title: Ovarian steroid cell tumors: an immunohistochemical study including a comparison of calretinin with inhibin.
abstract: Ovarian steroid cell tumors, not otherwise specified (SCTs, NOS) are uncommon sex cord-stromal tumors that may be difficult to distinguish from other oxyphilic or clear-cell neoplasms. Immunohistochemical staining for inhibin, although generally useful in the diagnosis of SCTs, NOS, is not positive in every case and not all laboratories have this marker available. Recently, it has been reported that calretinin is expressed by sex cord-stromal tumors. We studied six SCTs, NOS for both calretinin and inhibin expression to evaluate the sensitivity of calretinin in comparison to inhibin. We also tested for CD99, Melan-A (A103), and S-100, other markers reported to be positive in these tumors. HMB-45 and MART-1 (Ab3) completed our panel of markers. All six tumors were positive for both calretinin and inhibin. Calretinin positivity was present in 60% to >90% of tumor cells, whereas inhibin reactivity ranged from <5% to >90% of tumor cells. Membranous staining for CD99 was present in one tumor. S-100-positive cells were seen in two tumors, whereas four tumors were immunoreactive for HMB-45. All six tumors were positive for Melan-A (A103), but in general the staining was less diffuse than with calretinin. All of the tumors were essentially negative for MART-1 (Ab3). The consistent diffuse staining of the tumors in this study for calretinin, in comparison to inhibin and Melan-A (A103), suggests that it is a sensitive marker for SCTs, NOS. MART-1 (Ab3) immunostaining may be useful for cases in which melanoma is considered in the differential diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Michael T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Deavers
authors.forename: Anais
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Malpica
authors.forename: Nelson G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Ordonez
authors.forename: Elvio G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Silva
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D064032:Calbindin 2; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007265:Inhibins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008545:Melanoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D064030:S100 Calcium Binding Protein G / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018312:Sex Cord-Gonadal Stromal Tumors / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C576764:CALB2 protein, human; D064032:Calbindin 2; D064030:S100 Calcium Binding Protein G; D007265:Inhibins