Uterine angiosarcoma associated with lymphangioleiomyomatosis in a patient with tuberous sclerosis complex: an autopsy case report with immunohistochemical and genetic analysis

Hum Pathol. 2012 Oct;43(10):1777-84. doi: 10.1016/j.humpath.2012.03.020. Epub 2012 Jun 27.

Abstract

A 41-year-old woman carrying a germline tuberous sclerosis complex 2 (TSC2) mutation, whose regular medical follow-up for tuberous sclerosis complex and tuberous sclerosis complex-associated lymphangioleiomyomatosis had continued for 2 years, had uterine angiosarcoma concomitant with uterine lymphangioleiomyomatosis. Immunohistochemically, the uterine angiosarcoma cells showed an extremely skewed lymphatic differentiation; they were diffusely immunopositive for CD31 but negative for other vascular endothelial markers including factor VIII and CD34 yet strongly immunopositive for lymphatic endothelial markers including D2-40 and Prox-1. Loss of heterozygosity analysis demonstrated that not only lymphangioleiomyomatosis and renal angiomyolipoma but also the uterine angiosarcoma had loss of heterozygosity on TSC2. Furthermore, direct sequencing revealed a TP53 mutation in the uterine angiosarcoma. Collectively, the findings suggest that combined dysfunction of the p53 and TSC2 tumor suppressor proteins may contribute to the development of uterine angiosarcoma in this rare clinical setting.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Autopsy
  • Female
  • Hemangiosarcoma / complications
  • Hemangiosarcoma / genetics*
  • Hemangiosarcoma / pathology
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Loss of Heterozygosity
  • Lymphangioleiomyomatosis / complications
  • Lymphangioleiomyomatosis / genetics*
  • Lymphangioleiomyomatosis / pathology
  • Tuberous Sclerosis / complications*
  • Tuberous Sclerosis Complex 2 Protein
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / genetics
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / genetics
  • Uterine Neoplasms / complications
  • Uterine Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Uterine Neoplasms / pathology

Substances

  • TSC2 protein, human
  • Tuberous Sclerosis Complex 2 Protein
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins