Expression and its clinical significance of immunological markers in tumor tissues of 338 patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumor

Abstract

Objective To analyze the expressions and clinical significance of CD117, CD34, smooth muscle actin (SMA), DOG-1 and desmin in tumor tissues of patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). Methods From May 2008 to December 2016, 338 GIST patients were enrolled and the clinicopathological characteristics were recorded. The expressions of CD117, CD34, SMA, DOG-1 and desmin in tumor tissues of the enrolled patients were detected by immunohistochemistry. Chi-square test and rank-sum test were performed for statistical analysis. Results Among 338 GIST patients, cases positive for CD117, CD34, SMA, DOG-1 and desmin were 332 (98.2%), 308 (91.1%), 133 (39.3%), 322 (95.3%) and 48 (14.2%), respectively. There were significant differences in CD34 expression among tumors with different maximum diameter, risk grade and primary site (Z=-3.085, -3.064, χ2=57.110; all P<0.05). The difference in CD117 expression among different nationalities was statistically significant (χ2=10.641, P<0.05). The differences in desmin expression among tumors with different maximum diameter, risk grade and mitotic counting were statistically significant (Z=-2.343, -2.625 and -2.005, all P<0.05). Among all 338 GIST patients, six cases for CD117 were negative, five of them for CD34 were positive, three SMA positive and five DOG-1 positive. The co-expression positive rates of CD117 with CD34, SMA, DOG-1 were 89.6%(303/338), 38.5%(130/338), 93.8%(317/338) and 14.2%(48/338), respectively. Conclusions CD117 is an essential immunological marker for the diagnosis of GIST. For CD117-negative GIST patients, CD34, SMA, DOG-1 and desmin are helpful in improving the accuracy of GIST diagnosis and differentiated diagnosis. Key words: Immunohistochemistry; Diagnosis; Gastrointestinal stromal tumor; Clinicopathological characterestics; Immune markers