Gastrointestinal stromal tumors: usefulness of immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry and fluorescence in situ hybridization.
OBJECTIVE
Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) constitute a group of primary mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract, known for their diversity in clinical behavior and the difficulties in determining malignancy and prognosis. This retrospective study evaluated a series of GIST by means of immunohistochemical techniques, flow cytometry and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH).


METHODS
Nine patients with GIST were analyzed for tumor size, mitotic count and CD117, CD34, MIB-1 with immunohistochemistry. In addition, the GIST were tested with FISH for chromosomes 8 and 17 and DNA index was evaluated by flow cytometry.


RESULTS
The findings confirmed the usefulness of CD117 and CD34 in diagnosing GIST and the prognostic role of MIB-1, but do not support a correlation between aneuploidy in flow cytometry and poor outcome. The FISH results suggest close follow-up for patients with benign GIST with a numerical alteration of chromosome 8. The technique could select patients with tumors at high-risk with aneusomy of chromosome 17.


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows the possible application of FISH to the evaluation of patients with GIST, in addition to analysis of morphological features.
Fontana
Maria Grazia
MG
First Department of Surgery, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
Rossi
Elisa
E
Bassotti
Gabrio
G
Aquilano
Maria Costanza
MC
Cadei
Morris
M
Grigolato
Piergiovanni
P
Villanacci
Vincenzo
V
D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000032:analysis; D002886:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 17; D002898:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 8; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D046152:Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008940:Mitotic Index; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000032:analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
D018952:Antigens, CD34; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit