Immunohistochemical Characterization of Histone Deacetylase as a Potential Prognostic Marker and Therapeutic Target in Endometrial Stromal Sarcoma.

AIM: Endometrial stromal sarcoma (ESS) is a rare tumor with limited treatment options. Histone deacetylase (HDAC) is a potential therapeutic target in ESS showing a good rate of response in laboratory studies. In this study we investigated the expression of HDAC enzymes in 41 ESS patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Immunohistochemical expression of HDACs was analyzed by tissue microarrays.

RESULTS: Strong positive immunoreactivity was observed in 32 (78.0%), 23 (56.1%), 8 (19.5%), 36 (87.8%), 7 (17.1%), 30 (73.2%), 31 (75.6%), and 33 (80.5%) for HDACs 1-8, respectively. Although not statistically significant, HDAC 1, 4, 6, 7, and 8 exhibited a high frequency of strong immunoreactivity linked to a lower 10-year DFS (100.0% vs. 81.3%, p=0.202; 100.0% vs. 83.3%, p=0.393; 90.9% vs. 83.3%, p=0.579; 90.0% vs. 83.9%; and 100.0% vs. 81.8%, p=0.207; respectively).

CONCLUSION: HDACs 1, 4, 6, 7, and 8, that showed an especially high frequency of strong immunoreactivity, may represent potential therapeutic targets for ESS.