New markers to distinguish well-differentiated liposarcoma from lipoma

Well-differentiated liposarcoma is a malignant, non-metastasizing tumor that can present with similar histological characteristics as benign lipoma lesions and has a higher recurrence rate. Advanced immunohistochemistry staining can be performed to help distinguish the well-differentiated liposarcoma (atypical lipomatous tumor) from lipoma.

The CDK4 protein is frequently overexpressed in well-differentiated liposarcoma and is rarely observed in lipomas. Likewise, anti-MDM2 has been demonstrated to be useful in distinguishing between these, with the neoplastic cells positive in the former lesion and negative in lipoma.

Due to the protein expression differences between these lesions, both soft tissue markers are useful in an immunohistochemistry grid to aid in the differential diagnosis between well-differentiated liposarcoma and lipoma.

CDK4 (DCS-31) Mouse Monoclonal Antibody

Well-differentiated liposarcoma is a malignant, non-metastasizing tumor that can present with similar histological characteristics as benign lipoma lesions and has a higher recurrence rate.  The CDK4 protein is frequently overexpressed in well-differentiated liposarcoma due to gene amplification of the 12q13-15 chromosomal region that harbors the CDK4 gene, but amplification and subsequent overexpression is rarely observed in lipomas.  Due to CDK4 protein expression differences between these lesions, anti-CDK4 antibody can be used in an immunohistochemistry panel as an aid in the differential diagnosis between well-differentiated liposarcoma and lipoma.

MDM2 (IF2) Mouse Monoclonal Antibody

Mouse double minute protein 2 (MDM2) is a gene encoded on the 12q13-14 chromosomal sequence. It encodes for a 483 amino acid residue protein which binds to the amino-terminal transcription region of p53.  MDM2 has been shown to negatively regulate the tumor-suppressor activity of p53 by three mechanisms:  Blocking p53 transcription, binding to p53 causing it to be exported from the nucleus, and accelerating the destruction of p53.  MDM2 up-regulation has been shown in liposarcoma while being absent in lipoma. Therefore, anti-MDM2 has been demonstrated to be a potentially useful tool in distinguishing well-differentiated liposarcoma (atypical lipomatous tumor) from lipoma, with the neoplastic cells positive in the former lesion and negative in lipoma.