Summary
Six cases of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans were studied ultrastructurally. Biopsy material from all six cases as well as cell cultures derived from four cases were examined. In all cases, the tumor cells in vivo and in vitro were related to fibroblasts. The two cases with histiocytoid features and a small spiral pattern exhibited numerous lipid vacuoles but no histiocytic cell markers. In these two cases, cultured cells contained a higher number of intracytoplasmic vacuoles than the control fibroblasts. Two other cases exhibited some basement-membrane-like material surrounding tumor cells. All of the investigated cell strains obtained from the tumors showed synthesis of collagenous proteins similar to that found in fibroblasts. However, the level of total collagen was reduced, and type-III collagen was absent.
The morphological variations in these cases of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans appeared to be related to the histological pattern and may reflect the heterogeneity of normal fibroblasts.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Albini A, Krieg Th, Schmoeckel C, Weber L, Müller PK (1985) Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans: Altered collagen metabolism in cell culture. J Invest. Dermatol (in press)
Alguacil-Garcia A, Unni KK, Goellner JR (1978) Histogenesis of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans. An ultrastructural study. Am J Clin Pathol 69:427–434
Auböck L (1975) Zur Ultrastruktur fibröser und histiozytärer Hauttumoren (Dermatofibrom, Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, Fibroxanthom und Histiozytom). Virchows Arch [Pathol Anat] 368:253–274
Escalona-Zapata J, Fernandes EA, Escuin FL (1981) The fibroblastic nature of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans. A tissue culture and ultrastructural study. Virchows Arch [Pathol Anat] 391:165–175
Fisher ER, Vuzevski VD (1968) Cytogenesis of Schwannoma (neurilemoma), neurofibroma, dermatofibroma, and dermatofibrosarcoma as revealed by electron microscopy. Am J Clin Pathol 49:141–154
Hagedorn M, Thomas C, von Kannen W (1974) Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans mit Übergang in ein sogenanntes Fibrosarkom. Dermatologica 149:84–89
Hashimoto K, Brownstein MH, Jakobiec FA (1974) Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans. A tumor with perineural and endoneural cell features. Arch Dermatol 110:874–885
Krieg T, Luderschmidt C, Weber L, Müller PK, Braun-Falco O (1981) Screroderma fibroblasts: Some aspects of in vitro assessment of collagen synthesis. Arch Dermatol Res 270:263–272
Ozello L, Hamels J (1976) The histiocytic nature of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans. Tissue culture and electron microscopic study. Am J Clin Pathol 65:136–148
Rautenstrauch T, Snigula F, Krieg T, Gay S, Müller PK (1977) Progeria: A cell culture study and clinical report of familial incidence. Eur J Pediatr 124:101–111
Timpl R, Wick G, Gay S (1977) Antibodies to distinct types of collagens and procollagens and their application in immunohistology. J Immunol Methods 18:165–182
Yoshida H, Matsui K, Hashimoto K, Yumoto T, Mihara M (1982) Derimatofibrosarcoma protuberans and its tissue culture. Ultrastructural, enzyme, histochemical and immunological study. Acta Pathol Jpn 32:83–91
Zina AM, Bundino S (1979) Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans. An ultrastructural study of five cases. J Cutan Pathol 6:265–271
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Schmoeckel, C., Albini, A., Krieg, T. et al. The fibroblastic nature of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans: Morphological investigations in vivo and in vitro. Arch Dermatol Res 278, 138–147 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00409221
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00409221