title: Steroidogenic acute regulatory protein is a useful marker for Leydig cells and sex-cord stromal tumors.
abstract: Steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein is a rate-limiting protein, which is essential for transporting cholesterol into the mitochondria for steroidogenesis. StAR protein could be a marker for steroidogenic tissues. In this study, we investigated StAR protein levels in sex-cord stromal tumors (SCSTs) including 31 adult granulosa cell tumors, 3 juvenile granulosa cell tumors, 10 fibrothecomas, 2 luteinized thecomas, 4 Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors (SLCTs), 4 sclerosing stromal tumor and 3 Leydig cell tumors (LCTs), and 219 non-SCSTs. SCSTs were used for immunohistochemical staining of StAR protein, α-inhibin, calretinin, and CD99. All the 3 LCTs (100%) strongly stained for StAR protein; 30 of the 31 adult granulosa cell tumors (96%) showed focal staining of StAR protein; all the 10 fibrothecomas and 4 sclerosing stromal tumors (100%) were negative for StAR protein staining; StAR protein stained in Leydig cells but not in Sertoli cells in the 4 SLCTs. All the non-SCSTs were negative for StAR protein except for tumor cells in 4 adrenocortical adenomas and 2 adrenocortical carcinomas. Results of the study indicate that StAR protein is a useful marker for differential diagnosis of SCSTs. It is sensitive and specific for Leydig cells in tumors containing this component (LCT, SLCT), and can express focally in granulosa cell tumors. It is negative for Sertoli cells and nonluteinized theca cells.
authors.affiliation: Center for Molecular Pathology and Department of Pathology, the 1st Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical College, Wenzhou, PR China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Huan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zhitao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Sanqiang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.forename: Rongrong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Guorong
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D064032:Calbindin 2; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D064030:S100 Calcium Binding Protein G / Q000378:metabolism; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018312:Sex Cord-Gonadal Stromal Tumors / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D000098682:Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C576764:CALB2 protein, human; D064032:Calbindin 2; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D064030:S100 Calcium Binding Protein G; D000098682:Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein