Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour arising within neurofibroma. An immunohistochemical analysis in the comparison between benign and malignant components.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the expression of immunohistochemical variables between benign and malignant components of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour (MPNST) arising within neurofibroma.


METHODS
Eight cases of MPNST arising within a neurofibroma, associated with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), were studied. The areas of MPNST and neurofibroma were compared immunohistochemically with regard to the expression of proliferative activity (MIB-1), growth factors, p53, bcl-2, neural cell adhesion molecule (N-CAM), and CD34.


RESULTS
The expression of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1), TGF-beta receptor type II, hepatocyte growth factor alpha (HGF-alpha), c-met, p53, and N-CAM was higher in the areas of MPNST than in the neurofibromatous areas in four, five, five, eight, five, and three of the eight cases, respectively. CD34 expression was lower in the areas of MPNST than in the neurofibroma areas in three of the eight cases.


CONCLUSIONS
On the basis of these findings, TGF-beta 1, HGF-alpha, and p53 might be involved in the malignant transformation of neurofibroma to MPNST.
Watanabe
T
T
Department of Anatomic Pathology, Pathological Sciences, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.
Oda
Y
Y
Tamiya
S
S
Masuda
K
K
Tsuneyoshi
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000032:analysis*; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008875:Middle Aged; D009378:Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D018317:Nerve Sheath Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D019006:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000032:analysis; D009456:Neurofibromatosis 1 / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000032:analysis; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met / Q000032:analysis; D011817:Rabbits; D000077294:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type II; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000032:analysis; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000032:analysis*; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000032:analysis*
D018952:Antigens, CD34; D006133:Growth Substances; D019006:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; C082332:macrophage stimulating protein; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D000077294:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type II