An Immunohistochemical Study of the Expression of Factor XIIIa , CD34 , and Mac 387 in Cutaneous Fibrous Tumors

Jung, Hun; Kang, In Kyung; Choi, Kyu Chul

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The relationship and differentiation among various dendritic cells of the dermis are unclear. Recently it has hecome possible to identify different subpopulat,ions of dermal dendritic cells using anti-CD34 and anti-factor XIIIa antibodies.
OBJECTIVE
To elucidate which cell types the fibrous dermal turnors consist of we compared the staining patterns of these antibodies as well as of anti-Mac 387 antibody which are labeled as inflammatory cells of the monocyte-macrophage lineage.
METHODS
Tumors studied included dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans(DFSP, n=2), dermato-fibroma(n=22), neurofibroma, n=27), acrochordon(n=15), keloid, hypertrophic scar(n=10), juvenile xanthogranuloma(n=1, and malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH, n=1). We performed immunoperoxidase staining(AUSC technique) with polyclonal anti FXIIIa antibody, monoclonal anti-CD34 antibody, and monoclonal anti-Mac 387 antibody on the formalin-fixed-paraffin-embedded tissue specimens of these fibrous tumors. The intensity of staining was graded as negative, weakly staining, or strongly stainiring.
RESULTS
FXIIIa reactivity was strongly present in dendritic and spindle-shaped cells of all dermatofibromas and some nurofibromas(11 of 27 specimens), but absent from the other fibrous tumors. Among these tumors, one of the two DFSPs was uniquely expressed CD34. Dendritic and spindle-shaped cells within tiese tumors were MAC 387 negative. In inflammatory conditions, variable numbers of MAC 38 positive cells were observed, corresponding to histiocytes and mac-rophages, but the labeling of ipithelioid cells and multinucleated foreign body giant cells were variable.
CONCLUSION
The findings of significant numbers of FXIIIa positive cells in dermal fibrous tumors studied suggest that thet may be diagnostic utility associated with the use of this antit)ody. In addition, CD 34 expression by the tumor cells can be an extremely useful marker in establishing a definitive diagnosis of IFSP.