title: Nestin expression as a new marker in malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors.
abstract: Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) can be difficult to diagnose because it lacks specific immunohistochemical markers. S-100, which is a useful marker of MPNST, has limited diagnostic utility. Recent studies suggest that nestin, which is an intermediate filament protein, is expressed in neuroectodermal stem cells. The diagnostic utility of immunostains for nestin and three other neural markers (S-100, CD56 and protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5)) were evaluated in 35 cases of MPNST and in other spindle cell tumors. All MPNST cases were strongly positive for nestin and had cytoplasmic staining. Stains for S-100, CD56, and PGP 9.5 were positive in fewer cases (17/35, 11/35, and 29/35 cases, respectively), and had less extensive staining. Nestin was negative in 10/10 leiomyomas, and weak nestin expression was seen in 10/10 schwannomas, 3/10 neurofibromas, 2/8 synovial sarcomas, 2/10 liposarcomas, 4/7 carcinosarcomas and 3/7 malignant fibrous histiocytomas. In contrast, strong nestin positivity was seen in 10/10 rhabdomyosarcomas, 15/19 leiomyosarcomas, and 9/9 desmoplastic melanomas. Nestin is more sensitive for MPNST than other neural markers and immunostains for nestin in combination with other markers could be useful in the diagnosis of MPNST.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pathology of Biological Response, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Satoko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shimada
authors.forename: Toyonori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsuzuki
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kuroda
authors.forename: Tetsuro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nagasaka
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hara
authors.forename: Emiko
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Seijun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hayakawa
authors.forename: Kenzo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ono
authors.forename: Nagako
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Maeda
authors.forename: Naoyoshi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: Peter B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Illei
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002420:Cauda Equina / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007890:Leiomyosarcoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D018317:Nerve Sheath Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D064231:Nestin; D009442:Neurilemmoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012208:Rhabdomyosarcoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins; C577484:NES protein, human; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D064231:Nestin