Advanced Malignant PEComa

Fast Facts

Person_Aadi_2_1

Malignant PEComa is an ultra-rare sarcoma that appears to arise most commonly at visceral (especially gastrointestinal and uterine), retroperitoneal, and abdominopelvic sites

icon_1_USIcon

Globally, there is ≤ malignant PEComa diagnosis per 1,000,000 people annually, with an estimated 100-300 new patients per year in the US*

icon_2_PeopleIcon

Patients are predominantly females and typically diagnosed between the ages of 45-65 years

icon_3_DownArrowIcon

Advanced malignant PEComa is associated with a poor prognosis

icon_4_CalendarIcon

51% to 72% of patients with malignant PEComas develop metastatic disease within 12 to 23 months

*Aadi analysis based on multiple sources, including Aadi internal data and external research conducted by Tessellon Group and Corsica Life Sciences.
PEComa = Perivascular Epithelioid Cell Tumor

What is PEComa?

PEComas are a rare subset of soft tissue neoplasms composed of histologically and immunohistochemically distinctive epithelioid cells. Due to their rarity and relatively recent recognition, classification of PEComas has evolved; they may be broadly grouped into the following tumor types.

Malignant and Benign PEComa in Context

aadi-graphic

Although most PEComas are localized and benign, malignant PEComa is characterized by locally invasive recurrence or distant metastatic lesions. Approximately 72% of patients with malignant PEComa will develop metastatic disease, most frequently to the lung or liver, over a median follow-up of 12-months.

From the personal image library of Jason L Hornick, MD, PhD; 2020.

Diagnosis of advanced malignant PEComa is based on a pathological evaluation, though misdiagnosis may occur due to overlapping immunophenotype (characteristic co-expression of melanocytic and smooth muscle markers) and histologic overlap with other tumor types.

Potential misdiagnoses may include:

  • Leiomyosarcoma
  • Clear cell sarcoma
  • Metastatic melanoma
  • Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST)
  • Renal cell carcinoma (RCC)

The mTOR Pathway and PEComa

The mTOR pathway controls key cellular processes. Alterations or deletions in mTOR pathway genes, like TSC1 and TSC2, may lead to mTOR overactivation, which prompts uncontrolled cell growth, metabolism, and survival. Advanced malignant PEComa tumors have the highest rate of TSC1 and TSC2 alterations among cancers.

mTOR=mechanistic target of rapamycin; TSC1=tuberous sclerosis-1; TSC2=tuberous sclerosis-2.

mtor-graphic
MicrosoftTeams-image-2