bims-myxlip 2026-03-08 papers

Issue of 2026–03–08
two papers selected by
Laura Mannarino, Humanitas Research

J Med Case Rep. 2026 Mar 04.

Myxoid liposarcoma of sigmoid mesocolon: a case report and review of the literature.

Raed R Hamed, Abbas W Abbas, Lila H Abu-Hilal, Ayah Abulehia, Omar H Abu Zaydeh, Tawfiq Abukeshek, Izzedin A Bakri, Bashar Jaber.

BACKGROUND: Liposarcoma is a malignant mesenchymal tumor most commonly arising in the extremities and retroperitoneum. Involvement of the mesentery is rare, and primary liposarcoma of the large bowel mesentery has been reported fewer than 15 times in the English literature. Among its histological subtypes, myxoid liposarcoma is exceptionally rare in this location, with only four previous cases described. Owing to its rarity, there are no standardized management protocols, although wide surgical excision with negative margins remains the mainstay of treatment.
CASE PRESENTATION: We report a 73 year-old Arab male with hypertension and ischemic heart disease who presented with painless abdominal swelling and anorexia. Imaging revealed a large left mesocolon mass, and a left hemicolectomy with colosigmoid anastomosis achieved R0 margins. Histopathology confirmed primary myxoid liposarcoma of the mesocolon. The patient had an uneventful recovery and remains disease-free 1 year after surgery.
CONCLUSION: Primary myxoid liposarcoma of the mesocolon is extremely rare, with this case representing only the fifth reported instance. Review of the literature indicates that complete surgical resection is the cornerstone of management, while the role of adjuvant radiotherapy or chemotherapy remains controversial. Reporting additional cases is essential to improve understanding, refine prognostic assessment, and guide the development of evidence-based treatment strategies.

Keywords: Adjuvant radiotherapy; Case report; Mesocolon; Myxoid liposarcoma; Resection

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13256-026-05915-1

J Biol Chem. 2026 Feb 26. pii: S0021-9258(26)00197-3. [Epub ahead of print] 111327

Glycosphingolipids in human abdominal leiomyosarcoma and liposarcoma.

Chunsheng Jin, Anders Thornell, Marta Berndsen, Karin Säljö, Eva Jennische, Susann Teneberg.

Retroperitoneal sarcomas (liposarcomas and leiomyosarcomas) are rare and highly malignant mesenchymal tumors with poor prognosis, since they often reach a large size before detection, due to their anatomical location. Thus, development of new tumor biomarkers for early detection of these cancers is urgently needed. In search for potential sarcoma biomarkers this study examined the glycosphingolipid profiles of one leiomyosarcoma and one liposarcoma by mass spectrometry, enzymatic hydrolysis and by binding of carbohydrate recognizing ligands. Detailed mass spectrometry analyses of oligosaccharides released from the glycosphingolipids showed that the liposarcoma had a number of glycosphingolipids previously found in many human tissues (the gangliosides GM3, GD3, GM2, GD1a, sialylneolactotetra- and hexaosylceramide, and globo- and lactotriaosylceramide, globo- and lactotetraosylceramide, x2 pentaosylceramide, H type 2 penta- and heptaosylceramide, neolactotetra- and heptaosylceramide). The leiomyosarcoma had a more complex glycosphingolipid composition, and, in addition to the compounds listed above, it contained sialyl-lactotetraosylceramide, sialyl-globotetraosylceramide, globopentaosylceramide/SSEA-3, sialyl-globopentaosylceramide/SSEA-4 and disialyl-globopentaosylceramide in this tumor. The expression of sialyl-globopentaosylceramide/SSEA-4 in leiomyosarcoma was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Thus, the leiomyosarcoma had several glycosphingolipids also found in human pluripotent stem cells. These insights may have important clinical implications for the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for sarcomas.

Keywords: Cancer stem cells; ganglioside; glycolipid structure; mass spectrometry (MS); sarcoma; tumor marker

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbc.2026.111327