title: Expression of CD44 and MMP-2: possible association with histopathological features of pleuro-pulmonary solitary fibrous tumors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recent studies have shown that tumor cell adhesion molecules CD44 and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2) are expressed strongly in many tumors and associated closely with invasion and metastasis of these tumors. Although solitary fibrous tumors (SFT) have a good prognosis, a minority behave malignantly. The aim of this study was to analyze the correlation between CD44 and MMP-2 expression with histopathological parameters in SFT.
  
  
  METHODS
  Haemotaxylin-Eosin stained sections of 10 patients with SFT were reexamined for evaluation of histopathological parameters. Immunostaining of CD44 and MMP-2 was performed by using the streptavidin-biotin method with mouse monoclonal antibody.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our cases consisted of three male and seven female patients with a mean age of 54.5 years. Three patients had a history of asbest exposure. Complete resection was performed in 2 malignant (multiple masses) and 8 benign SFT cases. One intrapulmonary tumor was treated with pneumonectomy. 3 cases originated from the right and 7 from the left hemithorax. Tumor size ranged from 5 to 27cm. All cases expressed strong CD44. Only 2 malignant SFT and intrapulmonary SFT expressed focal MMP-2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although MMP-2 positivity was observed in 2 malignant cases, CD44 positivity was not associated with malignancy criteria in solitary fibrous tumors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, M.H. Atatürk Chest Diseases and Chest Surgery Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. fundademirag@yahoo.com.tr
authors.forename: Funda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Demırağ
authors.forename: Ebru
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cakir
authors.forename: Sibel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alpar
authors.forename: Irfan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Taştepe
authors.forename: Sadi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaya
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D054363:Solitary Fibrous Tumor, Pleural / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D054364:Solitary Fibrous Tumors / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C497483:CD44 protein, human; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; C522361:MMP2 protein, human; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2