Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42528114›Full record

ArticleThe American journal of case reports2026

Thoracic SMARCA4-Deficient Undifferentiated Tumor Presenting as a Giant Mediastinal Mass: A Case Report.

Nanami Ichihashi, Motona Kumagai, Miyako Shimasaki, Akihiro Shioya, Sohsuke Yamada

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Article in The American journal of case reports, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Nanami IchihashiSchool of Medicine, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada, Ishikawa, Japan.
Motona KumagaiDepartment of Pathology II, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada, Ishikawa, Japan.ORCID 0009-0007-8979-3981
Miyako ShimasakiDepartment of Pathology II, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada, Ishikawa, Japan.
Akihiro ShioyaDepartment of Diagnostic Pathology, Kanazawa Medical University Hospital, Uchinada, Ishikawa, Japan.ORCID 0000-0002-1863-5368
Sohsuke YamadaDepartment of Diagnostic Pathology, Kanazawa Medical University Hospital, Uchinada, Ishikawa, Japan.ORCID 0000-0003-2662-0024

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND Thoracic SWI/SNF-related matrix-associated actin-dependent regulator of chromatin subfamily A member 4 (SMARCA4)-deficient undifferentiated tumor (SMARCA4-UT) is a rare and highly aggressive thoracic malignancy. It predominantly affects male smokers and typically arises in the mediastinum, where rapid tumor growth and early metastasis contribute to a poor prognosis. Recent evidence suggests that this tumor exhibits biological heterogeneity and variable responses to therapy, underscoring the need for further clinical characterization. CASE REPORT A 67-year-old man presented with dyspnea and superior vena cava syndrome. Computed tomography revealed a 7-cm mass in the anterior and superior mediastinum with suspected lymph node and bone metastases. Histological examination demonstrated a sheet-like proliferation of large atypical cells with rhabdoid features and necrosis. Immunohistochemical analysis showed loss of SMARCA4 (Brahma-related gene 1 [BRG1]) expression, positivity for cluster of differentiation 34 (CD34) and sex-determining region Y-box 2 (SOX2), weak epithelial membrane antigen expression, preserved integrase interactor 1 (INI1) expression, and negativity for other epithelial markers, fulfilling the diagnostic criteria for SMARCA4-UT. Despite palliative radiotherapy and combination immunotherapy with nivolumab and ipilimumab, the tumor rapidly progressed. The patient developed grade 4 drug-induced pneumonitis; transient stabilization was achieved, but his condition deteriorated. He died 6 months after disease onset. Autopsy revealed widespread metastases with minimal therapeutic effect, highlighting the aggressive clinical course and treatment resistance. CONCLUSIONS SMARCA4-UT is a highly aggressive tumor requiring comprehensive immunohistochemical evaluation for accurate diagnosis. This case highlights the limited efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in a PD-L1-negative setting and underscores the need for more effective therapeutic strategies.

Indexed as

DNA HelicasesMediastinal NeoplasmsNuclear ProteinsTranscription FactorsAgedFatal OutcomeHumansMaleDNA HelicasesNuclear ProteinsSMARCA4 protein, humanTranscription Factors

Identifiers

PMID42528114
PMCPMC13435723

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