Alveolar soft-part sarcoma: evidence for its myogenic origin and for the involvement of 17q25.
A typical case of alveolar soft-part sarcoma was examined using ultrastructural, immunohistochemical and cytogenetic methods. Immunohistochemical stains were performed on frozen sections and showed strong desmin expression with the three anti-desmin antibodies used. In addition, the tumour cells were weakly positive for vimentin and myosin. Neural markers were negative. Chromosomal analysis showed consistent involvement of 17q25--an abnormality which has been reported in another alveolar soft-part sarcoma. The histogenesis of alveolar soft-part sarcoma is still debatable but our findings support a myogenic origin. The finding of an apparently identical chromosomal abnormality in two of three thus far examined cases of alveolar soft-part sarcoma is of interest and must await further confirmation, but it may result in the identification of a chromosomal marker for this enigmatic tumour and thus pave the way for further molecular elucidation.
Sciot
R
R
Department of Pathology, Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium.
Dal Cin
P
P
De Vos
R
R
Van Damme
B
B
De Wever
I
I
Van den Berghe
H
H
Desmet
V J
VJ
D000328:Adult; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D002886:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 17; D003893:Desmin / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009132:Muscles / Q000473:pathology; D009218:Myosins / Q000378:metabolism; D018234:Sarcoma, Alveolar Soft Part / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D014746:Vimentin / Q000378:metabolism
D003893:Desmin; D005819:Genetic Markers; D014746:Vimentin; D009218:Myosins