Immunohistochemical Evaluation of C-KIT Expression in Uterine Carcinosarcomas

INTRODUCTION: Carcinosarcoma is a very aggressive neoplasm. The use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors has resulted in successful treatment of KIT-positive neoplasms. Consequently, c-kit expression may have significant clinical implications for this tumor. The purpose of the present study was to assess c-kit expression in the carcinomatous and sarcomatous component of carcinosarcoma and to identify if KIT represents a therapeutic target for treatment of this neoplasm.
METHODS: Immunohistochemical staining for c-kit was performed on paraffin-embedded tissue blocks of 20 uterine specimens with carcinosarcoma.
RESULTS: In the stromal component of carcinosarcoma, no immunohistochemically c-kit stained cells were observed and in the epithelial component, c-kit staining was present in 9 cases.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The results seem to suggest that c-kit probably plays no major role in the carcinogenesis of the majority of these tumors. Further studies of c-kit expression in larger series of carcinosarcomas must be studied in order to clarify the controversial issues.