Abstract
ObjectivesAlthough several studies have been conducted regarding Kaposi sarcoma (KS), its histogenesis still remains to be elucidated. The aim of our study was to analyze the immunophenotype of Kaposi sarcoma and to present a hypothesis about the histogenesis of this tumor, based on a case series and a review of relevant literature.MethodsIn 15 cases of KSs diagnosed during 2000–2011, the clinicopathological features were correlated with the immunoexpression of c-Kit, SMA, CD34, CD31, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), COX-2, c-KIT, smooth muscle antigen (SMA), and stem cell surface marker CD105.ResultsBoth CD105 and c-KIT rate of the spindle-shaped tumor cell positivity increased in parallel to the pathological stage. All cases displayed CD105 and weak c-KIT positivity in the endothelial cells. SMA, VEGF, and COX-2 were focally expressed in all cases. CD34 marked both endothelium and spindle-shaped tumor cells. No c-KIT expression was noticed in KS of the internal organs.ConclusionsKS seems to be a variant of myofibroblastic tumors that originates from the viral modified pluripotent mesenchymal cells of the connective tissue transformed in spindle-shaped KS cells, followed by a mesenchymal-endothelial transition and a myofibroblastic-like differentiation. This paper mailnly showed that KS cannot be considered a pure vascular tumor.
Highlights
Kaposi sarcoma (KS) was first described in 1872 by MoritzKaposi as an idiopathic hemorrhagic-pigmented sarcoma of the skin (‘‘sarcoma idiopathicum multiplex hemorrhagicum’’), which affects elderly male subjects [1]
KS seems to be a variant of myofibroblastic tumors that originates from the viral modified pluripotent mesenchymal cells of the connective tissue transformed in spindle-shaped KS cells, followed by a mesenchymal-endothelial transition and a myofibroblastic-like differentiation
This paper mailnly showed that KS cannot be considered a pure vascular tumor
Summary
Kaposi sarcoma (KS) was first described in 1872 by Moritz. Kaposi as an idiopathic hemorrhagic-pigmented sarcoma of the skin (‘‘sarcoma idiopathicum multiplex hemorrhagicum’’), which affects elderly male subjects [1]. Seminal advancements have been made regarding the understanding of the tumor, its histogenesis is still controversial. The immunohistochemical features of KS could help in the elucidation of its histogenesis. To asses this goal, we analyzed the immunohistochemical expression of c-KIT, CD34, CD31, CD105, smooth muscle actin (SMA), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and COX-2 in KS cells and performed a review of the relevant literature related to these aspects
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