# Primary ovarian CIC-rearranged sarcoma in a child: a rare case report and review of the literature

**Authors:** Liqin Ke, Lili Liu, Ying Wu, Yun Sun, Yongjiao Wang, Jiahui Xia, Wen Zhang

PMC · DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2025.1613510 · 2025-10-31

## TL;DR

A rare case of CIC-rearranged sarcoma in the ovary of a 5-year-old girl is reported, highlighting the importance of molecular testing for accurate diagnosis.

## Contribution

First reported case of ovarian CIC-rearranged sarcoma in a child, emphasizing the need for molecular analysis in atypical tumors.

## Key findings

- The tumor exhibited specific immunohistochemical markers including CD99, WT1, and FLI-1.
- Fluorescent in situ hybridization confirmed CIC gene rearrangement.
- The case underscores the diagnostic challenges of CRS in atypical locations.

## Abstract

CIC-rearranged sarcoma (CRS) is a rare type of high-grade undifferentiated small round cell sarcoma characterized by a range of possible CIC gene rearrangements. It develops predominantly in the deep soft tissues of the limbs and trunk in young individuals (total range, 0.5–83 years; mean, 27–37 years; median, 24.5–33 years), and less commonly in bone and viscera. The occurrence of this sarcoma in the female reproductive tract is very rare, and it has not yet been described in the ovary.

We report a CRS case that arose from the left ovary in a 5-year-old girl. Histologically, the tumor was lobulated or leaf-shaped, with a fibrotic septum composed of closely arranged small- to medium-sized round cells and short spindle-shaped cells. In addition, the neoplastic cells exhibited multifocal membrane positivity for CD99 and diffuse positivity for WT1, TLE1, FLI‑1, P53, INI-1, and Calretinin, CD56 focal positive, while it was negative for ETV4. Fluorescent in situ hybridization analysis showed CIC-positive split signals.

CRSs are highly aggressive tumors. Rare CRSs have been reported in the female genital tract, and they are often difficult to diagnose. Especially in cases with atypical morphology and immunohistochemistry, it is necessary to integrate molecular features in the diagnosis of undifferentiated neoplasms.

## Linked entities

- **Genes:** CIC (capicua transcriptional repressor) [NCBI Gene 23152], CD99 (CD99 molecule (Xg blood group)) [NCBI Gene 4267], WT1 (WT1 transcription factor) [NCBI Gene 7490], TLE1 (TLE family member 1, transcriptional corepressor) [NCBI Gene 7088], FLI1 (Fli-1 proto-oncogene, ETS transcription factor) [NCBI Gene 2313], TP53 (tumor protein p53) [NCBI Gene 7157], SMARCB1 (SWI/SNF related BAF chromatin remodeling complex subunit B1) [NCBI Gene 6598], CALB2 (calbindin 2) [NCBI Gene 100190190], NCAM1 (neural cell adhesion molecule 1) [NCBI Gene 4684], ETV4 (ETS variant transcription factor 4) [NCBI Gene 2118]
- **Diseases:** CIC-rearranged sarcoma (MONDO:0956989), sarcoma (MONDO:0005089)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** FLI1 (Fli-1 proto-oncogene, ETS transcription factor) [NCBI Gene 2313] {aka BDPLT21, EWSR2, FLI-1, SIC-1}, CD99 (CD99 molecule (Xg blood group)) [NCBI Gene 4267] {aka HBA71, MIC2, MIC2X, MIC2Y, MSK5X}, WT1 (WT1 transcription factor) [NCBI Gene 7490] {aka AWT1, GUD, NPHS4, WAGR, WIT-2, WT-1}, TLE1 (TLE family member 1, transcriptional corepressor) [NCBI Gene 7088] {aka ESG, ESG1, GRG1, TLE-1}, CIC (capicua transcriptional repressor) [NCBI Gene 23152] {aka MRD45}, CALB2 (calbindin 2) [NCBI Gene 794] {aka CAB29, CAL2, CR}, NCAM1 (neural cell adhesion molecule 1) [NCBI Gene 4684] {aka CD56, MSK39, NCAM}, TP53 (tumor protein p53) [NCBI Gene 7157] {aka BCC7, BMFS5, LFS1, P53, TRP53}, ETV4 (ETS variant transcription factor 4) [NCBI Gene 2118] {aka E1A-F, E1AF, PEA3, PEAS3}, SMARCB1 (SWI/SNF related BAF chromatin remodeling complex subunit B1) [NCBI Gene 6598] {aka BAF47, CSS3, INI-1, INI1, MRD15, PPP1R144}
- **Diseases:** CIC-rearranged sarcoma (MESH:D012509), undifferentiated small round cell sarcoma (MESH:D018228), tumor (MESH:D009369)

## Figures

3 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12616858/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12616858