Systemic Treatments and Molecular Biomarkers for Perivascular Epithelioid Cell Tumors: A Single-institution Retrospective Analysis

Perivascular epithelioid cell tumors (PEComa) are a large family of mesenchymal neoplasms, with variable clinical course. Evidence regarding treatment of advanced PEComas is scarce, with only one FDA-approved treatment available. The goals of this study were to provide data regarding systemic treatments for advanced PEComas and to identify biomarkers of prognostic relevance. This is a single-institution retrospective study of patients with advanced PEComas requiring systemic treatment, including malignant PEComa, angiomyolipoma (including the epithelioid variant), and lymphangioleiomyomatosis. Outcomes measured were overall survival (OS), first-line and combined progression-free survival (PFS), and tumor response. Kaplan–Meier, univariable, and multivariable Cox proportional hazards analysis were performed. A total of 29 patients were included, most with malignant PEComa (n = 17). Median OS was 204.9 months, while median PFS was 92.4 months from first-line, and 15.8 months for all lines combined. TFE3 overexpression correlated with higher risk of death (HR: 11.8, P = 0.04), and shorter median OS (P = 0.001). Chemotherapy and mTOR inhibitors showed similar OS (P = 0.84), and first-line PFS (P = 0.67). Combined PFS was similar between individual mTOR inhibitors, chemotherapy, immune checkpoint inhibitors and other treatments (P = 0.19). Different mTOR inhibitors demonstrated similar efficacy, making cost and availability important considerations when choosing a specific agent. mTOR inhibitors showed similar outcomes as chemotherapy, suggesting that these should be preferred whenever possible for patients with PEComas given the morbidity associated with chemotherapy. TFE3 overexpression highlighted a subgroup of PEComas with worse prognosis and more aggressive behavior. SIGNIFICANCE: This study examines systemic treatments for advanced PEComas, a rare group of sarcomas, and identifies molecular biomarkers of prognosis. Our results show that mTOR inhibitors have similar efficacy as chemotherapy, and that TFE3 overexpression, on IHC or FISH, correlates with a more aggressive disease course.