Epithelioid Hemangioendothelioma: clinicopathologic, immunhistochemical, and molecular genetic analysis of 39 cases

  • Uta Flucke*
  • , Rob J. C. Vogels
  • , Nicolas de Saint Aubain Somerhausen
  • , David H. Creytens
  • , Robert G. Riedl
  • , Joost M. van Gorp
  • , Anya N. Milne
  • , Clement J. Huysentruyt
  • , Marian A. J. Verdijk
  • , Monique M. van Asseldonk
  • , Albert J. H. Suurmeijer
  • , Johannes Bras
  • , Gabriele Palmedo
  • , Patricia J. T. A. Groenen
  • , Thomas Mentzel
  • *Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Background: Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma is a malignant, often indolent vascular tumor which occurs at various anatomic sites. Based on a reciprocal translocation t (1;3)(p36;q25), a consistent WWTR1-CAMTA1 fusion gene has been found. An alternate YAP1-TFE3 fusion has been detected in a small and distinct subset of cases. Methods: Thirty-nine tumors, from 24 females and 15 males with an age range 9-85 years, were located in soft tissue (head and neck [8], trunk [5], upper extremities [3], lower extremities [2], mediastinal [1], and paratesticular [1]), lymph node (1), breast (1), skin (2), bone (6), lung (7), and liver (2). The cases were investigated using a panel of immunohistochemical markers. The aforementioned fusion-genes were examined using RT-PCR and/or FISH in order to validate their diagnostic value. Results: Follow-up available for 17 patients ranged from 3 months to 7 years (median interval 1.5 years). Eleven patients were alive without disease, 2 patients were alive with disease after 1.5 and 2 years, respectively. Four patients died of disease after 4 months (n = 1), 5 months (n = 2), and 1.5 years (n = 1). The size, known for 30 lesions, was >3 cm in 9 of them. Histologically, all lesions had classical features, at least focally. Four tumors counted >3 mitoses/50 HPF. Immunohistochemically, all cases tested stained positive for ERG (21), FLI1 (5) and CD31 (39). CD34 and D2-40 positivity was seen in 81% and 71% of the examined cases, respectively. 11/35 cases expressed pan-keratin and 6/20 cases CK8.18. TFE3 showed a nuclear reaction in 21/24 cases, irrespective of TFE3 rearrangement. Molecular genetically, 35/35 cases revealed one of the fusion genes by FISH and/or RT-PCR with WWTR1-CAMTA1 in 33 cases and YAP1-TFE3 in 2 cases. Conclusions: These results demonstrate the high diagnostic value of FISH and RT-PCR in detecting the fusion genes of EHE. The immunohistochemical utility of TFE3 appears questionable in this study.
Original languageEnglish
Article number131
JournalDiagnostic Pathology
Volume9
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jul 2014

Keywords

  • Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma
  • Vascular tumors
  • Soft tissue
  • Bone
  • Skin
  • Lung
  • Liver

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