Characterization of molecular abnormalities in human fibroblastic neoplasms: A model for genotype-phenotype association in soft tissue tumors Journal Article


Authors: Hoos, A.; Lewis, J. J.; Antonescu, C. R.; Dudas, M. E.; Leon, L.; Woodruff, J. M.; Brennan, M. F.; Cordon-Cardo, C.
Article Title: Characterization of molecular abnormalities in human fibroblastic neoplasms: A model for genotype-phenotype association in soft tissue tumors
Abstract: Desmoid tumors and fibrosarcomas (FS) are part of a wide spectrum of disordered fibroblastic growth that display striking clinical and phenotypic differences. This study was designed to characterize molecular abnormalities that are associated with these differences and to determine their clinical relevance. A cohort of 24 desmoid tumors and 25 low-grade (LG) and 14 high-grade (HG) FS that were clinically and pathologically well characterized was analyzed for alterations in expression of Ki-67, Bcl-2, retinoblastoma gene product (pRB), and p53 by immunohistochemistry. LG-FS and HG-FS showed abnormal expression of Ki-67 (32 versus 86%), Bcl-2 (48 versus 57%), and pRB (56 versus 93%). In contrast, desmoid tumors showed a normal phenotype with these markers, p53 overexpression was identified in 20% of LG-FS and in 29% of HG-FS cases but only in 4% of desmoid tumors. There was an increasing trend in the proportion of abnormal expression of Ki-67, Bcl-2, pRB, and p53 with the increase of tumor aggressiveness from desmoid tumors to LG-FS to HG-FS. The molecular differences between tumor entities were highly statistically significant (P < 0.01). Significant associations between abnormal expression of pRB and recurrence-free survival of LG-FS patients (P = 0.05) and between Ki-67 overexpression and recurrence-free survival for tumors of >5 cm were observed (P = 0.02). The demonstrated differences of molecular alterations in HG-FS, LG-FS, and desmoids appear to be related to biological aggressiveness of such tumors, and they might be useful to differentiate between histologically similar cases of desmoid tumors and LG-FS. pRB and Ki-67 status may be useful to predict recurrence in certain subsets of patients.
Keywords: adolescent; adult; cancer survival; child; controlled study; human tissue; protein expression; school child; aged; aged, 80 and over; disease-free survival; middle aged; cancer recurrence; ki 67 antigen; ki-67 antigen; phenotype; cell cycle; cell division; gene overexpression; protein bcl 2; apoptosis; gene expression; tumor markers, biological; genetic association; genotype; gene product; protein p53; cancer invasion; fibrosarcoma; tumor suppressor protein p53; cancer classification; retinoblastoma protein; soft tissue neoplasms; soft tissue tumor; desmoid tumor; fibromatosis, aggressive; humans; prognosis; human; priority journal; article
Journal Title: Cancer Research
Volume: 61
Issue: 7
ISSN: 0008-5472
Publisher: American Association for Cancer Research  
Date Published: 2001-04-01
Start Page: 3171
End Page: 3175
Language: English
PUBMED: 11306504
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI/URL:
Notes: Export Date: 21 May 2015 -- Source: Scopus
Citation Impact
MSK Authors
  1. Murray F Brennan
    1059 Brennan
  2. Jonathan J Lewis
    109 Lewis
  3. Larry F Leon
    12 Leon
  4. Axel Hoos
    28 Hoos
  5. Cristina R Antonescu
    895 Antonescu
  6. Maria E Dudas
    53 Dudas
  7. James M Woodruff
    162 Woodruff