Abstract:

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to search the expression of CD 117 in different groups of benign and malign uterin mesenchymal tumors and its relation with tumor types, morphologic properties and its role in differential diagnosis. METHODS: Histologic sections of paraffın blocks of 12 uterin leiomyosarkomas (LMS), 8 low grade endometrial stromal sarcomas (LGESS), 4 atypical leiomyomas (ALM), 31 cellular leiomyomas (CLM) and 9 dassic leiomyomas were immunostained w ith CD 117 antibody. Individual tumors were considered positive if more than 10 % of the cells comprising the neoplasm displayed immunreactive staining. Staining intensity was graded + 1 to +3 and distribution as focal (1 0-30% ), intermediate (30-60%) and diffuse (>60%). RESULTS: Positive immunstaining was obtained in 11(91.7%) of the 12 LMS, 7 (87.5%) of the ESS, 27 (87%) of 31 CLM and all of the 4 ALM and 9 (100%) dassic leiomyoma. C-KlT expression was not detected in 6 cases. The distribution of immunohistochemical staining was focal ( 30%) in 19 cases, intermediate (30-60%) in 20 cases and diffuse (>60%) in 19 cases. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: We determined high CD 117 expression with different staining distribution and density in uterin mesenchymal tumors. We did not observe meaningful differences between tumor types and morphologic properties. Obtaining the immunohistochemical CD 117 expression does not prove the genetic mutation related with this protein. These studies should be supported by malecular pathologic techniques and the genetic mechanisms that result with CD 117 expressian should be discovered.

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