title: Langerhans cell sarcoma with lineage infidelity/plasticity: a diagnostic challenge and insight into the pathobiology of the disease.
abstract: Langerhans cell sarcoma is a very rare and aggressive tumor of Langerhans cell lineage, for which aberrant expression of T-cell-related antigens has not yet been reported in a primary skin tumor. The authors describe the first known case of a primary cutaneous Langerhans cell sarcoma with lineage infidelity and use comparative genomic hybridization to investigate the genetic composition of the tumor and detect DNA copy number alterations throughout its entire genome. The case involves a 62-year-old woman who presented with an irregular nodule on the forehead surrounded by smaller lesions in its vicinity. The clinical impression was melanoma with satellitosis. The biopsy specimen showed an epidermotropic tumor with moderate-to-marked cellular pleomorphism and significantly increased mitotic rate but no necrosis. The immunoprofile of the lesion was remarkable, as next to common Langerhans cell markers: Langerin, CD1a, S100, and CD4; it also exhibited an aberrant T-cell phenotype with the expression of CD2, CD3, and CD43. In addition, fascin and CD30 were also expressed, further exaggerating potential diagnostic pitfalls. Langerhans cell lineage was confirmed by the demonstration of characteristic Birbeck granules on electron microscopy. Whole genome analysis for copy number changes and loss of heterozygosity showed a complex karyotype with variable hyperdiploidy and numerous allelic imbalances. Significant findings included a homozygous deletion at 9p21 involving the CDKN2A and loss of heterozygosity at 17p involving TP53 gene, coupled with a TP53 missense mutation. Despite reexcision and multiagent systemic chemotherapy, the patient died of metastasis 2 years after diagnosis. This case is an outstanding example of lineage infidelity in a hematologic malignancy and the utilization of comparative genomic hybridization in characterizing its genetic abnormalities.
authors.affiliation: *DermDx Miami, Aurora, Miami, FL; †Larkin Community Hospital, Miami, FL; ‡University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX; §Cockerell & Associates, Dallas, TX; and ¶Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI.
authors.forename: Laszlo J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Karai
authors.forename: Eugene
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sanik
authors.forename: Carlos A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Ricotti
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Susa
authors.forename: Prasanna
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sinkre
authors.forename: Andea A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Aleodor
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D019070:Cell Lineage; D055028:Comparative Genomic Hybridization; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D018628:Gene Dosage; D019942:Genes, p16; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D054752:Langerhans Cell Sarcoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53