Malignant transformations in a patient with a mediastinal germ cell tumour: lack of efficacy of bone marrow transplantation after chemotherapy on tumour recurrence.
The report describes the case of a young male with a malignant teratoma which was followed by an acute megakaryoblastic leukaemia sharing similar chromosomal abnormalities. In leukemic cells, the authors have obtained cytogenetic evidence by fluorescent in situ hybridisation technique suggesting that this leukaemia arose directly from the germ cell tumour (GCT). The patient received allogenic bone marrow transplantation, which unfortunately, did not prevent the patient to relapse with an undifferentiated sarcoma containing rhabdomyosarcoma components, as well as reappearance of a residual teratoma with metastasis. The treatment strategy for malignant transformation of a GCT seems to be unpredictable and should be dictated by the malignant tissue counterpart. Except for acute leukaemia, unresectable or metastatic settings will generally require multi-modal therapy including chemotherapy, in addition to loco regional approaches. Additionally, long or even a life time follow-up is necessary in patients with poor prognostic characteristics.
Pediatric Hemato-Oncology Department, CHU Charles Nicolle, Rouen, France. yusra.sabri@univ-rouen.fr
Yusra
Y
Kassim
Dominique
D
Penther
Pascale
P
Schneider
Marie-Paul
MP
Callat
Christian
C
Bastard
Jean-Pierre
JP
Vannier
D000293:Adolescent; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D007951:Leukemia, Myeloid / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016609:Neoplasms, Second Primary / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D013724:Teratoma / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*