title: Contemporary management and classification of hepatic leiomyosarcoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatic leiomyosarcomas are rare soft-tissue tumours. The majority of lesions previously considered as leiomyosarcomas have been identified as gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs). Consequently, understanding of the role of liver resection for true leiomyosarcoma is limited, a fact that is exacerbated by the increasing recognition of leiomyosarcoma subtypes. This study presents data on the outcomes of liver resection for leiomyosarcoma and suggests an algorithm for its pathological assessment and treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were identified from a prospectively collected departmental database. All tumours were negative for c-kit expression. Immunohistochemistry was performed to identify the presence of oestrogen or progesterone receptor (OR/PR) expression or Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and patients were stratified according to this profile.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight patients (of whom seven were female) underwent a total of 11 liver resections over a 12-year period. One patient had a primary hepatic leiomyosarcoma. Of those with metastatic leiomyosarcomas, the primary tumours were located in the mesentery, gynaecological organs and retroperitoneum in four, two and one patient, respectively. Both leiomyosarcomas of gynaecological origin stained positive for OR/PR expression. One patient had previously undergone renal transplantation; this leiomyosarcoma was associated with EBV expression. Median survival was 56 months (range: 22-132 months) and eight, six and four patients remained alive at 1, 3 and 5 years, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hepatic resection for leiomyosarcoma is associated with encouraging rates of 5-year overall and disease-free survival. The worse outcome that had been expected based on data derived from historical cohorts (partly comprising subjects with GIST) was not observed. An algorithm for pathological classification and treatment is suggested.
authors.affiliation: Liver Unit, St James's University Hospital, Leeds, UK.
authors.forename: Mazin O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Hamed
authors.forename: Keith J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Merchant
authors.forename: J Peter A
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Lodge
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D001706:Biopsy; D019091:Critical Pathways; D016208:Databases, Factual; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006498:Hepatectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007890:Leiomyosarcoma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery* / Q000821:virology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery* / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor