title: Procollagen 1 - a marker of fibroblastic and fibrohistiocytic skin tumors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  When dealing with tumors of presumed fibroblastic or fibrohistiocytic origin, immunohistochemistry is traditionally done to exclude a tumor of non-fibroblastic or non-fibrohistiocytic nature, because a reliable marker of fibroblastic or fibrohistiocytic cell origin is still to be introduced. This study investigates whether procollagen 1 is a useful marker of skin tumors composed of cells derived from fibroblasts or fibrohistiocytes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-nine different types of skin tumors, including tumors composed of spindle cells as well as some additional epithelial and melanocytic tumors, were stained immunohistochemically with antibodies against procollagen 1. The total number of cases tested was 154.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Tumors composed of cells of fibroblastic or fibrohistiocytic origin in general showed a high expression of procollagen 1, whereas tumors composed of non-fibroblastic cells in general showed no expression. However, there were a few exceptions, e.g., leiomyosarcoma and desmoplastic melanoma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study suggests that immunohistochemical staining for procollagen 1 is a valuable marker for skin tumors composed of spindle cells derived from fibroblasts or fibrohistiocytes. However, in cases of spindle cell tumors with a morphology suggesting malignancy, it is recommended to use a panel of antibodies, which besides procollagen 1 includes markers such as S100, CD68, CD34, h-caldesmon, and pancytokeratin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen Hospital Cooperation, Copenhagen, Denmark. dkrustrup@tiscali.dk
authors.forename: Dorrit
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Krustrup
authors.forename: Kristian
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rossen
authors.forename: Henrik Klem
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Thomsen
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006644:Histiocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D011347:Procollagen / Q000378:metabolism*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D011347:Procollagen