Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Gliosarcomas: analysis of 11 cases do two subtypes exist?

  • Clinical Study
  • Published:
Journal of Neuro-Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

There are conflicting reports regarding gliosarcomas. The goal of this study is to examine clinical, radiological, surgical and therapeutic aspects of 11 patients with gliosarcoma. Between 1993 and 2001, 11 patients with cerebral gliosarcoma were treated at our Institute. Ten patients underwent surgery and one patient had stereotactic biopsy. Four patients received whole brain radiotherapy with 60Co, five underwent radiotherapy with LINAC extended 2 cm beyond the edema margins. One patient refused any additional treatment after surgery and one patient was not treated postoperatively for poor clinical conditions (KPS 40). Chemotherapy (temozolomide) was administered to four patients. Four patients had a prevalence of sarcomatous component that corresponded to surgical and radiological aspects similar to meningioma while six patients showed a prevalence of gliomatous component and radiological and surgical aspects similar to those of glioblastomas. Surgical resection was total in six and subtotal in four patients. Patients with prevalent sarcomatous component showed median survival time more prolonged than patients with prevalent gliomatous component (71 ± 6 weeks vs. 63 ± 6; P=0.0417). Moreover, the survival rate differed in relation to the therapy: patients treated with multimodality therapy (surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy) had a longer survival time than patients treated in single or bimodality. Despite prognosis of gliosarcomas remains poor, a multidisciplinary approach (surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy) seems to be associated with slight more prolonged survival times.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • W Biernat A Aguzzi U Sure JW Grant P Kleihues ME Hegi (1995) ArticleTitleIdentical mutations of the p53 tumor suppressor gene in the gliomatous and the sarcomatous components of gliosarcomas suggest a common origin from glial cells J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 54 651–656 Occurrence Handle7666053

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • RH Boerman K Anderl J Herath T Borrel N Johnson J Schaeffer-Klein A Kirchhof AK Raap BW Scheitauer RB Jenkins (1996) ArticleTitleThe glial and mesenchymal elements of gliosarcomas share similar genetic alterations J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 55 973–981 Occurrence Handle8800093

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • H Jones PV Steart RO Weller (1991) ArticleTitleSpindle-cell glioblastoma or gliosarcoma Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 17 177–187 Occurrence Handle1653908

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • JM Meis KL Ho JS Nelson (1990) ArticleTitleGliosarcoma: a histologic and immunohistochemical reaffirmation Mod Pathol 3 19–24 Occurrence Handle2155418

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • W Paulus A Bayas G Ott W Roggendorf (1994) ArticleTitleInterphase cytogenetics of glioblastoma and gliosarcoma Acta Neuropathol (Berl) 88 420–425

    Google Scholar 

  • MA Cerame M Guthikonda CM Kohli (1985) ArticleTitleExtraneural metastases in gliosarcoma: a case report and review of the literature Neurosurgery 17 413–418 Occurrence Handle4047352

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • F Maiuri L Stella D Benvenuti A Giamundo G Pettinato (1990) ArticleTitleCerebral gliosarcomas: correlation of computed tomographic findings, surgical aspect, pathological features, and prognosis Neurosurgery 26 261–267 Occurrence Handle10.1097/00006123-199002000-00013 Occurrence Handle2308674

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Buckner Galanis E Dinapoli JC Scheitauer RP Jenkins BW Hua RB O’Fallon Wang C G Farr (1998) ArticleTitleClinical outcome of gliosarcoma compared with glioblastoma multiforme: North Central Cancer Treatment Group results J Neurosurg 89 425–430 Occurrence Handle9724117

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • J Lutterbach R Guttenberger A Pagenstecher (2001) ArticleTitleGliosarcoma: a clinical study Radiother Oncol 61 57–64 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0167-8140(01)00415-7 Occurrence Handle11578729

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • JM Meis KL Martz JS Nelson (1991) ArticleTitleMixed glioblastoma multiforme and sarcoma A clinicopathologic study of 26 radiation therapy oncology group cases. Cancer 7 2342–2349

    Google Scholar 

  • RA Morantz I Feigin J III Ransohoff (1976) ArticleTitleClinical and pathological study of 24 cases of gliosarcoma J Neurosurg 45 398–408 Occurrence Handle956876

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • HC Parekh DG O’Donovan RR Sharma AJ Keogh (1995) ArticleTitlePrimary cerebral gliosarcoma: report of 17 cases Br J Neurosurg 9 171–178 Occurrence Handle10.1080/02688699550041511 Occurrence Handle7632363

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • JR Perry LC Ang JM Bilbao PJ Muller (1995) ArticleTitleClinicopathologic features of primary and postirradiation cerebral gliosarcoma Cancer 75 2910–2918 Occurrence Handle7773942

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • C Sarkar MC Sharma K Sudha S Gaikwad A Varma (1997) ArticleTitleA clinico-pathological study of 29 cases of gliosarcoma with special reference to two unique variants Indian J Med Res 106 229–235 Occurrence Handle9378529

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • P Kleihues PC Burger BW Scheithauer (1993) Histological Typing of Tumours of the Central Nervous System. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York-Tokyo

    Google Scholar 

  • H Stroebe (1895) ArticleTitleUber entstehung und bau der hirngliome Beitr Pathol Anat 18 405–486

    Google Scholar 

  • I Feigin LB Allen L Lipkin SW Groos (1958) ArticleTitleThe endotelial hyperplasia of the cerebral blood vessels within brain tumors and its sarcomatous transformation Cancer 11 264–277 Occurrence Handle13511345

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • SF Haddad SA Moore RL Schelper JA Goeken (1992) ArticleTitleSmooth muscle can comprise the sarcomatous component of gliosarcomas J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 51 493–498 Occurrence Handle1381414

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • RM Reis D Konu-Lebleblicioglu JM Lopes P Kleihues H Ohgaki (2000) ArticleTitleGenetic profile of gliosarcomas Am J Pathol 156 425–432 Occurrence Handle10666371

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • MB Codd LT Kurland (1985) ArticleTitleDescriptive epidemiology of primary intracranial neoplasms Prog Exp Tumor Res 29 1–11

    Google Scholar 

  • IH Feigin SW Gross (1995) ArticleTitleSarcoma arising in glioblastoma of the brain Am J Pathol 31 6333–6353

    Google Scholar 

  • BJ Beute ES Fobben O Hubschmann A Zablow T Eanelli GB Solitare (1991) ArticleTitleCerebellar gliosarcoma: report of a probable radiation-induced neoplasm AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 12 554–556 Occurrence Handle2058514

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • W Biernat M Hegi A Aguzzi P Kleihues (1997) Gliosarcoma P Kleihues WK Cavenee (Eds) Pathology and Genetics of Tumours of the Nervous System IARC Lyon 27–28

    Google Scholar 

  • J Classen W Hoffmann RD Kortmann A Lehr R Meyermann M Palmbach M Bamberg (1997) ArticleTitleGliosarcoma–case report and review of the literature Acta Oncol 36 771–774 Occurrence Handle9490099

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • P Garret (1958) ArticleTitleGlioblastoma and fibroblastoma of the brain with extracranial metastases Cancer 11 888–894 Occurrence Handle13585341

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • KL Ho (1990) ArticleTitleHistogenesis of sarcomatous component of the gliosarcoma: an ultrastructural study Acta Neuropathol (Berl) 8 178–188 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00334506

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • EM Khan R Pandey S Gupta P Mittal (1994) ArticleTitleGliosarcomas: pathological spectrum Indian J Cancer 3 118–123

    Google Scholar 

  • F Slowik K Jellinger L Gaszo J Fischer (1985) ArticleTitleGliosarcomas: histological, immunohistochemical, ultrastructural, and tissue culture studies Acta Neuropathol (Berl) 67 201–210 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00687802

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • T Tamura S Nakamura K Shirata K Sato T Tsubokawa T Sawada (1989) ArticleTitleCerebellar malignant glioma after radiation therapy for suprasellar germinoma-case report Neurol Med Chir (Tokyo) 29 223–229

    Google Scholar 

  • ES Wargotz MK Sidawy FS Jannotta (1988) ArticleTitleThorotrast-associated gliosarcoma Including comments on thorotrast use and review of sequelae with particular reference to lesions of the central nervous system. Cancer 62 58–66

    Google Scholar 

  • DR Smith JM Hardman KM Earle (1969) ArticleTitleContiguous glioblastoma multiforme and fibrosarcoma with extracranial metastasis Cancer 24 270–276 Occurrence Handle4307749

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • L Cervoni P Celli (1996) ArticleTitleCerebral gliosarcoma: prognostic factors Neurosurg Rev 19 93–96 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00418077 Occurrence Handle8837107

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • D Schiffer MT Giordana A Mauro A Migheli (1984) ArticleTitleGFAP, FVIII/Rag, laminin, and fibronectin in gliosarcomas: an immunohistochemical study Acta Neuropathol 63 108–116 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00697192 Occurrence Handle6428154

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • YY Lee M Castillo C Nauert RP Moser (1985) ArticleTitleComputed tomography of gliosarcoma AJNR 6 527–531 Occurrence Handle3927668

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • PA Winkler A Buttner A Tomezzoli S Weis (2000) ArticleTitleHistologically repeatedly confirmed gliosarcoma with long survival: review of the literature and report of a case Acta Neurochir (Wien) 142 91–95 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s007010050012

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • KW Dwyer LG Naul JH Hise (1996) ArticleTitleGliosarcoma: MR features J Comput Assist Tomogr 20 719–723 Occurrence Handle10.1097/00004728-199609000-00006 Occurrence Handle8797900

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Raney RB Jr Tefft M Newton WA et al. (1987) ArticleTitleImproved prognosis with intensive treatment of children with cranial soft tissue sarcomas arising in nonorbital parameningeal sites: a report from the intergroup rhabdomyosarcoma study Cancer 59 147–155 Occurrence Handle3791141

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • J Schutte R Kellner S Seeber (1993) ArticleTitleIfosfamide in the treatment of soft-tissue sarcomas: experience at the West Germany Tumour Center, Essen. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 31 IssueIDSuppl 2 194–198

    Google Scholar 

  • PJ Woll D Crowther PWM Johnson et al. (1999) ArticleTitleTemozolamide in adult patients with advanced soft tissue sarcoma: a phase II study of the EORTC soft tissue and bone sarcoma group Eur J Cancer 35 410–412 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0959-8049(98)00403-1 Occurrence Handle10448291

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurological Sciences -- Neurosurgery, University of Rome ‘La Sapienza’, Policlinico S. Andrea Via Meropia 85, 00147, Rome, Italy

    Emanuela Caroli & Luigi Ferrante

  2. Department of Neurological Sciences -- Neurosurgery, University of Rome ‘La Sapienza’, Policlinico Umberto I, Rome, Italy

    Antonino Raco & Roberto Delfini

  3. Department of Neurological Sciences -- Neurosurgery, INM Neuromed IRCCS, Pozzilli (Is), Italy

    Maurizio Salvati & Felice Giangaspero

Authors
  1. Maurizio Salvati
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Emanuela Caroli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Antonino Raco
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Felice Giangaspero
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Roberto Delfini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Luigi Ferrante
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Emanuela Caroli.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Salvati, M., Caroli, E., Raco, A. et al. Gliosarcomas: analysis of 11 cases do two subtypes exist?. J Neurooncol 74, 59–63 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11060-004-5949-8

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11060-004-5949-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation