What are the other Names for this Condition? (Also known as/Synonyms)

• Sarcomatoid Variant of Urothelial Carcinoma
• SUC (Sarcomatoid Urothelial Carcinoma)

What is Sarcomatoid Urothelial Carcinoma? (Definition/Background Information)

• Sarcomatoid Urothelial Carcinoma (SUC) is an extremely rare and highly-aggressive subtype of invasive urothelial carcinoma (UCC), a form of malignancy of the urothelium (urothelial cells that line the urothelial tract). SUC constitutes about 0.3-0.6% of all urothelial carcinomas
• Sarcomatoid Urothelial Carcinoma is diagnosed under a microscope, on examination of the cancer cells by a pathologist. According to medical literature, the tumor presents characteristics of a sarcoma (another malignancy). The classification of the tumor is important, as it may dictate the type of treatments to be provided and the overall outcomes
• When examined under the microscope by a pathologist, these tumors can have histological features of other sarcomas such as angiosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, osteosarcoma, and rhabdomyosarcoma. Tumors that show such features may have worse prognosis. Many tumors may also have histological features of urothelial carcinoma (UCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), adenocarcinoma, or small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (SCNEC)
• The exact cause of Sarcomatoid Urothelial Carcinoma occurrence is presently unknown; around 35% of the cases exhibit TERT promoter gene mutations. The condition is noted in individuals aged 45 to 82 years, mostly in men. Many contributory factors, such as smoking (a significant risk factor), use of chemotherapeutic agents such as cyclophosphamide, and prior radiation therapy, are noted
• The signs and symptoms of Sarcomatoid Urothelial Carcinoma usually include blood in urine (hematuria), burning sensation on urination, upper abdominal (flank) pain, and swollen kidney. During its advanced stages, the cancer may metastasize to the lymph nodes and other organs
• The treatment measures are not well-defined due to the rarity of the tumor; chemotherapy is known to be an ineffective modality. The outcomes for individuals with Sarcomatoid Urothelial Carcinoma are very poor due its aggressive nature; most individuals present metastatic disease at initial diagnosis. The 5-year survival rate is around 28% and median survival is 14 months