Research Information System
Annals of Medical Sciences, vol.13, pp.21-25, 2004 (Scopus)
Background: Cathepsin D (CatD) plays a significant proteolytic role in tumour invasion and metastasis. Tenascin C (Tn-C), a glycoprotein of the extracellular matrix, is involved in neoplastic growth, and its possible functions are related to cell adhesion and detachment. CatD and Tn-C have been widely studied in carcinomas. However, little is known about CatD and Tn-C distribution in mesenchymal tumors. The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of CatD and Tn-C in fibrohistiocytic tumors Methods: A total of 42 fibrohistiocytic tumors- 24 dermatofibroma (DF), 6 dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP), 12 malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH)- were studied. CatD and Tn-C expressions were evaluated by immunohistochemistry and scored semiquantitatively. Results: CatD overexpression was observed in 75% of MFH, 50% of DFSP and 20% of DF. CatD expression showed a statistically significant difference between DF and MFH (p=0.001). Stromal Tn-C expression was detected in 75% of DF and MFH and 83% of DFSP. Tn-C expression showed no significant difference among benign, intermediate malignancy, and malignant fibrohistiocytic tumors (p>0.05). Conclusions: CatD expression is found to be relatively higher in MFH and DFSP than DF and it may be a marker of malignancy in fibrohistiocytic tumors. Tn-C expression has no impact in the differential diagnosis of fibrohistiocytic tumors.