Immunohistochemistry of soft tissue tumors: A review

Soft tissue tumors include neoplasms of specific and unknown lineages, and, therefore, lineage markers of smooth muscle, skeletal muscle, endothelial, epithelial and Schwann cells have proven useful in everyday practice. Howe ver, groups of tumors remain that are defined essentially on grounds of his tology; others can be defined by molecular genetic studies. The complex dis tribution patterns of many antigens, and loss of some differentiation antig ens in malignant tumors often necessitate the use of panels of antibodies. Optimally such panels should address all significant differential diagnosti c alternatives. There is little doubt that numerous new differentiation mar kers will appear in the future. The evaluation of tumor proliferation, apop tosis, and cell cycle control will give new information related to tumor bi ology and prognosis.