title: Hormone receptor expression in patients with dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a rare cutaneous sarcoma for which the exact etiology is unknown. Case reports exist of DFSP appearing and growing rapidly during pregnancy, suggesting a hormonal role.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Our goal was to determine the expression of estrogen receptors (ERs) and progesterone receptors (PRs) in patients with DFSP.
  
  
  METHODS
  Archived formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue from patients with DFSP in the past 20 years at a single institution were analyzed for ER and PR using immunohistochemistry. A semiquantitative scoring method was used to evaluate the expression as positive or negative. Analysis was used to determine whether there was an association between receptor positivity and tumor site, age at diagnosis, sex, race, or disease recurrence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-four patients with DFSP were included in the study. Tumors were 22.7% ER+/PR+, 34.1% ER+/PR-, 9.1% ER-/PR+, and 34.1% ER-/PR-. There was no significant association between expression of ER and PR and sex, age at diagnosis, race, or tumor location. Loss of receptor expression was observed in all recurrent tumors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study is limited by a lack of follow-up and a new scoring system.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data presented warrant additional study to determine hormone receptor function and the potential efficacy of antihormone therapies for the treatment of patients with DFSP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio. Electronic address: klk88@case.edu.
authors.forename: Kathryn L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Kreicher
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio; Department of Pathology, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio.
authors.forename: Kord S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Honda
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio.
authors.forename: David E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Kurlander
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio.
authors.forename: Jeremy S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Bordeaux
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018223:Dermatofibrosarcoma / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D035002:Lower Extremity; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000737:chemistry*; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis*; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000032:analysis*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000175:diagnosis; D060726:Torso; D034941:Upper Extremity; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone
keywords: dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans; estrogen receptor; growth factor; growth hormone; histology; histopathology; immunohistochemistry; progesterone receptor; receptor expression; sarcoma