Syndecan-1 expression in different soft tissue tumours

• Published in: Anticancer research Vol. 21; no. 1B; p. 733
• Main Authors: Orosz, Z, Kopper, L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Greece 01.01.2001
• Subjects: Dermatofibrosarcoma - chemistry; Dermatofibrosarcoma - pathology; Epithelial Cells - chemistry; Fibrosarcoma - chemistry; Fibrosarcoma - pathology; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms - chemistry; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms - pathology; Granuloma, Pyogenic - metabolism; Granuloma, Pyogenic - pathology; Humans; Leiomyosarcoma - chemistry; Leiomyosarcoma - pathology; Membrane Glycoproteins - analysis; Neoplasm Proteins - analysis; Neurilemmoma - chemistry; Neurilemmoma - pathology; Phenotype; Proteoglycans - analysis; Sarcoma - chemistry; Sarcoma - pathology; Sarcoma, Kaposi - chemistry; Sarcoma, Kaposi - pathology; Sarcoma, Synovial - chemistry; Sarcoma, Synovial - pathology; Soft Tissue Neoplasms - chemistry; Soft Tissue Neoplasms - pathology; Specimen Handling - methods; Syndecan-1; Syndecans
• ISSN: 0250-7005

In vitro studies have suggested that expression of syndecan-1 (CD138) is correlated with morphologic phenotype (epithelioid or spindle) of cultured tumour cells. Fifty-seven different soft tissue tumours were selected to analyse their syndecan-1 (CD138) reactivity. Immunohistochemical staining of paraffin sections, following a high temperature unmasking technique, was performed. The intensity and the pattern of staining was studied. Cell membrane positivity was observed in epithelioid sarcomas and epithelial elements of synovial sarcomas. GISTs, some malignant epithelioid schwannoma and some fibromatosis showed intracytoplasmatic reaction, while pyogenic granuloma, Kaposi's sarcoma, fibrosarcoma and dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans were negative. At first it seemed that the cell membrane positivity of syndecan-1 accompanied true epithelial differentiation in soft tissue sarcomas, but the results further highlighted the non specific nature of this expression. Therefore the heterogeneity in the appearance of syndecan-1 in various soft tissue tumours is not simply associated with the phenotype, suggesting more complex functions.