title: Immunohistochemical expression of Galectin-3 and HBME-1 in granular cell tumors: a new finding.
abstract: Granular cell tumor (GCT) is a relatively rare neoplasm, usually located in the upper aerodigestive tract, skin and soft tissue. Because of its uncertain histogenesis, GCT has been the object of many immunohistochemical and ultrastructural studies that have suggested a Schwann cell origin. Our recent observation of a case of GCT immunoreactive for Galectin-3 and HBME-1 led us to further investigate the immunohistochemical profile of these neoplasms. We evaluated the immunohistochemical expression of the traditional markers for GCT (S-100, CD68) along with new markers (Galectin-3, HBME-1, Calretinina and Inhibin-alpha) in 22 granular cell tumors. Our results showed, in all cases, a constant diffuse positivity for S-100 protein, CD68 and Galectin-3. HBME-1 was positive in 95% of cases. The present study gives a new immunophenotypic profile for GCT, which could help pathologists in distinguishing morphologically ambiguous granular lesions in unusual sites.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathologic Anatomy and Histology, Division of Cancer Research, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy. guidobellezza@virgilio.it
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bellezza
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Colella
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sidoni
authors.forename: Rachele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Del Sordo
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ferri
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cioccoloni
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cavaliere
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D016586:Granular Cell Tumor / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D037502:Galectin 3; C432845:HBME-1 antigen; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm