The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of a broad panel of
antibodies used as diagnostic markers for abdominal mesenchymal
tumors in uterine
sarcomas. The expression of
vimentin, AE1/AE3, smooth muscle actin (SMA),
desmin , h-
caldesmon, actin, Myf4, CD10, CD31, CD68, CD117,
factor VIII, HMB-45, and
S-100 protein was studied in 397 uterine
sarcomas. SMA was positive in 90% of the ordinary
leiomyosarcomas and when combined with
desmin or h-
caldesmon, a positivity of 96% and 92%, respectively, was achieved. Actin and Myf4 were positive in 4 of 5
rhabdomyosarcomas.
Endometrial stromal sarcomas reacted positive with CD10 in 62 of 84
tumors and negative with h-
caldesmon in 75 of 84
tumors. CD10 was the most frequent positive marker in
adenosarcoma. Most
tumor markers stained negative in undifferentiated uterine
sarcoma, but 12 of 21
tumors reacted positive for SMA. A few focally HMB-45-positive cells were found within all
tumor groups, except in
rhabdomyosarcomas and
giant cell tumors. Endothelial markers,
S-100 protein, and CD117 do not seem to be of any diagnostic value in uterine
sarcomas. In conclusion, when immunohistochemistry is used diagnostically in uterine
sarcomas, a broad panel of markers provides better information than reliance on a single antibody.