Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS), also known as pleomorphic myofibrosarcoma, is a rare and incompletely differentiated neoplasm that mostly affects people between the ages of 50 and 70. . These tumors are characterized by a diversity of cell shapes and sizes, making them more challenging, especially in diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. According to the definition of the World Health Organization (WHO), tumor cells in UPS are often difficult to clearly classify, which makes its treatment and prognosis more complicated.
Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcomas mainly present as deep, rapidly enlarging, painless masses that are adherent to surrounding tissues in most cases and show a high degree of invasiveness.
According to research, UPS tumors usually appear as deep-seated masses in multiple parts of the body, including the arms, legs, and abdomen. When these tumors grow to a certain extent, they may cause a series of serious complications, including metastasis to other tissues and organs.
The main symptom of UPS is the rapid growth of a mass, which is most common among patients and is painless swelling. This type of tumor generally does not cause pain in the early stages, so many patients may unknowingly delay seeking medical attention. According to a retrospective study of 266 patients, UPS tumors can reach 55 cm in diameter, with an average of 8.8 cm. In terms of diagnosis, UPS mainly relies on histopathological examination and requires professional doctors to analyze specific cell markers.
The cells of UPS are nonspecific and pleomorphic, meaning they appear in various shapes and sizes under a microscope. Studies have found that there are specific proteins on the surface of UPS tumors, such as PD-L1 and IDO1. The expression of these proteins can affect the prognosis. Strong expression of PD-L1 usually indicates a poor prognosis. Of note, the biological behavior of these tumors is very aggressive and they often recur or metastasize after surgery.
Most UPS tumors do not respond well to surgical treatment, and the recurrence rate after surgery is as high as 40%.
Treatment for UPS has traditionally been a combination of surgical resection, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. In recent years, antibody therapy has gradually been incorporated into treatment plans. This involves the use of monoclonal antibodies directed against specific antigens, which can promote T cells to attack tumor cells. Although these methods have shown some efficacy, their long-term effects still need further research to determine.
Currently, different clinical trials are moving towards immunotherapy for UPS, especially the use of PD-1 inhibitors such as pembrolizumab, which have shown some potential efficacy. Research on side symptoms such as continuous fever caused by the influence of UPS has also revealed that UPS patients may have a better prognosis in some cases.
Although the medical community's understanding of UPS continues to deepen, its high invasiveness and uncertain prognosis are still current medical problems. Faced with this situation, how to further improve the ability to diagnose UPS early and find more effective treatment options is still an urgent problem for the medical research community. Are you looking forward to future research?