STAT6 rabbit monoclonal antibody is a robust diagnostic tool for the distinction of solitary fibrous tumour from its mimics

Abstract

Recurrent NAB2-STAT6 gene fusions have recently been identified in solitary fibrous tumour by next generation sequencing. Our aim was to examine the sensitivity and specificity of STAT6 immunohistochemistry for solitary fibrous tumour versus other morphologically similar soft tissue tumours. STAT6 expression was evaluated in 54 solitary fibrous tumours of various sites and 99 soft tissue tumours in the histological differential diagnosis. We used a rabbit monoclonal STAT6 antibody (1:100), which has not been reported by others, on formalin fixed, paraffin embedded whole sections and tissue microarray slides. Only nuclear staining of STAT6 was considered positive. Distribution of staining was scored as: 0 (no staining), 1+ (1-25%), 2+ (26-50%), 3+ (>50%). Intensity was scored as weak, moderate or strong. Nuclear STAT6 staining was present in all SFT cases tested (54/54, sensitivity 100%), regardless of histology, anatomical site or CD34 status. The majority of cases showed 3+ and strong staining. All tested cases of cellular angiofibroma (0/9), myofibroblastoma (0/10), spindle cell lipoma (0/10), benign fibrous histiocytoma (0/13), dermatofibrosarcoma protruberans (0/9), low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma (0/7), schwannoma (0/8), desmoid-type fibromatosis (0/8), monophasic synovial sarcoma (0/11), malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour (0/7), and mesenchymal chondrosarcoma (0/7) were negative for STAT6 (specificity 100%). Our study further supports the utility of STAT6 immunohistochemistry as an adjunct in the diagnosis of solitary fibrous tumour.