Extraskeletal Myxoid Chondrosarcomas: The Uncommon Clinicopathologic Manifestations and Significance of TAF15::NR4A3 Fusion

Extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma (EMC) is an ultrarare sarcoma typically exhibiting myxoid/ reticular histology and NR4A3 translocation. However, morphologic variants and the relevance of non-EWSR1::NR4A3 fusions remain underexplored. Three challenging pan-Trk-expressing cases, featuring cellular to solid histology, were subjected to RNA exome sequencing (RES), unveiling different NR4A3-associated fusions. Alongside RES-analyzed cases, fluorescence in situ hybridization was performed to confirm 58 EMCs, with 48 available for pan-Trk immunostaining and KIT sequencing. Except for 1 (2%) NR4A3-rearranged EMC without identifiable partners, 46 (79%), 9 (16%), and 2 (3%) cases harbored EWSR1::NR4A3, TAF15::NR4A3, and TCF12::NR4A3 fusions, respec- tively. Five EWSR1::NR4A3-positive EMCs occurred in the subcutis (3) and bone (2). Besides 43 classical cases, there were 8 cellular, 4 rhabdoid/anaplastic, 2 solid, and 1 mixed tumor-like variants. Tumor cells were oval/spindle to pleomorphic and formed loose myxoid/reticular to compact sheet- like or fascicular patterns, imparting broad diagnostic considerations. RES showed upregulation of NTRK2/3, KIT, and INSM1. Moderate-to-strong immunoreactivities of pan-Trk, CD117, and INSM1 were present in 35.4%, 52.6%, and 54.6% of EMCs, respectively. KIT p. E554K mutation was detected in 2/48 cases. TAF15::NR4A3 was significantly associated with size >10 cm (78%, P1/4.025). Size >10 cm, moderate-to-severe nuclear pleomorphism, metastasis at presentation, TAF15::NR4A3 fusion, and the administration of chemotherapy portended shorter univariate disease-specific survival, whereas only size >10 cm (P=.004) and metastasis at presentation (P=.032) remained prognostically in- dependent. Conclusively, EMC may manifest superficial or osseous lesions harboring EWSR1::NR4A3, underrecognized solid or anaplastic histology, and pan-Trk expression, posing tremendous chal- lenges. Most TAF15::NR4A3-positive cases were >10 cm in size, ie, a crucial independent prog- nosticator, whereas pathogenic KIT mutation rarely occurred.(c) 2023 United States & Canadian Academy of Pathology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.