Expression of the human hematopoietic progenitor cell antigen CD34 in vascular and spindle cell tumors

Abstract

The human hematopoietic progenitor cell antigen is known as CD34. This antigen is present on normal bone marrow progenitor cells and vascular endothelial cells. We used the monoclonal antibody anti-CD34 and immunoperoxidase staining techniques to evaluate the expression of CD34 in benign and malignant vascular and spindle cell tumors. All of the 42 vascular lesions, except two of three lesions of intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia, demonstrated diffuse membraneous staining of moderate to strong intensity of their endothelial cells. Also, normal placentas (five) showed similar staining. All neurofibromas (12), three of five neuromas, and one of four neurilemmomas revealed moderate to strong, diffuse, membraneous staining. Five of eight piloleiomyomas, two of seven angioleiomyomas, and one of five uterine leiomyomas showed focal to diffuse, and weak to moderate, membraneous staining in the smooth muscle component. Six dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans were studied: generalized, strongly positive membraneous staining was present in four. All specimens showed staining of the normal endothelial cells and the cells surrounding the hair follicles (bulge area), sebaceous glands, and eccrine glands. No staining was demonstrated in any of the following fibrohistiocytic tumors: atypical fibroxanthomas (two), fibrous dermatofibromas (23), giant cell tumor of tendon sheath (one), and hemosiderotic dermatofibromas (18). Melanocytic tumors [Spitz nevi (three) and spindle cell superficial spreading malignant melanoma (one)], Merkel cell carcinomas (six), and spindle cell squamous cell carcinomas (two) did not stain with anti-CD34. Glomus tumors (two) and a hemangiopericytoma were also negative except for their vascular channels.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Apolipoprotein D in CD34-positive and CD34-negative cutaneous neoplasms: a useful marker in differentiating superficial acral fibromyxoma from dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans

“…15 While initial studies found CD34 positivity in all cases of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, subsequent reports indicate that a proportion may be negative for this marker. 10,11,15 Confounding the issue further is the fact that expression of CD34 is not unique to dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans and may be seen in a wide variety of lineage un-related, benign, and malignant neoplasms. 15 More recently, gene microarrays have been used to determine mRNA expression in various tumors.…”

“…8,9 Expression of CD34, the human progenitor cell antigen and the most commonly used ancillary stain to confirm a histologic diagnosis of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, is reportedly positive in most cases of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans with a sensitivity ranging from 66.6 to 100%. 10,11 Literature indicates that up to 30% of cases of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans may be CD34 negative. 10,11 This high value may be a reflection of inclusion of cases of cellular dermatofibroma misdiagnosed as dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans; and if one includes cases of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans that are focally positive for CD34, this number is more likely to be well under 10%.…”

“…10,11 Literature indicates that up to 30% of cases of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans may be CD34 negative. 10,11 This high value may be a reflection of inclusion of cases of cellular dermatofibroma misdiagnosed as dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans; and if one includes cases of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans that are focally positive for CD34, this number is more likely to be well under 10%. Further confounding this issue is the fact that expression of CD34 is not entirely specific to dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans and may be found in a variety of other tumors including superficial acral fibromyxoma and sclerotic fibromas-all potential histologic mimics of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans.…”

Solitary fibrous tumor of the orbit, a poorly‐recognized orbital lesion

“…Solitary fibrous tumors have demonstrated strong CD34 immunoreactivity in 79%∂100% of cases (Westra et al 1994). It has also been noted in other tumors such as dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, smooth muscle tumors, neurofibroma and schwannoma (Traweek et al 1991;Cohen et al 1993).…”

Bilateral metastatic renal hemangiopericytoma ten years after primary intracranial lesion

“…Histological confirmation also is difficult because of microscopic similarities that exist between these lesions and other soft tissue tumors, namely synovial sarcomas, fibrous histiocytomas, and solitary fibrous tumors. It should be noted that while most hemangiopericytomas express CD-34 as illustrated by our case, the sensitivity of this marker is suboptimal in some cases, often limited to endothelial cells (2).…”