Journal of Oncology Research and Treatment
Open Access

Prostatic Leiomyosarcoma is a rare primary tumor in adults representing 38% to 52% of primary prostate sarcomas that accounts for less than 0,1% of prostate malignancies. Its diagnosis is generally made at an advanced stage due to clinical and radiological none specificity, the prognosis remains poor. Chest abdominal-pelvic CT scan with MRI and bone scan are necessarily to assess clinical staging. The aim of this work is to present a rare case of Prostatic Leiomyosarcoma treated with chemotherapy and DE compressive analgesic radiotherapy with a literature review regarding the clinical features, diagnostic modalities and therapeutic aspects of this rare entity.

A 40-year-old male patient without medical or surgical history of interest. He has presented since March 2017 rectal pain tension and burning with urination. Macro hematuria wasn’t detected; he hadn’t a family history of genitourinary cancer. On examination; the bladder was palpable and on digital rectal examination the prostate was asymmetrically enlarged with nodular variegated consistency. Urinary analysis and blood biochemistry reports were normal including prostate specific antigen (PSA=0.46 ng). On Trans-Rectal Ultra Sonogram (TRUS), prostate volume was 430 ccs with an ill-defined, heterogeneous, with an aspect of varicocele on the left and testicular atrophy on the right. The prostate biopsy and Immunohistochemical analysis (Figures 4 and 5) both revealed that the tumor was “Leiomyosarcoma of the Prostate”. On further evaluation with Chest abdominal-pelvic CT scan (Figures 1-3) it was seen that this large heterogeneous mass of the prostate presented irregular contours with area of infiltration of the bladder base and anterior rectal wall. Multiple presacral lymph nodes and pathological lesions have been observed in the liver and lungs. Bone scan was normal. After the multidisciplinary meeting the patient received palliative radiotherapy with a total dose of 30 Gy on 10 fractions five days per a week, on oncology hospitalization he had undergone 5 cycles of combination chemotherapy (Ifosfamide 1500 mg/m2 and doxorubicin at 50 mg/m2 for three days at three-weekly intervals) but he died 2 months after the last cycle.

Figure 1: Chest abdominal-pelvic CT scan before treatment (axial plan).

Figure 2: Chest abdominal-pelvic CT scan before treatment (sagittal plan).

Figure 3: Chestabdominal-pelvic CT scan after treatment (axial plan).

Figure 4: Strong expression of desmine in immunohistochemical analysis.

Figure 5: Partially necrotic fusocellular tumor proliferation.

What is already known on this topic?

Leiomyosarcoma of the prostate is an uncommon and highly aggressive tumor that accounts for less than 0.1% of primary prostate malignancies with median survival estimated in 17 months.

What this study adds

The goal of this study was to support the multidisciplinary approach (urology, radiation therapy and chemotherapy) for appropriate management of this devastating malignancy (Figures 1-5).

Leiomyosarcoma of the Prostate is a rare primary malignant tumor [1] histological type can be divided into prostate Leiomyosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, fibro sarcoma and spindle cell sarcoma 2 with an average age of 58 years. The most frequent reason for consultation is a urinary obstructive syndrome including: Hematuria, burning with urination, perineal pain and weight loss as observed in our case [1,2]. Usually, most of the patients with a prostate sarcoma were diagnosed at an advanced stage in fact our patient has demonstrable metastases to the lung and to the liver as well these results in the lack of early specific clinical symptoms which impacts overall survival rate [2,3]. The dosage of prostatic markers (PSA, PAD) is typically normal because of histological type (not epidermoid) [4,5]. The pathological diagnosis, supplemented by an immunohistochemical study is essential for the classification of these tumors [1].

Recommendations regarding the management of prostate sarcomas weren’t sufficient and contradictory. Sen and associate [6] evaluated the results of 13 patients treated at the Mayo Clinic between 1970 and 1985, 10 patients were treated for the cure: 3 with Leiomyosarcoma, 2 with rhabdomyosarcoma and 5 with carcinosarcoma.

No distinction was made regarding the histological subtypes. All 3 patients who were treated with partial cystectomy had recurrence. Neither report systematically included chemotherapy in the management. In an attempt to improve survival for patients with Leiomyosarcoma of the bladder or prostate, adjunctive chemotherapy and radiotherapy were combined with surgical excision. However, the use of adjuvant chemotherapy increased cystic necrosis without actual tumor response. Post-operative radiotherapy was reserved for residual disease.

In our experience Leiomyosarcoma tends to be locally advanced before metastasizing. The mean follow up was approximately 1 year than the patient died. No clear-cut conclusions can be drawn with a tumor this rare. Palliative radiotherapy was indicated to reduce pain symptoms not for curative intention because the tumor was very extensive locally. It is interesting that the clinical response was apparent after chemotherapy making us believing that probably the combination of chemotherapy and an operation offer the best results for these aggressive tumors.

The CT scan and MRI make it possible to assess the local and general extension of the tumor. The radiological appearance of Leiomyosarcoma is not specific. It is generally a large heterogeneous tumor which can raise the bladder floor or invade it.

Endorectal ultrasound is superior in the assessment of local extension. The treatment of this tumor has not yet been codified, it includes surgery, pre or postoperative radiotherapy and neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy with anthracyclines, alkylating agents and alkaloids as appropriate. It depends on age, general condition, tumor volume, grade of malignancy and extension workup [7]. The prognosis of prostatic Leiomyosarcoma is often unfavorable. Survival is very variable depending on the series. It is on average less than 10% in 5 years.

Adult prostatic Leiomyosarcoma is a rare tumor, often metastatic at diagnosis, with normal PSA levels. CT and especially MRI play an important role in the assessment of extension and post- treatment follow-up, but only the Prostate biopsy supplemented by immunohistochemical analysis can confirm the diagnosis. Their therapeutic management is not currently codified, and their prognosis remains very poor and can only be improved with a multi-disciplinary approach and early diagnosis, making it possible to perform complete radical surgery, the only effective therapy.

The authors declare they have no competing interest.

All the authors contributed in this study.