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Desmoplastic Tumor Cure - Desmoplastic Tumor Medicine Drug
TREATMENT CENTERS - SURVIVAL RATE - DRUGS AND MEDICINE - INFORMATION
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Desmoplastic small round cell tumor is classified as a soft tissue
sarcoma. It is an aggressive and rare tumor that primarily occurs as
multiple masses in the abdomen. Other areas affected may include the
lymph nodes, the lining of the abdomen, diaphragm, spleen, liver,
chest wall, skull, spinal cord, large intestine, small intestine,
bladder, brain, lungs, testicles, ovaries, and the pelvis. Reported
sites of metatastic spread include the liver, lungs, lymph nodes,
brain, skull, and bones.
The tumor is considered a childhood cancer that predominantly strikes
boys and young adults.
The disease rarely occurs in females, but when it does the tumors can
be mistaken for ovarian cancer.[1]
Contents [hide]
1 Causes
2 Symptoms
3 Differentials
4 Pathology
5 Treatment
6 Prognosis
7 Research
8 Alternative names
9 References
10 External links
[edit] Causes
There are no known risk factors that have been identified specific to
the disease. The tumor appears to arise from the primitive cells of
childhood, and is considered a childhood cancer.
Research has indicated that there is a chimeric relationship between
desmoplastic small round cell tumor and Wilm's tumor and Ewing's sarcoma.
DSRCT is associated with a unique chromosomal translocation
(t11;22)(p13:q12) resulting in a EWS/WTI transcript that is
diagnostic of this tumor.[2] This transcript codes for a protein that
acts as a transcriptional activator that fails to suppress tumor growth.
[edit] Symptoms
There are few early warning signs that a patient has a desmoplastic
small round cell tumor. Patients are often young and healthy as the
tumors grow and spread uninhibited within the abdominal cavity. These
are rare tumors and symptoms are often misdiagnosed by family
physicians. The abdominal masses can grow to enormous size before
being noticed by the patient. The tumors can be felt as hard, round
masses by palpating the abdomen.
First symptoms of the disease often include abdominal distention,
abdominal mass, abdominal or back pain, gastrointestinal obstruction,
lack of appetite, ascites, anemia, and/or cachexia.
Other reported symptoms include unknown lumps, thyroid conditions,
hormonal conditions, blood clotting, kidney or urological problems,
testicle, breast, uterine, vaginal, or ovarian masses.
[edit] Differentials
Because this is a rare tumor not many family physicians or
oncologists are familiar with this disease. DSRCT in young patients
can be mistaken for other abdominal tumors including
rhabdomyosarcoma, neuroblastoma, and mesenteric carcinoid. In older
patients DSRCT can resemble lymphoma, peritoneal mesothelioma, and
peritoneal carcinomatosis. In males DSRCT may be mistaken for germ
cell or testicular cancer. In females DSRCT can be mistaken for
Ovarian cancer. Desmoplastic small round cell tumor shares
characteristics with other small round cell cancers including Ewing's
sarcoma, acute leukemia, small cell mesothelioma, neuroblastoma,
primitive neuroectodermal tumor, rhabdomyosarcoma, and Wilm's tumor.
[edit] Pathology
Pathology reveals well circumscribed solid tumor nodules within a
dense desmoplastic stroma. Often areas of central necrosis are
present. Tumor cells have hyperchromatic nuclei with increased
nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio.
On immunohistochemistry, these cells have trilinear coexpression
including the epithelial marker cytokeratin, the mesenchymal markers
desmin and vimentin, and the neuronal marker neuron-specific enolase.
Thus, although initially thought to be of mesothelial origin due to
sites of presentation, it is now hypothesized to arise from a
progenitor cell with multiphenotypic differentiation.
[edit] Treatment
Desmoplastic small round cell tumor is frequently misdiagnosed. Adult
patients should always be referred to a sarcoma specialist. This is
an aggressive, rare, fast spreading tumor and both pediatric and
adult patients should be treated at a sarcoma center.
There is no standard protocol for the disease.[3] However, recent
journals and studies have reported that some patients respond to high
dose (P6 Protocol) chemotherapy, maintenance chemotherapy, debulking
operation, cytoreductive surgery, and radiation therapy. Other
treatment options include: hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, intensity-modulated
radiation Therapy, radiofrequency ablation, stereotactic body
radiation therapy, intraperitoneal hyperthermic chemoperfusion, and
clinical trials.
[edit] Prognosis
The prognosis for desmoplastic small round cell tumor remains poor
with less than 20% surviving beyond two to three years. Prognosis
often depends upon the stage of the cancer and the grade of the
tumor. Because the disease can be misdiagnosed or remain undetected
tumors frequently grow large within the abdomen and metastasized or
seed to other parts of the body.
There is no known organ or area of origin. Desmoplastic small round
cell tumor can metastasize through lymph nodes or the blood stream.
Sites of metastatis include the spleen, diaphragm, liver, large and
small intestine, lungs, central nervous system, bones, uterus,
bladder, genitals, abdominal cavity, and the brain.
A multi-modality approach of high dose chemotherapy, 90-100% surgical
resection, radiation, and stem cell rescue improves survival for some
patients. Reports have indicated that patients will initially respond
to first line chemotherapy and treatment but that relapse is common.
Some patients in remission or with inoperable tumor seem to benefit
from long term low dose chemotherapy, turning desmoplastic small
round cell tumor into a chronic disease.
[edit] Research
The Stehlin Foundation currently offers DSRCT patients the
opportunity to send samples of their tumors free of charge for
testing. Research scientists are growing the samples on nude mice and
testing various chemical agents to find which are most effective
against the individual's tumor.
Patients with advanced desmoplastic small round cell tumor may
qualify to participate in clinical trials that are researching new
drugs to treat the disease. Because of the similarities with Ewing's
sarcoma patients with desmoplastic small round cell tumor are often
eligible for the same clinical trials.
[edit] Alternative names
This disease is also known as: desmoplastic small round blue cell
tumor; intraabdominal desmoplastic small round blue cell tumor;
desmoplastic small cell tumor; desmoplastic cancer; desmoplastic
sarcoma; DSRCT.
There is no connection to mesothelioma which is another disease
sometimes described as desmoplastic.
[edit] References
^ Bland AE, Shah AA, Piscitelli JT, Bentley RC, Secord AA (2007).
"Desmoplastic small round cell tumor masquerading as advanced
ovarian cancer". Int J Gynecol Cancer.
doi:10.1111/j.1525-1438.2007.01110.x. PMID 18081791.
^ Lee YS, Hsiao CH (2007). "Desmoplastic small round cell tumor:
a clinicopathologic, immunohistochemical and molecular study of four
patients". J. Formos. Med. Assoc. 106 (10): 85460. PMID 17964965.
^ Talarico F, Iusco D, Negri L, Belinelli D (2007). "Combined
resection and multi-agent adjuvant chemotherapy for intra-abdominal
desmoplastic small round cell tumour: case report and review of the
literature". G Chir 28 (10): 36770. PMID 17915050.
Disease Summary at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Pickhardt PJ, Fisher AJ, Balfe DM, Dehner LP, Huettner PC (1999).
"Desmoplastic small round cell tumor of the abdomen:
radiologic-histopathologic correlation". Radiology 210 (3):
633-8. PMID 10207460.
Treatment of Desmoplastic Tumors at Mayo Clinic
Results of multimodal treatment for desmoplastic small round cell tumors
Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor
CytoJournal:Desmoplastic small round cell tumour: Cytological and
immunocytochemical features
Gerald WL, Miller HK, Battifora H, Miettinen M, Silva EG, Rosai J
(1991). "Intra-abdominal desmoplastic small round-cell tumor.
Report of 19 cases of a distinctive type of high-grade polyphenotypic
malignancy affecting young individuals". Am. J. Surg. Pathol. 15
(6): 499-513. PMID 1709557.
Slomovitz BM, Girotra M, Aledo A, et al (2000). "Desmoplastic
small round cell tumor with primary ovarian involvement: case report
and review". Gynecol. Oncol. 79 (1): 124-8.
doi:10.1006/gyno.2000.5829. PMID 11006044.
[edit] External links
Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor
Desmoplastic Small Round Blue Cell Tumor
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