Ezrin and Endothelin-1 Expression in Dermatofibroma and Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans / 대한피부과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Distinction of dermatofibroma (DF) from dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is occasionally difficult. Histologically, DF shows fibrohistiocyte growth, and DFSP shows myofibroblast proliferation. This difference is usually targeted by several immunohistochemical staining to differentiate between these two entities. Ezrin, a member of ezrin-radixin-moesin family of protein, has a critical role in oncogenic transformation. And endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a family of endothelin-derived peptides that promotes myofibroblast contraction and migration. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of ezrin and endothelin-1 in differentiating between DF and DFSP. METHODS: Formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissues from 20 DFs and 10 DFSPs were immunohistochemically stained with ezrin and ET-1 monoclonal antibodies. RESULTS: No DF case showed ezrin expression, whereas 3 of 10 DFSP cases showed weak positive reaction for ezrin. This difference was not statistically significant. In DF, 5 cases showed strong positive, 3 showed moderate positive, 4 were weak positive and 8 cases showed negative by ET-1 staining. In DFSP, 6 cases were strong positive, 1 was moderate positive, 2 were weak positive and 1 showed negative by ET-1. CONCLUSION: Ezrin and endothelin-1 are not useful in distinguishing between DF and DFSP. Further studies are needed to determine the factors which differentiate DFSP from DF.