Premium
Procollagen 1 – a marker of fibroblastic and fibrohistiocytic skin tumors
Author(s) -
Krustrup Dorrit,
Rossen Kristian,
Thomsen Henrik Klem
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of cutaneous pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.597
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1600-0560
pISSN - 0303-6987
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0560.2006.00484.x
Subject(s) - pathology , immunohistochemistry , dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans , cd34 , cd68 , procollagen peptidase , biology , malignancy , medicine , stem cell , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics
Background: When dealing with tumors of presumed fibroblastic or fibrohistiocytic origin, immunohistochemistry is traditionally done to exclude a tumor of non‐fibroblastic or non‐fibrohistiocytic nature, because a reliable marker of fibroblastic or fibrohistiocytic cell origin is still to be introduced. This study investigates whether procollagen 1 is a useful marker of skin tumors composed of cells derived from fibroblasts or fibrohistiocytes. Materials and methods: Twenty‐nine different types of skin tumors, including tumors composed of spindle cells as well as some additional epithelial and melanocytic tumors, were stained immunohistochemically with antibodies against procollagen 1. The total number of cases tested was 154. Results: Tumors composed of cells of fibroblastic or fibrohistiocytic origin in general showed a high expression of procollagen 1, whereas tumors composed of non‐fibroblastic cells in general showed no expression. However, there were a few exceptions, e.g., leiomyosarcoma and desmoplastic melanoma. Conclusions: The study suggests that immunohistochemical staining for procollagen 1 is a valuable marker for skin tumors composed of spindle cells derived from fibroblasts or fibrohistiocytes. However, in cases of spindle cell tumors with a morphology suggesting malignancy, it is recommended to use a panel of antibodies, which besides procollagen 1 includes markers such as S100, CD68, CD34, h‐caldesmon, and pancytokeratin.