title: Reappraisal of TLE-1 immunohistochemical staining and molecular detection of SS18-SSX fusion transcripts for synovial sarcoma.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to re-evaluate TLE-1 staining and the molecular detection methods of SS18-SSX transcripts for synovial sarcoma. We analyzed TLE-1 expression in 50 molecularly confirmed synovial sarcomas and 85 other soft tissue tumors with three previously published scoring systems. In the present study, 39 to 43 synovial sarcomas showed TLE-1 nuclear staining, whereas 9-15 of 85 other soft tissue tumors showed TLE-1 staining (P < 0.0001). The specificities of strong TLE-1 staining were 100%, 97.6% and 98.8%. The positive likelihood ratio of moderate and strong TLE-1 nuclear expression was >10 in all three scoring systems. There was no difference in TLE-1 staining between different subtypes of synovial sarcoma (P > 0.05). Based on a comparison between conventional reverse transcription (RT)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), quantitative RT-PCR is a more sensitive method than conventional RT-PCR and FISH to detect t(X;18). A positive correlation between TLE-1 staining and SS18-SSX translocation was detected by conventional PCR (P < 0.05). In conclusion, although all three scoring systems could differentiate synovial sarcoma from other soft tissue tumors, diffuse moderate to severe intensity tumors showed the highest specificity in the diagnosis of synovial sarcoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University School of Medicine, Kwei-Shan, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Huei-Chieh
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Chuang
authors.forename: Sheng-Chi
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Chung-Guei
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Swei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hsueh
authors.forename: Kwai-Fong
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: Tse-Ching
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D056970:Co-Repressor Proteins; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013584:Sarcoma, Synovial / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014178:Translocation, Genetic
chemical_list: D056970:Co-Repressor Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; C499043:TLE1 protein, human
keywords: 18); SS18; SSX; TLE-1; immunohistochemistry; molecular diagnosis; scoring system; synovial sarcoma; t(X