestations of tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) called Bourneville–Pringle disease. TSC is an autosomal dominant genetic syndrome caused by inactivating mutations of TSC1 (hamartin gene) and TSC2 (tuberin gene), characterized by the development of PEComas along with hamartomas, giant cell astrocytomas, and neurologic dysfunction including epilepsy or intellectual disability [7]. Sporadic PEComas were also found to carry TSC1 or TSC2 somatic inactivating mutations [8,9,10]. Moreover, in 10–20% of sporadic PEComas cases, loss of 9q34 (TSC1) or 16q13.3 (TSC2) has been reported [11]. Tuberin and hamartinregulate mTOR pathway, and hamartin forming a complex with tuberin, stabilize it and protecting against proteosomal degradation. Their loss results in high mTOR activity with increased ribosomal biogenesis, translation, pentose phosphate pathway, lipid synthesis, glycolysis, cell growth, and proliferation, angiogenesis. [12]. The hyperactivation of mTOR signaling enables PEComa cells to sustain proliferation even in the limited supply of nutrients and growth factors [13] that leads to a lack of cell proliferation inhibition, increased cell migration, and differentiation of PEComa cells [14]. It was shown that inactivating mutations in TSC1 or TSC2 (or activating mutations in mTOR) correlate with sensitivity to rapalogs, including sirolimus [15,16].
Molecular pathology data has provided a rationale for mTOR inhibitor use in patients suffering from PEComa tumors with and without concomitant tuberous sclerosis [17,18,19]. The first report on inhibition of mTOR complex resulting in modest and transient improvement in lung function and reduction in the size of AML covered 25 patients with LAM and AML treated with sirolimus [20]. Subsequent case reports on the efficacy of rapamycine and sirolimus in patients with tuberous sclerosis complex related PEComas (AML and LAM) were published [21,22,23]. Later the efficacy of sirolimus in 46 LAM cases was established by a randomized, double-blind, phase 3 multicenter international lymphangioleiomyomatosis efficacy and safety of sirolimus (MILES) trial [24]. Concordantly several clinical trials of the use of mTOR inhibitor–everolimus in patients with tuberous sclerosis were performed, yielding positive results and leading to registration of everolimus to treat high-risk renal AMLs [25,26]. In the largest, randomized, double-blind, phase 3 EXIST-2 trial, treatment response (defined as a decrease in AML mass by at least 50%) was observed in 42% of patients receiving everolimus [27]. Due to the low incidence of PEComa in the general population, reports on the use of sirolimus in this population of patients are limited. Most case series that have been published report on the efficacy of surgery in PEComa patients [3,28,29]. The largest case series from Royal Marsden Hospital covered ten consecutive patients treated with sirolimus or temsirolimus between 2007 and 2013 [30]. We aimed to analyze the long-term efficacy of sirolimus usage in routine clinical practice in a national reference sarcoma center. The secondary aim of our analysis was to describe clinical factors correlating with treatment duration and patients’ survival.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Analyzed Group

We included in the analysis consecutive patients affected by advanced, metastatic PEComa treated in the Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology (MSCNRIO, Warsaw, Poland), the only multidisciplinary sarcoma treatment center in Poland, and therefore the Polish national reference sarcoma center. Patients included in the analysis started treatment between 1 January 2011 and 31 August 2020. The follow-up data cut-off was 31 March 2021. Specific inclusion criteria were: (1) male or female patients ≥18 years of age, (2) histologically confirmed diagnosis of PEComa, (3) available formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) sample from core needle biopsy, (4) available CT scan at treatment start, (5) and mTOR inhibitor systemic treatment history. There was no significant family history of other cancers in any of the patients. Tuberous sclerosis complex was excluded based on clinical diagnostic criteria [31].
The histopathology diagnosis of all enrolled patients was reviewed in MSCNRIO by experienced sarcoma pathologists as reported by us before [32], including staining with SMA, Desmin, h-caldesmon, S100p, SOX-10, CD34, ERG, CKAE1/AE3. Cathespin K, HMB-45. Melan A, MITF, TFE3, CD163, Ki-67. Tumor slices from all patients demonstrated strong, diffuse, cytoplasmic staining for phosphorylated S6 protein as per activation of mTORC1.

2.2. Treatment

We have analyzed patients who were ineligible for surgery and were treated systemically in accordance with national sarcoma treatment guidelines [33,34,35]. Treatment breaks and dose reductions were implemented for moderate or severe toxicity by attending physician choice. Therapeutic drug monitoring was performed each cycle. A whole-blood sirolimus therapeutic window of 5 to 15 ng/mL as measured by HPLC/immunoassay was used for safety evaluation [36]. For blood levels above 20 ng/mL dosing was reduced, as also described by others [37].
Disease stage and progression were assessed by contrast-enhanced CT scans at baseline and at 3-month intervals or as recommended by the attending physician. Patients were treated continuously until disease progression (PD) or unacceptable toxicities. RECIST v.1.1 criteria were used to assess the effects of sirolimus in this cohort [38].

2.3. Analyzed Data

Patients’ electronic medical records in CGM CLININET HIS (CompuGroup Medical Poland Ltd., Lublin, Poland) were screened with MedStream Designer (MSD) software (Transition Technologies, Łódź, Poland). The corresponding 10th revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD) C48-C49 and the keyword “PEComa” or “Perivascular epithelioid cell neoplasm” were used. Data were reviewed independently by two researchers. Data of death was confirmed in the Polish National Cancer Registry at the Department of Epidemiology and Cancer Prevention (http://onkologia.org.pl/) via the personal identification number of the patients at 31 March 2021.

2.4. Statistical Analysis

The continuous variables were summarized by the median with interquartile range and mean with standard deviation. Categorical variables were described by the count and frequency distribution. All point estimates were reported with a 95% confidence interval (CI). The Kaplan–Meier estimator, the log-rank test, and Cox proportional hazard model were used for the survival and prognostic factors analysis. The median follow-up time was calculated using the reverse Kaplan–Meier estimator. All analyses were performed in the R language version 3.6.3 (The R Foundation for Statistical Computing) with the use of tidyverse and survminer packages [39,40,41]. The p ≤ 0.05 was defined statistically significant.

3. Results

3.1. Demographics

Fifteen patients with metastatic PEComa started sirolimus treatment between March 2011 and August 2020; 7 had unresectable and 8 metastatic disease at the start of treatment (Figure 1). Forty-seven percent of patients had prior surgery outside of our hospital for the primary tumor, while 1 underwent radical surgery in MSCNRIO and relapsed later. 8/8 patients developed metastases in the abdomen and 5 in the lungs. Eleven patients were treated with sirolimus up-front (Figure 2), while 4 received doxorubicin-based chemotherapy and sirolimus as further line therapy. The median age of the patients was 50 (IQR: 34–60) years. The majority were women (80%). Primary sites of origin were gynecological or abdomen/retroperitoneal space. Liver, lung, and retroperitoneal space were the most frequent metastatic sites (Figure 1 and Figure 2; Table 1). None of our patients was diagnosed with tuberous sclerosis complex or presented any signs or symptoms of this disease.

3.2. Treatment

Sirolimus was started at 2–6 mg per day (qd) orally once daily and continued according to patient tolerability as per attending physician choice (Table 1). During therapy, 10 patients required dose reductions, 11 patients received sirolimus in the first-line metastatic setting, and 4 patients were previously treated with chemotherapy. The median dose recommended was 3 mg daily and the median duration of treatment was 25 months (range 5–63 months), mean 29 months. All patients received clinical benefits and symptoms palliation. In most patients, stabilization of the disease (SD) was achieved, and 73% of patients achieved an objective response (ORR) (Figure 2 and Figure 3).
Treatment toxicity was managed by dose reductions or/and treatment interruption. Ten patients had dose reductions and 2 had dose interruptions. Treatment toxicities were generally mild, manageable, and responded well to dose reductions. In 6 patients, prolonged hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia resulted in dose reductions along with atorvastatin and fenofibrate treatment. The highest total cholesterol level recorded was 358 mg/dL. Two other cases with erosive mouth mucositis, one with upper extremity edema and one with reduced glomerular filtration rate on sirolimus treatment, required dose reductions. One of the patients with mucositis also presented prolonged G1 hyperbilirubinemia that resolved after dose reduction. Patients with diarrhea accompanied by abdominal pain required dose interruptions. No hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylactic or anaphylactoid reactions, angioedema, exfoliative dermatitis, and hypersensitivity vasculitis or lymphedema, were reported. Pulmonary embolism, pulmonary hemorrhage, pancreatitis, nephrotic syndrome were also not reported. No treatment-related deaths were recorded.

3.3. Efficacy

Median progression-free survival (PFS) in patients receiving sirolimus as first-line therapy was not reached (95% CI: 42.0-NA) and were 42.6 months (95% CI: 21.9-NA) when considering this treatment regardless of the line. At the same time, the median PFS for the chemotherapy in the first line was 4.9 months (95% CI: 3.8–NA) (Figure 4). There was a single case of objective response (OR) during chemotherapy. At the time of analysis, sirolimus treatment was discontinued in 12 patients and 3 patients died. The primary reason for discontinuation was PD in 6 patients and 3 patients died due to disease progression after 29 and 32 months since metastatic disease diagnosis. After a median follow-up of 55.7 (95% CI: 32-NA) months since the start of first-line therapy, the 5 yr OS was 83% (CI 95% 58–100) for first-line sirolimus patients and 65% (95% CI: 39–100) for the whole group. Three patients were remaining on treatment at the time of data cut-off. Following PD 2 patients received further systemic treatment.

4. Discussion

Before molecular discoveries, treatment of metastatic PEComa was ineffective as there was no proven role for chemotherapy, and the prognosis for patients with metastatic disease was poor [4,6,42]. Pharmacological inhibition of mTOR signaling is expected to result in significant clinical activity in PEComa patients and radiological responses to sirolimus are to be observed in most patients [43]. In a group of patients with such limited therapeutic options, the development of targeted therapy is critical [4,6,42]. To date, this is the largest reported series of patients with PEComa treated with sirolimus in real-world practice. Inhibition of hyperactivated mTORC1, which results from loss of the TSC1/TSC2 tumor suppressor complex, is a specific molecular target for PEComas therapy. We have observed significant clinical responses in patients treated with sirolimus, including the longest ongoing response of greater than 62 months of duration. Identification of specific other molecular/genetic alterations in this sarcoma subtype could lead to the development of more effective therapies for this challenging group of diseases in the future.
Until the introduction of mTOR inhibitors, the only option for the treatment of metastatic PEComa was chemotherapy, mostly doxorubicin-based regimens. No formal recommendations or guidelines were provided for first-line chemotherapy in PEComa, and treatment strategies differ between cases and hospitals [14]. The first evidence of mTORC1 activation in PEComa was delivered by the study of 15 cases in which the absence of AKT phosphorylation was shown [14]. Subsequently, high levels of phospho-p70S6K were reported in PEComa cells [18]. It was concluded that the presence of high levels of S6 phosphorylation is to correlate with a high likelihood of disease control with an mTOR inhibitor [44]. In a systematic review of AML and sirolimus, in total, 94 patients were included. The review covered four prospective nonrandomized studies. In general, the results reported for AML only population were consistent with our general PEComa study. In the review, ORR in AML was 46.8% in the first year, 43.5% in the second year [45]. In comparison to the review, we reported significantly longer follow-up of the patients. In concordance to the reported cohort of AML, where the volume of the tumors decreased 53% after 12 months of therapy, we reposted significant responses (Figure 1) [20]. A new derivative of sirolimus nab-sirolimus (albumin-bound) was recently tested in the single-arm AMPECT study of 31 malignant PEComa patients—nab-sirolimus, an injectable a nanoparticle albumin-bound (nab®) sirolimus with a mean particle size of approximately 100 nm. 100 mg/m2 of the drug was administered intravenously weekly for 2 weeks, followed by a week of rest until PD or unacceptable toxicity. Median PFS was 8.9 months, OS-40.8 months, while ORR-39% (95% CI: 22–58). Responses were durable, with 50% of patients having an ongoing response for more than 25 months. Nevertheless, nab-sirolimus is still not available outside of clinical trials [46,47,48]. A tumor-agnostic registrational trial in cancers with TSC1 or TSC2 inactivating alterations is expected. FDA approval for nab-sirolimus in advanced PEComa is expected on 26 November 2021.
As phase 1 study with sirolimus in patients with solid tumors defined a maximum tolerated dose of 6 mg and pharmacokinetic analysis showed that drug exposure increased proportionally with dose [49] we have used median dosing of 3 mg/day. It was also suggested that in patients who do not initially respond to dose escalation would represent a reasonable treatment approach, best of all in conjunction with drug level monitoring [30], but such approach is hard to achieve in routine practice outside clinical trials. Safety of the treatment in routine practice observed by us was typical, without novel serious adverse events. The most common known sirolimus-related AEs reported are stomatitis, respiratory infections, and hyperlipidemia [45]. It was proven that dose-adjusted sirolimus may be used with a prolonged clinical benefit. It was suggested that in cases with high toxicity, pharmacokinetic sirolimus measurement should be used as this drug has a narrow therapeutic window. It should also be remembered that sirolimus blood levels may be influenced by CYP3A4 polymorphisms and subsequently cytochrome-based drug interactions [37]. CYP3A4 inhibition with ciprofloxacin and grapefruit juice has also been reported to increase sirolimus levels [49].
PEComa patients’ treatment should be managed in reference sarcoma centers with a medical oncology team and, after, a multidisciplinary tumor board. The first step towards best treatment selection is a pathology report. Referral centers in sarcoma pathology are indispensable for a high level of histological diagnosis [50,51]. Since PEComas are almost always immunoreactive for smooth muscle (actin, desmin, caldesmon) markers, as well as melanocytic (HMB-45, melan-A, MiTF) markers, this characteristic immunohistochemical profile provides accurate diagnosis [4,6,42,52]. PEComa should be considered as malignant when it reaches size ≥5 cm, and has concomitant characteristics of mitoses ≥1/50 HPF, significant nuclear atypia, necrosis, and lymphovascular invasion [53]. Tumors larger than 5 cm in diameter with micro-hemorrhages, necrosis, and capsular invasions should also be considered to have malignant potential [54]. At the same time, imaging features of PEComas are nonspecific and may mimic other benign and malignant tumors, so an experienced radiologist is also required [55]. Primary PEComa tumors are usually well-circumscribed, heteroechoic on ultrasound examination, hypodense to isodense on CT with intense contrast enhancement, hypointense to isointense in comparison to skeletal muscle on T1-weighted imaging, and heterogeneously hyperintense on T2-weighted imaging with significant gadolinium enhancement on MRI [56]. Given the tumor characteristics and response pattern of this PEComa, there could be a role for incorporation of Choi criteria into CT evaluation on treatment as in the case of other sarcoma subtypes, including gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) [30,57].
Based on the increasing amount of data reported by us and others, sirolimus (or other mTOR inhibitors) is expected to be the best first-line therapy in advanced and metastatic PEComa. PEComa patients, if diagnosed in community-based hospitals, should be referred to sarcoma centers for mTOR inhibitor therapy or clinical trial enrolment. At the same time, due to the rarity and different sites of presentation, the best multidisciplinary management of PEComa is still a matter of debate, also in terms of the timing of surgery and the need for neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatment [58]. The question of which therapeutic options to consider in PEComa following disease progression is also open, as the mechanism of mTOR inhibitors resistance is until now poorly characterized. More extensive molecular research on PEComa drug resistance is needed.

Author Contributions

T.Ś., P.R., and A.M.C. designed the study; T.Ś. treated all patients with sirolimus; P.R., A.K., A.S., A.S.-C., D.M. and M.W. participated in treatment and/or diagnostics; A.M.C., A.S., P.T., T.Ś., and P.R. participated in data acquisition, analysis, and interpretation of data; T.Ś. and A.M.C. wrote the manuscript. T.Ś., A.M.C., and P.T. developed the methodology and statistical analysis. All authors revised the manuscript. A.M.C. coordinated the study. T.Ś. supervised the study. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This work was supported by Maria-Sklodowska Curie National Research Institute of Oncology statutory funding–subsidy from the Ministry of Education and Science.

Institutional Review Board Statement

The study has been approved by the local Bio-Ethics Committee (Bio-Ethics Committee at the Maria Sklodowska-Curie Institute-Oncology Center, Warsaw, Poland; approval number KB/9/2011) according to good clinical practice guidelines.

Informed Consent Statement

As this was not an interventional or genetic study but a retrospective analysis of a case series, ethical approval was provided by the appropriate Ethics Committee to release this data without additional patient consent as patient consent was deemed unnecessary.

Data Availability Statement

All data generated or analyzed during this study are available upon reasonable request upon DTA consent.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

References

  1. Klimczak, A.; Pękul, M.; Wiater, K.; Rutkowski, P. PEComa—Grupa rzadkich nowotworów pochodzenia mezenchymalnego. Nowotw. J. Oncol. 2011, 61, 52–56. [Google Scholar]
  2. Bleeker, J.S.; Quevedo, J.F.; Folpe, A.L. “Malignant” perivascular epithelioid cell neoplasm: Risk stratification and treatment strategies. Sarcoma 2012, 2012, 541626. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  3. Krawczyk, M.; Ziarkiewicz-Wróblewska, B.; Wróblewski, T.; Podgórska, J.; Grzybowski, J.; Gierej, B.; Krawczyk, P.; Nyckowski, P.; Kornasiewicz, O.; Patkowski, W.; et al. PEComa—A Rare Liver Tumor. J. Clin. Med. 2021, 10, 1756. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  4. Sobiborowicz, A.; Czarnecka, A.M.; Szumera-Ciećkiewicz, A.; Rutkowski, P.; Świtaj, T. Diagnosis and treatment of malignant PEComa tumours. Oncol. Clin. Pract. 2020, 16, 22–33. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  5. Rutkowski, P.L.; Mullen, J.T. Management of the “Other” retroperitoneal sarcomas. J. Surg. Oncol. 2018, 117, 79–86. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  6. Sobiborowicz, A.; Czarnecka, A.M.; Szumera-Ciećkiewicz, A.; Rutkowski, P.; Świtaj, T. Diagnosis and treatment of angiomyolipoma (AML) tumours. Oncol. Clin. Pract. 2020, 16, 116–132. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  7. Randle, S.C. Tuberous Sclerosis Complex: A Review. Pediatr. Ann. 2017, 46, e166–e171. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  8. Muzykewicz, D.A.; Sharma, A.; Muse, V.; Numis, A.L.; Rajagopal, J.; Thiele, E.A. TSC1 and TSC2 mutations in patients with lymphangioleiomyomatosis and tuberous sclerosis complex. J. Med. Genet. 2009, 46, 465–468. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  9. Smolarek, T.A.; Wessner, L.L.; McCormack, F.X.; Mylet, J.C.; Menon, A.G.; Henske, E.P. Evidence that lymphangiomyomatosis is caused by TSC2 mutations: Chromosome 16p13 loss of heterozygosity in angiomyolipomas and lymph nodes from women with lymphangiomyomatosis. Am. J. Hum. Genet. 1998, 62, 810–815. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  10. Agaram, N.P.; Sung, Y.S.; Zhang, L.; Chen, C.L.; Chen, H.W.; Singer, S.; Dickson, M.A.; Berger, M.F.; Antonescu, C.R. Dichotomy of Genetic Abnormalities in PEComas With Therapeutic Implications. Am. J. Surg. Pathol. 2015, 39, 813–825. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  11. Flechter, E.; Zohar, Y.; Guralnik, L.; Passhak, M.; Sela, G.B. Long-lasting stable disease with mTOR inhibitor treatment in a patient with a perivascular epithelioid cell tumor: A case report and literature review. Oncol. Lett. 2016, 12, 4739–4743. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  12. Huang, J.; Manning, B.D. The TSC1-TSC2 complex: A molecular switchboard controlling cell growth. Biochem. J. 2008, 412, 179–190. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  13. Bhaoighill, M.N.; Dunlop, E.A. Mechanistic target of rapamycin inhibitors: Successes and challenges as cancer therapeutics. Cancer Drug Resist. 2019, 2, 1069–1085. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  14. Kenerson, H.; Folpe, A.L.; Takayama, T.K.; Yeung, R.S. Activation of the mTOR pathway in sporadic angiomyolipomas and other perivascular epithelioid cell neoplasms. Hum. Pathol. 2007, 38, 1361–1371. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  15. Kwiatkowski, D.J.; Wagle, N. mTOR Inhibitors in Cancer: What Can We Learn from Exceptional Responses? EBioMedicine 2015, 2, 2–4. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  16. Kwiatkowski, D.J.; Choueiri, T.K.; Fay, A.P.; Rini, B.I.; Thorner, A.R.; de Velasco, G.; Tyburczy, M.E.; Hamieh, L.; Albiges, L.; Agarwal, N.; et al. Mutations in TSC1, TSC2, and MTOR Are Associated with Response to Rapalogs in Patients with Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma. Clin. Cancer Res. 2016, 22, 2445–2452. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  17. Badri, K.R.; Gao, L.; Hyjek, E.; Schuger, N.; Schuger, L.; Qin, W.; Chekaluk, Y.; Kwiatkowski, D.J.; Zhe, X. Exonic mutations of TSC2/TSC1 are common but not seen in all sporadic pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 2013, 187, 663–665. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  18. Pan, C.C.; Chung, M.Y.; Ng, K.F.; Liu, C.Y.; Wang, J.S.; Chai, C.Y.; Huang, S.H.; Chen, P.C.; Ho, D.M. Constant allelic alteration on chromosome 16p (TSC2 gene) in perivascular epithelioid cell tumour (PEComa): Genetic evidence for the relationship of PEComa with angiomyolipoma. J. Pathol. 2008, 214, 387–393. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  19. Rutkowski, P.; Przybyl, J.; Switaj, T. Genetics of rare mesenchymal tumors: Implications for targeted treatment in DFSP, ASPS, CCS, GCTB and PEComa. Int. J. Biochem. Cell Biol. 2014, 53, 466–474. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  20. Bissler, J.J.; McCormack, F.X.; Young, L.R.; Elwing, J.M.; Chuck, G.; Leonard, J.M.; Schmithorst, V.J.; Laor, T.; Brody, A.S.; Bean, J.; et al. Sirolimus for angiomyolipoma in tuberous sclerosis complex or lymphangioleiomyomatosis. N. Engl. J. Med. 2008, 358, 140–151. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  21. Herry, I.; Neukirch, C.; Debray, M.P.; Mignon, F.; Crestani, B. Dramatic effect of sirolimus on renal angiomyolipomas in a patient with tuberous sclerosis complex. Eur. J. Intern. Med. 2007, 18, 76–77. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  22. Wienecke, R.; Fackler, I.; Linsenmaier, U.; Mayer, K.; Licht, T.; Kretzler, M. Antitumoral activity of rapamycin in renal angiomyolipoma associated with tuberous sclerosis complex. Am. J. Kidney Dis. 2006, 48, e27–e29. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  23. Taille, C.; Debray, M.P.; Crestani, B. Sirolimus treatment for pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis. Ann. Intern. Med. 2007, 146, 687–688. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  24. McCormack, F.X.; Inoue, Y.; Moss, J.; Singer, L.G.; Strange, C.; Nakata, K.; Barker, A.F.; Chapman, J.T.; Brantly, M.L.; Stocks, J.M.; et al. Efficacy and safety of sirolimus in lymphangioleiomyomatosis. N. Engl. J. Med. 2011, 364, 1595–1606. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  25. Bissler, J.J.; Budde, K.; Sauter, M.; Franz, D.N.; Zonnenberg, B.A.; Frost, M.D.; Belousova, E.; Berkowitz, N.; Ridolfi, A.; Christopher Kingswood, J. Effect of everolimus on renal function in patients with tuberous sclerosis complex: Evidence from EXIST-1 and EXIST-2. Nephrol. Dial. Transplant. 2019, 34, 1000–1008. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  26. Bissler, J.J.; Kingswood, J.C.; Radzikowska, E.; Zonnenberg, B.A.; Belousova, E.; Frost, M.D.; Sauter, M.; Brakemeier, S.; de Vries, P.J.; Berkowitz, N.; et al. Everolimus long-term use in patients with tuberous sclerosis complex: Four-year update of the EXIST-2 study. PLoS ONE 2017, 12, e0180939. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  27. Bissler, J.J.; Kingswood, J.C.; Radzikowska, E.; Zonnenberg, B.A.; Frost, M.; Belousova, E.; Sauter, M.; Nonomura, N.; Brakemeier, S.; de Vries, P.J.; et al. Everolimus for angiomyolipoma associated with tuberous sclerosis complex or sporadic lymphangioleiomyomatosis (EXIST-2): A multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Lancet 2013, 381, 817–824. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  28. Giannella, L.; Delli Carpini, G.; Montik, N.; Verdecchia, V.; Puccio, F.; Di Giuseppe, J.; Tsiroglou, D.; Goteri, G.; Ciavattini, A. Ultrasound Features of a Uterine Perivascular Epithelioid Cell Tumor (PEComa): Case Report and Literature Review. Diagnostics 2020, 10, 553. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  29. Sobiborowicz, A.; Świtaj, T.; Teterycz, P.; Spałek, M.J.; Szumera-Ciećkiewicz, A.; Wągrodzki, M.; Zdzienicki, M.; Czarnecka, A.M.; Rutkowski, P. Feasibility and Long-Term Efficacy of PEComa Treatment—20 Years of Experience. J. Clin. Med. 2021, 10, 2200. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  30. Benson, C.; Vitfell-Rasmussen, J.; Maruzzo, M.; Fisher, C.; Tunariu, N.; Mitchell, S.; Al-Muderis, O.; Thway, K.; Larkin, J.; Judson, I. A retrospective study of patients with malignant PEComa receiving treatment with sirolimus or temsirolimus: The Royal Marsden Hospital experience. Anticancer Res. 2014, 34, 3663–3668. [Google Scholar] [PubMed]
  31. Northrup, H.; Krueger, D.A.; International Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Consensus, G. Tuberous sclerosis complex diagnostic criteria update: Recommendations of the 2012 Iinternational Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Consensus Conference. Pediatr Neurol 2013, 49, 243–254. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  32. Szumera-Cieækiewicz, A.; Kuczkiewicz-Siemion, O.; Seliga, K.; Grabowska-Kierył, M.; Tysarowski, A.; Wągrodzki, M.; Świtaj, T.; Prochorec-Sobieszek, M.; Rutkowski, P. Pigmented/melanocytic malignant perivascular epithelioid cell tumor with TFE3-SFPQ(PSF) rearrangement—A challenging diagnosis of PEComa family of tumors. Pol. J. Pat. hol. 2019, 70(4), 317–322. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  33. Ruka, W.; Rutkowski, P.; Krzakowski, M.; Grzesiakowska, U.; Ptaszyński, K.; Jeziorski, A.; Polkowski, W.; Ryś, J.; Słuszniak, J.; Dziewirski, W.; et al. Soft tissue sarcoma—diagnosis and treatment. Onkol. Prak. Klin 2009, 5, 198–210. [Google Scholar]
  34. Ruka, W.; Rutkowski, P.; Krzakowski, M.; Grzesiakowska, U.; Ptaszyński, K.; Jeziorski, A.; Polkowski, W.; Ryś, J.; Słuszniak, J.; Dziewirski, W.; et al. Mięsaki tkanek miękkich u dorosłych—zasady postępowania diagnostyczno-terapeutycznego. Nowotw. J. Oncol. 2010, 60, 55. [Google Scholar]
  35. Rutkowski, P.; Ługowska, I.; Fijuth, J.; Jeziorski, A.; Ryś, J.; Wągrodzki, M.; Świtaj, T.; Koseła-Paterczyk, H.; Fonrobert, P.; Nowecki, Z.I.; et al. Soft tissue sarcomas in adults—guidelines for diagnostic and therapeutic management. Oncol. Clin. Pract. 2017, 13, 181–201. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  36. MacDonald, A.; Scarola, J.; Burke, J.T.; Zimmerman, J.J. Clinical pharmacokinetics and therapeutic drug monitoring of sirolimus. Clin. Ther. 2000, 22 (Suppl. 2), B101–B121. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  37. Raimondi, A.; Colombo, F.; Pintarelli, G.; Morosi, C.; Renne, S.L.; Frezza, A.M.; Saponara, M.; Dei Tos, A.P.; Mazzocchi, A.; Provenzano, S.; et al. Prolonged activity and toxicity of sirolimus in a patient with metastatic renal perivascular epithelioid cell tumor: A case report and literature review. Anticancer Drugs 2018, 29, 589–595. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  38. Eisenhauer, E.A.; Therasse, P.; Bogaerts, J.; Schwartz, L.H.; Sargent, D.; Ford, R.; Dancey, J.; Arbuck, S.; Gwyther, S.; Mooney, M.; et al. New response evaluation criteria in solid tumours: Revised RECIST guideline (version 1.1). Eur. J. Cancer 2009, 45, 228–247. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  39. Team, R.C. R: A Language and Environment for Statistical Computing; R Foundation for Statistical Computing: Vienna, Austria, 2018. [Google Scholar]
  40. Wickham, H. Easily Install and Load “Tidyverse” Packages; RStudio: Vienna, Austria, 2018. [Google Scholar]
  41. Kassambara, A.; Kosinski, M.; Biecek, P.; Fabian, S. Drawing Survival Curves Using “ggplot2.”; Survminer: Indianapolis, IN, USA, 2018. [Google Scholar]
  42. Sobiborowicz, A.; Czarnecka, A.M.; Szumera-Ciećkiewicz, A.; Rutkowski, P.; Świtaj, T. Diagnosis and treatment of lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) from the PEComa group. Oncol. Clin. Pract. 2021, 17, 28–41. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  43. Wagner, A.J.; Malinowska-Kolodziej, I.; Morgan, J.A.; Qin, W.; Fletcher, C.D.; Vena, N.; Ligon, A.H.; Antonescu, C.R.; Ramaiya, N.H.; Demetri, G.D.; et al. Clinical activity of mTOR inhibition with sirolimus in malignant perivascular epithelioid cell tumors: Targeting the pathogenic activation of mTORC1 in tumors. J. Clin. Oncol. 2010, 28, 835–840. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  44. Iwenofu, O.H.; Lackman, R.D.; Staddon, A.P.; Goodwin, D.G.; Haupt, H.M.; Brooks, J.S. Phospho-S6 ribosomal protein: A potential new predictive sarcoma marker for targeted mTOR therapy. Mod. Pathol. 2008, 21, 231–237. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  45. Peng, Z.F.; Yang, L.; Wang, T.T.; Han, P.; Liu, Z.H.; Wei, Q. Efficacy and safety of sirolimus for renal angiomyolipoma in patients with tuberous sclerosis complex or sporadic lymphangioleiomyomatosis: A systematic review. J. Urol. 2014, 192, 1424–1430. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  46. Wagner, A.J.; Ravi, V.; Riedel, R.F.; Ganjoo, K.N.; Tine, B.A.V.; Chugh, R.; Cranmer, L.D.; Gordon, E.M.; Hornick, J.L.; Kwiatkowski, D.J.; et al. Long-term follow-up for duration of response (DoR) after weekly nab-sirolimus in patients with advanced malignant perivascular epithelioid cell tumors (PEComa): Results from a registrational open-label phase II trial, AMPECT. J. Clin. Oncol. 2020, 38, 11516. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  47. Wagner, A.J.; Ravi, V.; Ganjoo, K.N.; Tine, B.A.V.; Riedel, R.F.; Chugh, R.; Cranmer, L.D.; Gordon, E.M.; Hornick, J.L.; Kwiatkowski, D.J.; et al. ABI-009 (nab-sirolimus) in advanced malignant perivascular epithelioid cell tumors (PEComa): Preliminary efficacy, safety, and mutational status from AMPECT, an open label phase II registration trial. J. Clin. Oncol. 2019, 37, 11005. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  48. Hou, S.; Schmid, A.; Desai, N. Abstract 348: ABI-009 (nab-Sirolimus) improves tumor accumulation and antitumor activity over oral mTOR inhibitors. Exp. Mol. Ther. 2019, 79, 348. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  49. Jimeno, A.; Rudek, M.A.; Kulesza, P.; Ma, W.W.; Wheelhouse, J.; Howard, A.; Khan, Y.; Zhao, M.; Jacene, H.; Messersmith, W.A.; et al. Pharmacodynamic-guided modified continuous reassessment method-based, dose-finding study of rapamycin in adult patients with solid tumors. J. Clin. Oncol. 2008, 26, 4172–4179. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  50. Lurkin, A.; Ducimetiere, F.; Vince, D.R.; Decouvelaere, A.V.; Cellier, D.; Gilly, F.N.; Salameire, D.; Biron, P.; de Laroche, G.; Blay, J.Y.; et al. Epidemiological evaluation of concordance between initial diagnosis and central pathology review in a comprehensive and prospective series of sarcoma patients in the Rhone-Alpes region. BMC Cancer 2010, 10, 150. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  51. Somcutian, O.; Buiga, R.; Galatir, M.; Tudor Eniu, D.; Rachieru, C.; Coza, D.; Terrier, P. Histopathological diagnostic concordance in bone and soft tissue sarcomas between two comprehensive cancer centers from eastern and western Europe: A collaborative experience. Ann. Pathol. 2015, 35, 32–40. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  52. Folpe, A.L.; Mentzel, T.; Lehr, H.A.; Fisher, C.; Balzer, B.L.; Weiss, S.W. Perivascular epithelioid cell neoplasms of soft tissue and gynecologic origin: A clinicopathologic study of 26 cases and review of the literature. Am. J. Surg. Pathol. 2005, 29, 1558–1575. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  53. Schoolmeester, J.K.; Howitt, B.E.; Hirsch, M.S.; Dal Cin, P.; Quade, B.J.; Nucci, M.R. Perivascular epithelioid cell neoplasm (PEComa) of the gynecologic tract: Clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical characterization of 16 cases. Am. J. Surg. Pathol. 2014, 38, 176–188. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  54. Bao, L.; Shi, Y.; Zhong, J.; Zhao, M.; Wu, J.; Hai, L.; Xu, X.; Du, H.; Shi, Y. Histopathologic characteristics and immunotypes of perivascular epithelioid cell tumors (PEComa). Int. J. Clin. Exp. Pathol. 2019, 12, 4380–4389. [Google Scholar]
  55. Kwon, B.S.; Suh, D.S.; Lee, N.K.; Song, Y.J.; Choi, K.U.; Kim, K.H. Two cases of perivascular epithelioid cell tumor of the uterus: Clinical, radiological and pathological diagnostic challenge. Eur. J. Med. Res. 2017, 22, 7. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  56. Tirumani, S.H.; Shinagare, A.B.; Hargreaves, J.; Jagannathan, J.P.; Hornick, J.L.; Wagner, A.J.; Ramaiya, N.H. Imaging features of primary and metastatic malignant perivascular epithelioid cell tumors. AJR Am. J. Roentgenol. 2014, 202, 252–258. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  57. Stacchiotti, S.; Verderio, P.; Messina, A.; Morosi, C.; Collini, P.; Llombart-Bosch, A.; Martin, J.; Comandone, A.; Cruz, J.; Ferraro, A.; et al. Tumor response assessment by modified Choi criteria in localized high-risk soft tissue sarcoma treated with chemotherapy. Cancer 2012, 118, 5857–5866. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  58. Bergamo, F.; Maruzzo, M.; Basso, U.; Montesco, M.C.; Zagonel, V.; Gringeri, E.; Cillo, U. Neoadjuvant sirolimus for a large hepatic perivascular epithelioid cell tumor (PEComa). World J. Surg. Oncol. 2014, 12, 46. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
Figure 1. Patient with metastatic retroperitoneal PEComa of the kidney (A) and PEComa NOS (B) with large pelvic and intraperitoneal tumors.
Figure 1. Patient with metastatic retroperitoneal PEComa of the kidney (A) and PEComa NOS (B) with large pelvic and intraperitoneal tumors.
Jcm 10 03705 g001
Figure 2. Patient with massive peritoneal effusion due to retroperitoneal LAM (A,B) and response to treatment with sirolimus (C,D).
Figure 2. Patient with massive peritoneal effusion due to retroperitoneal LAM (A,B) and response to treatment with sirolimus (C,D).
Jcm 10 03705 g002aJcm 10 03705 g002b
Figure 3. Patient with peritoneal effusion due to retroperitoneal LAM (A) and fluid resorption on sirolimus treatment (B).
Figure 3. Patient with peritoneal effusion due to retroperitoneal LAM (A) and fluid resorption on sirolimus treatment (B).
Jcm 10 03705 g003
Figure 4. Progression-free survival in PEComa patients receiving sirolimus (red line) or chemotherapy (blue line).
Figure 4. Progression-free survival in PEComa patients receiving sirolimus (red line) or chemotherapy (blue line).
Jcm 10 03705 g004
Table 1. Summary or patients characteristics.
Table 1. Summary or patients characteristics.
Patient NoPrimary SitePEComa SubtypePrevious SurgeryLine of TreatmentPrevious ChemotherapyDuration of Sirolimus ResponseBest Response (RECIST)Sirolimus Dose
1RetroperitonealAMLYes1NA55.7PR4 mg qd
2RetroperitonealNOSNo2ADIC32PR3 mg qd
3AbdomenNOSYes1NA9.5SD6 mg qd
4GenitalNOSYes1NA62.1CR4 mg qd
5GenitalNOSNo2ADIC16PR5 mg qd
6GenitalNOSYes2DDP + DOX 9.2SD4 mg qd
7RetroperitonealNOSNo1NA42PR4 mg qd
8VisceralAMLYes1NA42.6CR4 mg qd
9TrunkLAMNo1NA25.3SD4 mg qd
10RetroperitonealLAMNo1NA28.1PR4 mg qd
11AbdomenNOSYes4EP, ADIC, Gemcitabine 21.9SD6 mg qd
12TrunkLAMYes1NA62.5CR4 mg qd
13TrunkNOSYes1NA15.8PR3 mg qd
14TrunkLAMNo1NA8.7PR3 mg qd
15RetroperitonealNOSNo1NA4.7PR2 mg qd
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Świtaj, T.; Sobiborowicz, A.; Teterycz, P.; Klimczak, A.; Makuła, D.; Wągrodzki, M.; Szumera-Ciećkiewicz, A.; Rutkowski, P.; Czarnecka, A.M. Efficacy of Sirolimus Treatment in PEComa–10 Years of Practice Perspective. J. Clin. Med. 2021, 10, 3705. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm10163705

AMA Style

Świtaj T, Sobiborowicz A, Teterycz P, Klimczak A, Makuła D, Wągrodzki M, Szumera-Ciećkiewicz A, Rutkowski P, Czarnecka AM. Efficacy of Sirolimus Treatment in PEComa–10 Years of Practice Perspective. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2021; 10(16):3705. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm10163705

Chicago/Turabian Style

Świtaj, Tomasz, Aleksandra Sobiborowicz, Paweł Teterycz, Anna Klimczak, Donata Makuła, Michał Wągrodzki, Anna Szumera-Ciećkiewicz, Piotr Rutkowski, and Anna M. Czarnecka. 2021. "Efficacy of Sirolimus Treatment in PEComa–10 Years of Practice Perspective" Journal of Clinical Medicine 10, no. 16: 3705. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm10163705

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop