High expression of SALL4 and fascin, and loss of E-cadherin expression in undifferentiated/dedifferentiated carcinomas of the endometrium: An immunohistochemical and clinicopathologic study

Medicine (Baltimore). 2017 Mar;96(10):e6248. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000006248.

Abstract

Undifferentiated/dedifferentiated endometrial carcinomas (UCE/DCEs) of the endometrium are rare tumors with poor prognosis. There are few clinicopathologic studies with detailed immunohistochemical analysis regarding UCE/DCEs.We evaluated the diagnostic value of a selected tumor stem-cell marker and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers, in addition to previously studied markers in identifying UCE/DCEs from other types of high-grade endometrial carcinomas.Eleven cases of UCE/DCEs with complete clinical follow-up that were diagnosed between 2006 and 2015 were included in the study. For immunohistochemical comparison, 11 clinically matched cases for each type of other high-grade endometrial carcinomas (high-grade endometrioid (F3-EC), serous [SC], and clear cell carcinoma [CCC]) were used as a control group. An immunohistochemical analysis including fascin, SALL4, E-cadherin, and β-catenin, in addition to epithelial and neuroendocrine markers was performed in each case.The majority of UCE/DCEs displayed diffuse expression of fascin (81.9%) and loss of E-cadherin expression (54.5%). SALL4 expression was detected in 36.3% of the UCE/DCE cases. SALL4 expression was significantly more frequent in UCE/DCEs than all other high-grade carcinomas (P < 0.001). Loss of E-cadherin and fascin expression was significantly more frequent in UCE/DCEs than high-grade endometrioid and clear cell adenocarcinomas (P = 0.012, 0.014 and P = 0.01, 0.003, respectively).We suggest that loss of E-cadherin expression together with fascin and SALL4 immunopositivity in addition to morphologic features have an impact in differential diagnosis of UCE/DCEs from other high-grade endometrial carcinomas.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Cadherins / metabolism*
  • Carcinoma / metabolism*
  • Carcinoma / pathology
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism*
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / pathology
  • Endometrium / pathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Microfilament Proteins / metabolism*
  • Middle Aged
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*

Substances

  • Cadherins
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Microfilament Proteins
  • SALL4 protein, human
  • Transcription Factors
  • fascin