Korean J Dermatol.  2010 Aug;48(8):678-683.

Ezrin and Endothelin-1 Expression in Dermatofibroma and Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans

• Youn SH
• Choi WJ
• Cho EB
• Park HR
• Park EJ
• Kwon IH
• Kim KH
• Kim KJ

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Distinction of dermatofibroma (DF) from dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is occasionally difficult. Histologically, DF shows fibrohistiocyte growth, and DFSP shows myofibroblast proliferation. This difference is usually targeted by several immunohistochemical staining to differentiate between these two entities. Ezrin, a member of ezrin-radixin-moesin family of protein, has a critical role in oncogenic transformation. And endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a family of endothelin-derived peptides that promotes myofibroblast contraction and migration.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of ezrin and endothelin-1 in differentiating between DF and DFSP.
METHODS
Formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissues from 20 DFs and 10 DFSPs were immunohistochemically stained with ezrin and ET-1 monoclonal antibodies.
RESULTS
No DF case showed ezrin expression, whereas 3 of 10 DFSP cases showed weak positive reaction for ezrin. This difference was not statistically significant. In DF, 5 cases showed strong positive, 3 showed moderate positive, 4 were weak positive and 8 cases showed negative by ET-1 staining. In DFSP, 6 cases were strong positive, 1 was moderate positive, 2 were weak positive and 1 showed negative by ET-1.
CONCLUSION
Ezrin and endothelin-1 are not useful in distinguishing between DF and DFSP. Further studies are needed to determine the factors which differentiate DFSP from DF.

Keyword

Dermatofibroma; Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans; Endothelin-1; Ezrin

MeSH Terms

Antibodies, Monoclonal
Contracts
Cytoskeletal Proteins
Dermatofibrosarcoma
Endothelin-1
Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous
Humans
Myofibroblasts
Peptides
Antibodies, Monoclonal
Cytoskeletal Proteins
Dermatofibrosarcoma
Endothelin-1
Peptides