Over-expression of c-kit in a primary leiomyosarcoma of the thyroid gland
Journal
European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology
Journal Volume
264
Journal Issue
6
Pages
705-708
Date Issued
2007
Author(s)
Abstract
Primary leiomyosarcoma of the thyroid gland is rare. In this paper, we report a case of high-grade leiomyosarcoma of the thyroid gland in a 43-year-old man. Lung metastasis was also noted in this patient. Despite of aggressive surgical treatment, the patient died of uncontrolled local recurrent disease 6 months after the initial operation. Immunohistochemical studies showed the tumor cells were positive for c-kit proto-oncogene product. Imatinib mesylate was used as a post-operative adjuvant treatment but the response was poor. The role of tyrosine kinase inhibitors on the treatment of thyroid leiomyosarcomas is still unclear because this is the first report of c-kit over-expression in such tumors. Nevertheless, our results show that c-kit over-expression might not be an indicator of good response to imatinib mesylate treatment in thyroid leiomyosarcomas. ? 2007 Springer-Verlag.
Other Subjects
imatinib; protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor; stem cell factor receptor; adult; article; aspiration biopsy; cancer adjuvant therapy; cancer mortality; cancer recurrence; cancer surgery; case report; disease severity; gene overexpression; human; human cell; human tissue; immunohistochemistry; leiomyosarcoma; lung metastasis; male; neck muscle; nuclear magnetic resonance imaging; physical examination; priority journal; protein expression; thorax radiography; thyroid cancer; treatment failure; Adult; Contrast Media; Diagnosis, Differential; Fatal Outcome; Gadolinium DTPA; Humans; Leiomyosarcoma; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Neck Dissection; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit; Thyroid Neoplasms; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Type
journal article