Background

Solitary fibrous tumors of the pleura (SFTP) account for less than 5% of all pleural tumors and have a reported incidence of 2.8 cases/100’000 persons per year [1, 2]. Since their first description in 1931, approximately 1000 cases have been described in the literature. Historically, the taxonomy of these tumors was heterogeneous. The terms included “localized mesothelioma” or “submesothelial fibroma” reflecting the disagreement concerning the etiology and pathogenesis of these neoplasms [3]. More recently, SFTP were shown to arise from the submesothelial layer, as expression of vimentin and CD34 - both markers of mesenchymal cells - was detected [4, 5]. The majority of these tumors follow a benign course with a high cure rate [2, 6]. However, features of malignancy are found in 7-60% [6–8], and in such tumors a high recurrence rate and excess mortality have been reported [9]. In addition, some benign SFTP may transform into the malignant variant, sometimes several years after complete surgical resection [10].

To date, there is insufficient information to predict the biological behavior of these tumors which is partly related to very few data on immunohistochemical and molecular markers and limited long-term follow-up data in SFTP [11–13]. Hence, there is a need to define parameters that characterize the malignant variant based on clinico-pathological, immunohistochemical, or molecular findings. The objective of this study was to describe the clinicopathological presentation of SFTP and its impact on the outcome.

Methods

Subjects and data

Between January 1, 1992 and December 31, 2012, all consecutive patients with histologically proven SFTP treated at the University Hospital Zurich were included in the present study. Data on demographics, the initial presentation and surgical treatment were collected from medical records. Follow-up data were collected from routine postoperative surveillance examinations, which were performed every six months for five years and yearly thereafter with low-dose computed tomography, or from contact with general practitioners. Written informed consent was obtained from all patients or their relatives. The study was approved by the Ethics committee of the Canton of Zurich, Switzerland (KEK-ZH 2012–0279).

Outcomes und definition of malignancy

The primary variable of interest of the study was disease-free survival time. Events were defined either as tumor-related death, recurrence of the tumor or evidence of metastases. Malignant SFTP were defined according to the historical criteria proposed by Okike et al. [2] if one or more of the following features were present: (1) high cellularity, (2) high mitotic activity with more than four mitotic figures per 10 high-power fields (HPF), and (3) pleomorphism.

Possible predictors of outcome

In addition to the aforementioned three pathologic features [2], possible predictors of outcome were clinicopathologic factors described by England et al. [6]: (a) tumor size greater than 10 cm in diameter, (b) atypical localization (SFTP attached to parietal pleura, fissure, or mediastinum, or inverted into lung parenchyma), (c) sessile or pedunculated tumor, (d) existence of necrosis or hemorrhage, (e) more than four mitoses per 10 high-power fields (HPF), and (f) nuclear pleomorphism (expressed as increased nuclear grades). Furthermore, demographic (age, gender, smoking status), clinical (symptoms, radiological findings), and immunohistochemical variables (Ki-67, Cytokeratin, Desmin, Vimentin, CD 34, CD 99, bcl-2 (B-cell lymphoma 2 protein), SMA (smooths muscle antigen), and S-100) were investigated for their possible predictive value on disease-free survival. Ki-67 is a nuclear protein that is expressed in proliferating cells, and thus a surrogate marker of the cellular proliferation rate. It is immunostained with MIB-1 according to standard protocols (DAKO M7240, 1:20) using the Ventana automated Benchmark staining system (MIB-1 labeling index).

Statistical analysis

All statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 20.0 (IBM Corporation, Armonk, NY). Data are reported as median ± interquartile range (IQR), or mean ± standard deviation (SD), or percentages as appropriate. Differences between malignant and benign SFTP were assessed using χ2 tests. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to estimate disease-free survival. Univariate analysis by Cox regression analysis was performed to evaluate the possible predictive value on disease-free survival of the above mentioned covariates. Variables with a p-value of less than 0.05 in the univariate analysis were entered into the multiple regression model. For statistical significant variables, the hazard ratio (HR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated. P-values of all outcomes were two-sided; a value less than 0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance.

Results and discussion

Demographic and clinical data

Between 1992 and 2012, a total of 42 patients (20 males) with histologically proven SFTP were treated at the University Hospital Zurich. Demographic, clinical and radiological data are summarized in Table 1.

Table 1 Preoperative demographic, clinical and radiological characteristics of SFTP
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Therapy and pathology

SFTP’s were resected by a wedge resection (75.6%) followed by lobectomy (17.1%) or pneumonectomy (7.3%) in cases where the tumor was extensive and adherent to the lung. In 20 patients (47.6%), the operation was performed by thoracoscopy. R0-resection (tumor-free margins) was achieved in all patients irrespective of the surgical method. Perioperative complications were seen in seven patients (16.7%) including prolonged air leak (n = 3), infection (n = 2), bleeding (n = 1), and intercostal neuralgia (n = 1). The mean length of hospital stay was 6 (IQR 4–9) days, and perioperative mortality was 0%.

Eighteen SFTP (42.9%) were classified as malignant. The histomorphological and immunohistochemical profile of SFTP are summarized in Table 2.

Table 2 Histomorphological and immunohistochemical profile of SFTP
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Disease-free survival

Mean disease-free survival was 136.2 (±13.1) months, and 2-, 5- and 10-year disease-free survival was 91%, 84%, and 67%, respectively (Figure 1). During the median follow-up time of 39 (14–78) months, the endpoint (recurrence or SFTP-related death) was reached in five patients (11.9%). Recurrence of SFTP was found in four patients (9.5%), and SFTP-related mortality was 7.1%.

Figure 1
figure 1

Disease-free survival in solitary fibrous tumors of the pleura. Mean disease-free survival was 136.2 (±13.1) months, and 2-, 5- and 10-year disease-free survival was 91%, 84%, and 67%, respectively.

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Univariate analysis

In univariate Cox regression analysis, large tumor size (HR 1.24, 95% CI 1.04-1.47, p = 0.015), high mitotic rate (HR 1.33, 95% CI 1.08-1.63, p = 0.008), and high proliferation rate (HR 1.09, 95% CI 1.02-1.16, p = 0.015) were significantly associated with impaired disease-free survival (Table 3). All patients with high proliferation rate also had a mitotic rate over 10/HPF. Comparative disease-free survival curves in SFTP with and without tumor diameter greater than 10 cm, number of mitotic figures over 10 per 10 HPF, and proliferation rate (Ki-67, MIB-1) greater than 12% are displayed in Figures 2, 3 and 4. Hence, from the clinicopathologic features proposed by England et al. [6], only tumor size and the number of mitoses showed a statistically significant association with disease-free survival, whereas atypical localization, sessile or pedunculated tumor, existence of necrosis or hemorrhage, and pleomorphism were not predictive for disease-free survival. Furthermore, the classification in malignant and benign variants according to the pathologic features published by Okike et al. [2] showed no statistically significant association with disease-free survival (Table 3).

Table 3 Investigated variables with a possible impact on the outcome of patients with solitary fibrous tumors of the pleura
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Figure 2
figure 2

Disease-free survival grouped by tumor diameter. Mean disease-free survival time in solitary fibrous tumors of the pleura with tumor diameter greater than 10 cm was 66.7 (±10.4) compared to 153.6 (±12.9) months in smaller tumors.

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Figure 3
figure 3

Disease-free survival grouped by number of mitotic figures. Mean disease-free survival time in solitary fibrous tumors of the pleura with a number of mitotic figures over 10 per 10 high-power fields was 44.6 (±17.9) compared to 147.4 (±12.8) months in tumors with less mitoses.

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Figure 4
figure 4

Disease-free survival grouped by proliferation rate (Ki-67). Mean disease-free survival time in solitary fibrous tumors of the pleura with a proliferation rate (Ki-67 expression, MIB-1 labeling index) greater than 12% was 15.0 (±9.0) compared to 110.2 (±6.1) months in those with less proliferation rate.

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Multivariate analysis

In multiple regression analysis, none of the features, which were significantly associated with disease-free survival in the univariate analysis, remained statistically significantly associated with disease-free survival after correction for covariates.

Discussion

In univariate analysis, impaired outcome in patients with histologically proven SFTP inversely correlated with mean tumor diameter, number of mitotic figures per 10 high-power fields, and proliferation rate (measured with Ki-67, a nuclear protein that is expressed in proliferating cells and immunostained with MIB-1). However, these associations did not remain significant in the multivariate analysis, possibly due to the limited number of included cases. Beyond complete resection of SFTP, which has been shown to be a major prognostic indicator by several authors [2, 6, 14–16], and was achieved in all our cases, several histomorphologic, immunohistochemical, or molecular features may correlate with prognosis. However, the evidence concerning factors predicting a worse outcome is conflicting throughout the literature. Histomorphologic characteristics apparently predicting aggressive behavior (including local recurrence, metastases or SFTP-related death) were first described by England et al. [6] and included tumor size greater than 10 cm in diameter, atypical localization, sessile tumor, existence of necrosis or hemorrhage, more than four mitoses per 10 high-power fields (HPF), and nuclear pleomorphism. However, none of these factors seems to accurately predict an impaired outcome, as 59% of SFTP may display at least one of the above mentioned features, whereas mortality and recurrence have only been observed in 10% and 18% of all cases, respectively [11].

More recently, de Perrot et al. proposed a staging system mainly based on the sessile morphology of SFTP and on the above mentioned characteristics in order to identify SFTP at high risk of aggressive behavior [17]. In 2008, this modified staging system was evaluated by Schirosi et al. [11] who were able to show a significant correlation with overall and disease-free survival. However, in the multivariate analysis of the latter study, the authors found that only tumor necrosis and high p53 expression were parameters significantly associated with overall and disease-free survival [11].

So far only a few immunohistochemical and molecular parameters with a possible impact on prognosis in SFTP have been investigated. High p53 expression has previously been shown to correlate with malignancy by others [18, 19]. Also, loss of CD34 expression and cytokeratin (CK) positivity was considered to correlate with unfavorable outcome in SFTP [18, 20–22]. Recently, the prognostic value of CD34 negativity was confirmed in a large retrospective study conducted in 157 patients with SFTP [23]. The same authors confirmed that sessile morphology was a significant risk factor for recurrence, but interestingly tumor size was not associated with the outcome [23]. Other previously mentioned histomorphological features were not considered in the latter study [23]. Unexpectedly the authors found no significant difference of survival between patients with malignant and those with benign SFTP, whereas recurrence was more common in patients with malignant variants [23].

In contrast to some previous studies [6, 17, 23], we did not find that sessile configuration of SFTP was significantly associated with the outcome. Similarly, Lococo et al. did not find a significant association between sessile morphology and outcome in SFTP [16].

In the current study, prognosis was not affected by patient’s age, the site (visceral or parietal pleura) or by the existence of pleural effusion. Also, in univariate analysis, characterization as malignant or benign tumors according to the criteria by Okike et al. [2] was not significantly predictive for disease-free survival. From the clinicopathologic features described by England et al. [6], only tumor size and mitotic rate were significantly correlated with the outcome, which confirms previous findings [6, 12, 17]. In the current study, high proliferation rate, assessed by Ki-67, a nuclear protein that is expressed in proliferating cells, and immunostained with MIB-1, significantly correlated with adverse outcome. Ki-67 expression was previously considered as prognostic parameter in other studies including relatively small series consisting of up to 18 subjects [24–26]. However, despite markers of an increased cell proliferation have been shown to correlate with worse prognosis in patients with other tumors, such as breast [27, 28] and bladder cancer [29], the role of Ki-67 immunostaining has not been systematically investigated in SFTP so far. Recently, a cut off level of a proliferation rate of 12% (Ki-67) was proposed to indicate benign and malignant lesions [30]. However, assessment of Ki-67 may suffer from inter- and intra-observer variability, since there is an area of uncertainty whether and how MIB-1 labeling index should be counted or estimated [31].

Regarding the role of other immunohistochemical staining methods for predicting prognosis, we could not confirm the findings of others concerning CD34 negativity [18, 23]. In our study, we were not able to identify any immunohistochemical marker other than Ki-67 (including positivity for Vimentin, CD99, or bcl-2, and negativity for CD34, SMA, and S-100) to correlate with disease-free survival. However, the role of immunohistochemical (particularly Ki-67 expression) and distinct molecular techniques (including p16 expression) have yet to be determined in a future study. Furthermore, the prognostic role of rearrangement of chromosome 8 according to some case reports [32, 33] and the role of microRNAs has to be investigated.

The present study has some inherent limitations mainly due to the retrospective design. The sample size in our study is relatively small, which might impair the interpretability of the multivariate analysis and the overall-survival analysis. For this reason we have chosen to display the disease-free survival only. However, we feel that the findings of our study merit attention, because proliferation rate in SFTP has been considered as a possible prognostic parameter in very few and small case series only. Noteworthy, our series is the largest investigating the proliferation rate measured with Ki-67 immunostaining and its impact on outcome in SFTP.

Conclusions

Tumor-related mortality, recurrence or metastases are difficult to predict in SFTP solely based on demographic, histo-pathological or clinical parameters. High mitotic rate, large tumor size, and high proliferation rate seem to be associated with adverse outcome. Hence, to date the definition of malignant SFTP should refer to these parameters.