title: Study of Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition in Atypical Fibroxanthoma and Undifferentiated Pleomorphic Sarcoma to Discern an Epithelial Origin.
abstract: Atypical fibroxanthoma (AFX) is considered a fibroblastic or myofibroblastic neoplasm probably corresponding to a superficial variant of undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS). However, an epithelial origin has also been postulated. An immunohistochemical study of the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) phenomenon was performed in a series of 19 AFX and 4 UPS to discern an epithelial origin. A panel of epithelial (cytokeratins AE1-AE3 panel, podoplanin D2-40, and E-cadherin) and EMT (vimentin, Twist, Zeb1, and Snail1) markers were evaluated in both tumoral cells and the adjacent epidermis. Podoplanin and Snail1 were negative in all the samples. Nuclear E-cadherin, Twist, and Zeb1 were detected in most lesions, as previously reported in other sarcomas. In the epidermis, E-cadherin showed a normal membranous pattern and only isolated cells were positive for vimentin. Twist and Zeb1 were mainly negative in the epidermis. None of the immunohistochemical markers mentioned above elicited a conspicuous bridging between the epidermis and the dermis. Our findings suggest that EMT does not play a role in the development of AFX or UPS.
authors.affiliation: Departments of *Dermatology, and †Pathology, Hospital del Mar, Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, Spain; and ‡Inflammatory and Cardiovascular Disorders Program, IMIM (Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques), Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Agustí
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Toll
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gimeno
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Baró
authors.forename: Maria I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Hernández-Muñoz
authors.forename: Ramon M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Pujol
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; D005260:Female; D051677:Histiocytoma, Malignant Fibrous / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor