SATB2 is a sensitive marker for lower gastrointestinal well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors

Zhongwu Li, Jing Yuan, Lixin Wei, Lixin Zhou, Kaiyong Mei, Junqiu Yue, Hongwen Gao, Miao Zhang, Ling Jia, Qiang Kang, Xiaozheng Huang, Dengfeng Cao

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34 Scopus citations

Abstract

Special AT-rich sequence binding protein-2 (SATB2) is selectively expressed in the lower gastrointestinal tract mucosa and has been identified as a sensitive marker for colorectal adenocarcinomas. The goal of this study was to investigate the expression of SATB2 in well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors to explore its potential as a diagnostic marker for hindgut well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors. Immunohistochemical staining with a monoclonal antibody to SATB2 was performed on full tissue blocks in 167 well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors of various origins. The staining was semi-quantitatively scored as 0 (no tumor cell staining), 1+ (1-25%), 2+ (26-50%), 3+ (51-75%) and 4+ (76-100%). Positive SATB2 staining was seen in 17% foregut (14/84, 12/66 primary and 2/18 metastatic), 12% midgut (3/22, 3/18 primary and 0/7 metastatic), and 90% hindgut (52/58, 44/49 primary and 8/9 metastatic) well differentiated neuroendocrine tumors. Most hindgut well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors (41/58) showed 4+ staining. The specificity of SATB2 for foregut, midgut and hindgut well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors was 34%, 54% and 84%, respectively. Our results indicate that SATB2 is a sensitive marker for hindgut well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors though it is not entirely specific. SATB2 should be included in the immunohistochemical panel in working out metastatic well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumor of an unknown origin.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)7072-7082
Number of pages11
JournalInternational Journal of Clinical and Experimental Pathology
Volume8
Issue number6
StatePublished - 2015

Keywords

  • Foregut
  • Hindgut
  • Midgut
  • SATB2
  • Well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumor

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