Fas-ligand and caspase-3 positivity in three cases of histiocytic sarcoma: a different etiopathogenic pathway?

Cristiano Claudino Oliveira,Maria Aparecida Custódio Domingues,Rafael Bispo Paschoalini

doi:10.4322/acr.2018.001

Cristiano Claudino Oliveira, Maria Aparecida Custódio Domingues + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.4322/acr.2018.001

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Abstract

Histiocytic sarcoma (HS) is a rare malignant neoplasia of hematopoietic origin and unknown etiology. We studied three patients with histiocytic sarcoma reviewing the morphological and immunohistochemical aspects. We evaluated in particular, if apoptosis may be unbalanced in this disease. All cases have morphological and immunohistochemical features consistent with the diagnosis of histiocytic sarcoma. The markers CD163, CD68, vimentin, lysozyme, and S-100 were positive in all cases. Similarly, the three samples were positive for Fas-ligand and Caspase-3. It is well-known that neoplasms may induce increased levels of Fas-ligand with the blockade of the apoptosis process. In the context of HS, the increased Fas-ligand expression represents a new area for research. Indeed, it is linked to proinflammatory stimulus and, maybe with the association of an infection.

Highlights

Histiocytic sarcoma (HS) is a rare malignant neoplasia of hematopoietic origin and unknown etiology
The diagnosis is made after ruling out other neoplasms such as melanoma, undifferentiated carcinomas, and anaplastic lymphomas.[2,3]
The use of immunohistochemical markers such as CD163, CD68, and lysozyme is mandatory for a definitive diagnosis.[2]

Summary

Introduction

Histiocytic sarcoma (HS) is a rare malignant neoplasia of hematopoietic origin and unknown etiology. We present the immunohistochemical behavior of apoptotic marker pathways in three cases of HS under our service. We reviewed the morphological aspects, using the criteria supported by Hornick et al.[4] These histopathological aspects were (i) cell size; (ii) chromatin pattern; (iii) evident nucleolus; (iv) nuclear inclusion; a São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu School of Medicine (FMB), Department of Pathology. Cited by literature, are cohesivity, epithelioid features, fusiform features, inflammatory infiltrate, phagocytosis, apoptosis, mitosis, necrosis, and hemosiderin.[2,4]

Results

Conclusion