TRPS1 Expression Is Frequently Seen in a Subset of Cutaneous Mesenchymal Neoplasms and Tumors of Uncertain Differentiation: A Potential Diagnostic Pitfall

Abstract

Although extensively studied in cutaneous epithelial neoplasms, the TRPS1 immunoreactivity in cutaneous mesenchymal neoplasms and tumors of uncertain differentiation (CMNTUDs), such as atypical fibroxanthoma (AFX), remains largely unexplored. We assessed TRPS1 immunoreactivity in 135 CMNTUDs, comprising 46 fibrohistiocytic/fibroblastic tumors, 28 vascular tumors, 24 peripheral nerve sheath tumors (PNSTs), 21 tumors of uncertain differentiation, and 16 smooth muscle tumors. Additionally, we included selected cases of melanoma with spindled cell morphology or desmoplastic features (n = 9) and sarcomatoid squamous cell carcinoma (SSCC) (n = 5) to compare TRPS1 expression patterns with those of AFX. TRPS1 expression was prevalent in dermatofibromas (24/24), leiomyomas (8/8), AFXs/pleomorphic dermal sarcoma (PDS) (20/21), dermatofibrosarcomas protuberans (14/22), and leiomyosarcomas (6/8). It was uncommon in angiosarcomas (3/20), Kaposi sarcomas (2/8), and neurofibromas (5/17) and absent in perineuriomas (0/2). AFXs/PDS exhibited the highest median H-score of 240, contrasting with minimal TRPS1 immunoreactivity in vascular neoplasms and PNSTs, with median H-scores consistently below 10. Significant differences in H-score were observed between AFXs/PDS and angiosarcomas (p < 0.001), melanomas (p < 0.001), and leiomyosarcomas (p = 0.029). However, no significant difference was found compared to SSCCs, suggesting limited discriminatory power of TRPS1 in this context. This study sheds light on TRPS1 expression patterns in a subset of CMNTUDs, extending beyond prior studies primarily focused on epithelial tumors, while underscoring potential pitfalls associated with TRPS1 immunohistochemistry.