CA125 expression in epithelioid sarcoma

Objective: There has been no report on useful immunohistological markers for epithelioid sarcoma (ES) so far. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the positivity and specificity of CA125 as a marker for the correct diagnosis of ES. Methods: This study was performed in 11 patients with ES (nine men and two women; distal type: 10 cases; proximal type: one case), 78 patients with other soft tissue tumors and nine with benign granulomas. The other soft tissue tumors consisted of six synovial sarcomas, six clear cell sarcomas, eight leiomyosarcomas, six rhabdomyosarcomas, five malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors, ten malignant fibrous histiocytomas, 17 desmoid tumors, 14 liposarcomas, six squamous cell carcinomas (cutaneous SCC of the distal extremities), two rheumatoid nodules and seven foreign body granulomas. Immunohistochemical analysis for CA125 was performed for these 89 soft tissue tumors and nine granulomas using a labeled streptavidin biotin method. Immunohistochemical analysis of epithelial membrane antigen, cytokeratin, carcinoembrionic antigen, vimentin and CD34 was performed only for the 11 ES patients. Results: CA125 was strongly expressed in 10 out of the 11 ES patients. EMA, cytokeratin and vimentin were also positive in all the cases. CEA was positive in two of the 11 patients. Immunohistochemical study in six ES patients showed expression of CD 34. The other 78 soft tissue tumors and nine granulomas did not express CA125. Conclusion: This study clearly revealed the specificity and positivity of CA125 in ES. These data indicate that CA125 may be a useful tumor marker for diagnosing ES.