Immunohistochemical Detection of HER-2/neu, c-Kit (CD117) and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) Overexpression in Soft Tissue Sarcomas

Anil Potti, Apar Kishor Ganti, Heidi Foster, Stacey Knox, Brian J. Hebert, Ketki Tendulkar, Kaley Sholes, Michael Koch, Steven Kargas

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

36 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of HER-2/neu, VEGF and CD117 overexpression in soft tissue sarcomas (STS) and to study the effect of this overexpression, if present, on survival in patients with specific histological subtypes of STS. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational study on patients diagnosed with STS during the period of 1986-2001. HER-2/neu overexpression was measured in these patients by immunohistochemistry (IHC) using the Hercep test developed by DAKO®. VEGF expression was detected by the avidin-biotin-complex method using Santa Cruz biotechnology (SC 7629). Immunohistochemical staining for c-kit was performed using a 1:250 dilution of the rabbit polyclonal antibody A4502 (IMPATH, CA) with the EnVision detection system. Results: Two hundred and seventy three patients were diagnosed as having STS between 1986 and 2001, however of these patients, only 90 (51 females and 49 males) had enough sample available for testing. Patients who overexpressed VEGF had a significantly shorter survival (23 vs. 52 months; p=0. 01). There was no effect of overexpression of either CD117 or HER-2/neu on survival. Studying the individual histological subtypes we found that, in malignant fibrous histiocytoma, overexpression of either VEGF or CD117 increased survival (41.3 vs. 19.5 months, p=0.01; and 84.5 vs. 17 months, p=0. 006 respectively). In leiomyosarcoma, VEGF overexpression significantly decreased survival (7.5 vs. 76 months, p=0.03), while CD117 overexpression significantly increased survival (70.9 vs. 46.3 months, p=0.03). Conclusion: VEGF overexpression is associated with an adverse outcome in STS. Whether this is true of any particular histological subtype is unclear and needs further investigation. Also, site-specific agents targeting these three bio-markers (alone or with conventional therapy) may have a therapeutic role and need to be elaborated in future clinical trials.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)333-337
Number of pages5
JournalAnticancer Research
Volume24
Issue number1
StatePublished - Jan 2004

Keywords

  • HER-2/neu
  • Soft tissue sarcomas
  • VEGF
  • c-Kit

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Immunohistochemical Detection of HER-2/neu, c-Kit (CD117) and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) Overexpression in Soft Tissue Sarcomas'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this