Identification of CD56 and CD57 by flow cytometry in Ewing's sarcoma or primitive neuroectodermal tumor

• Published in: Virchows Archiv : an international journal of pathology Vol. 433; no. 1; pp. 35 - 40
• Main Authors: GARDNER, L. J, POLSKI, J. M, FALLON, R, DUNPHY, C. H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Springer 01.07.1998
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Brain Neoplasms - chemistry; CD56 Antigen - analysis; CD57 Antigens - analysis; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Flow Cytometry; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules - analysis; Neuroectodermal Tumors, Primitive - chemistry; Sarcoma, Ewing - chemistry; Tumors of striated muscle and skeleton; Case study; Human; Flow cytometry; Nervous system diseases; Phenotype; Ewing sarcoma; Immunological investigation; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Malignant tumor; Diagnosis; Bone; Neuroectodermal tumor
• ISSN: 0945-6317; 1432-2307
• DOI: 10.1007/s004280050213

CD56 and CD57 are commonly considered as natural killer and neuroectodermal markers, but their expression has been identified in a wide spectrum of neoplasms including some cases of Ewing's sarcoma (ES) and primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET). We report two cases of small, round blue cell tumor (SRBCT), in which flow cytometry immunophenotyping (FCI) detected strong expression of CD56 and CD57 (one case). Immunohistochemical staining with Leu-19 and Leu-7 confirmed the FI results. Although CD56 and CD57 expression is consistent with ES/PNET, it can be potentially misleading if results of FCI are interpreted in the absence of other findings. These cases suggest the utility of FCI in undifferentiated SRBCT. The literature on CD56 and CD57 expression in ES/PNET is reviewed and discussed.