Expression of MMP-11(stromelysin-3) and its diagnostic value in dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans and dermatofibroma

Purpose To investigate the expression pattern and the potential diagnostic value of MMP-11(stromelysin-3) in dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans and dermatofibroma.Methods Immunohistochemical markers,including MMP-11(stromelysin-3) and CD34,were used on the tissues of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans and dermatofibroma by the SP immunohistochemical method.Western blotting was employed to detect MMP-11 expression.Results Immunohistochemically,positive staining of MMP-11(stromelysin-3)was seen in 28 of 30(93.3%) cases of dermatofibroma and 1 of 30(3.4%) cases of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans,whereas by the expression pattern of MMP-11(stromelysin-3) between dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans and dermatofibroma had statistical difference(P0.05);positive staining of CD34 was seen in 27 of 30(90.0%) cases of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans and in 2 of 30(6.7%) cases of dermatofibroma.The expression pattern of CD34 between dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans and dermatofibroma had statistical difference(P0.05).MMP-11 expression level in dermatofibroma was 6.18 times by that in dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans,which had significantly statistical difference(P0.01).Conclusions MMP-11(stromelysin-3) may be a useful immuneohistochemical marker in the differential diagnosis between dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans and dermatofibroma.