Zhou Feng, Qin Lei, Huang Suming, Lin Wanrun, Zhang Huijuan, Parkash Vinita, Zheng Wenxin
Departments of Pathology, The International Peace Maternal and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University.
Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai, China.
Am J Surg Pathol. 2025 Apr 9;49(8):818-829. doi: 10.1097/PAS.0000000000002402.
Pilomatrix-like high-grade endometrial carcinoma (PiMHEC) is a rare and aggressive variant of endometrial carcinoma often misdiagnosed due to overlapping features with other high-grade malignancies. This study characterizes its clinicopathologic, immunophenotypic, and molecular features to establish key diagnostic criteria and propose a standardized terminology. Ten tumors were analyzed using histopathologic examination, immunohistochemistry, and next-generation sequencing. All but 1 tumor exhibited both low-grade endometrioid and high-grade basaloid components, the latter characterized by either geographic or comedo-type necrosis and shadow cells. Although shadow cells are a hallmark feature, they may be focal or absent, necessitating careful evaluation. High-grade areas consistently showed ER and PR negativity with diffuse nuclear β-catenin staining, correlating with CTNNB1 exon 3 mutations in all tumors. Identical CTNNB1 mutations in spatially distinct tumor components suggest a clonal progression from a low-grade precursor. Additional mutations in ARID1A, PTEN, and PIK3CA were identified. Clinically, PiMHEC exhibited aggressive behavior, with 7 patients experiencing recurrence and 1 succumbing to the disease within 9 months. Metastatic sites included the lungs, liver, lymph nodes, and abdominal wall. PD-L1 expression in 4 tumors suggests potential responsiveness to immune checkpoint inhibitors, whereas low-level HER2 expression (1+ to 2+) in 5 tumors raises the possibility of HER2-targeted therapies. Folate receptor alpha was not expressed in any tumor. In conclusion, PiMHEC is a distinct and highly aggressive endometrial carcinoma with unique histopathologic and molecular features that differentiate it from high-grade endometrioid and other high-grade endometrial cancers including squamous cell carcinoma in rare situations. Its key diagnostic features include high-grade basaloid tumor cells associated with shadow cells, tumor necrosis, and diffuse nuclear β-catenin staining. To improve diagnostic accuracy and reduce ambiguity, we propose adopting "pilomatrix-like high-grade endometrial carcinoma" as a standardized term.
毛母质瘤样高级别子宫内膜癌(PiMHEC)是一种罕见且侵袭性强的子宫内膜癌变体,常因与其他高级别恶性肿瘤特征重叠而被误诊。本研究对其临床病理、免疫表型和分子特征进行了描述,以确立关键诊断标准并提出标准化术语。使用组织病理学检查、免疫组织化学和二代测序对10例肿瘤进行了分析。除1例肿瘤外,其余所有肿瘤均同时具有低级别子宫内膜样和高级别基底样成分,后者的特征为地图状或粉刺样坏死以及影细胞。尽管影细胞是标志性特征,但它们可能是局灶性的或不存在,因此需要仔细评估。高级别区域始终显示雌激素受体(ER)和孕激素受体(PR)阴性,伴有弥漫性核β-连环蛋白染色,这与所有肿瘤中的CTNNB1外显子3突变相关。空间上不同肿瘤成分中相同的CTNNB1突变提示从低级别前驱病变的克隆性进展。还鉴定出了ARID1A、PTEN和PIK3CA的其他突变。临床上,PiMHEC表现出侵袭性行为,7例患者复发,1例在9个月内死于该疾病。转移部位包括肺、肝、淋巴结和腹壁。4例肿瘤中程序性死亡受体配体1(PD-L1)表达提示对免疫检查点抑制剂可能有反应,而5例肿瘤中低水平人表皮生长因子受体2(HER2)表达(1+至2+)增加了HER2靶向治疗的可能性。所有肿瘤均未表达叶酸受体α。总之,PiMHEC是一种独特且高度侵袭性的子宫内膜癌,具有独特的组织病理学和分子特征,使其与高级别子宫内膜样癌以及其他高级别子宫内膜癌(包括罕见情况下的鳞状细胞癌)区分开来。其关键诊断特征包括与影细胞、肿瘤坏死和弥漫性核β-连环蛋白染色相关的高级别基底样肿瘤细胞。为提高诊断准确性并减少歧义,我们建议采用“毛母质瘤样高级别子宫内膜癌”作为标准化术语。