Expression of cd44 and mmp-2: possible association with histopathological features of pleuro-pulmonary solitary fibrous tumors

Abstract

Recent studies have shown that tumor cell adhesion molecules CD44 and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2) are expressed strongly in many tumors and associated closely with invasion and metastasis of these tumors. Although solitary fibrous tumors (SFT) have a good prognosis, a minority behave malignantly. The aim of this study was to analyze the correlation between CD44 and MMP-2 expression with histopathological parameters in SFT. Haemotaxylin-Eosin stained sections of 10 patients with SFT were reexamined for evaluation of histopathological parameters. Immunostaining of CD44 and MMP-2 was performed by using the streptavidin-biotin method with mouse monoclonal antibody. Our cases consisted of three male and seven female patients with a mean age of 54.5 years. Three patients had a history of asbest exposure. Complete resection was performed in 2 malignant (multiple masses) and 8 benign SFT cases. One intrapulmonary tumor was treated with pneumonectomy. 3 cases originated from the right and 7 from the left hemithorax. Tumor size ranged from 5 to 27cm. All cases expressed strong CD44. Only 2 malignant SFT and intrapulmonary SFT expressed focal MMP-2. Although MMP-2 positivity was observed in 2 malignant cases, CD44 positivity was not associated with malignancy criteria in solitary fibrous tumors.