Expression of retinoic acid receptor beta in dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans.
BACKGROUND
Retinoic acid receptor beta (RAR beta) has been shown to act as a tumor suppressor in many solid human tumors. To investigate the putative role of RAR beta in dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP), we examined the expression of RAR beta in DFSPs and analyzed the correlation of expression patterns between RAR beta and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 as well as clinicopathological variables.


METHODS
Using tissue microarray and immunohistochemistry, we evaluated nuclear RAR beta staining and cytoplasm COX-2 staining in 53 DFSPs.


RESULTS
48 DFSPs (90.58%) were immunopositive for RAR beta, while 32 DFSPs (60.38%) were immunopositive for COX-2. RAR beta staining was significantly inversely correlated with COX-2 staining (p < 0.001; r =-0.668).


CONCLUSIONS
Our data indicated that RAR beta expressed in DFSPs and correlated with COX-2 expression. RAR beta may be a potential therapeutic target for unresectable DFSP cases.
Xiaoli
Zhou
Z
Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu, China.
Qinhe
Fan
F
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018223:Dermatofibrosarcoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D046888:Tissue Array Analysis; D055815:Young Adult
D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid; C082925:retinoic acid receptor beta; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2