Fascin

Fascin is a 55 kD protein which is specifically expressed by dendritic cells, probably involved in the formation of dendritic processes². It has been proposed as a marker for Reed-Sternberg cells¹.

Immunohistochemical expression

Non-neoplastic tissues:

lymph nodes	interdigitating reticulum cells	positive1
	subcapsular dendritic cells	positive1
	cells of the reticular network	positive1
	follicular dendritic cells	usually negative or weakly positive1
	perinodal interstitial dendritic cells	usually negative or weakly positive1
	endothelium	positive1
	lymphocytes	negative1
	epithelioid histiocytes	negative1
	monocytoid B cells	negative1
thymus	medullary dendritic cells	positive1
	cortical endothelial cells	weakly positive1
	lymphocytes	negative1
	Hassall's corpuscles	negative1
	epithelial cells	negative1
spleen	dendritic cells of white pulp	positive1
	endothelium / sinus-lining cells	positive1
	lymphocytes	negative1
skin	Langerhans cells	negative2

Reed-Sternberg cells in Hodgkin's disease. In most cases, nearly all Reed-Sternberg cells showed strong diffuse cytoplasmic staining¹. Endothelium was positive and follicular dendritic cells showed variable reactivity¹.

nodular sclerosing	132/1321
mixed cellularity	34/341
lymphocyte depleted	2/21
unclassified	5/51
nodular lymphocyte predominant	0/141

Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas:

small lymphocytic lymphoma / CLL	0/11
low grade follicle centre cell lymphoma	0/41
high grade follicle centre cell lymphoma	1/53 (weak)1
small non-cleaved	0/101
T-cell rich / histiocyte rich B cell	0/111
immunoblastic B cell	6/321
immunoblastic T cell	1/41
anaplastic large B cell	1/31
anaplastic large T cell	7/10 (weak)1
anaplastic large null cell	2/2 (weak)1
other peripheral T cell	0/91
lymphoblastic	3/51
post transplant lymphoproliferative disease	3/81
plasmacytoma	0/21
hairy cell leukaemia	0/21
overall	24/156 (15%)1

• Langerhans cell histiocytosis: 34/34 (sites included bone, soft tissue, lymph node, thyroid, orbit, and extradural cranial tissue)².

Diagnostic utility

• Identification of Reed-Sternberg cells and diagnosis of Hodgkin's disease¹.

• Identification of Langerhans cell histiocytosis².

References

¹ Pinkus, G. S., Pinkus, J. L., Langhoff, E. Fascin, a sensitive new marker for Reed-Sternberg cells of hodgkin's disease. Evidence for a dendritic or B cell derivation? Am J Pathol 1997;150:543-562.

² Pinkus GS, Lones MA, Matsumura F, et al. Langerhans cell histiocytosis immunohistochemical expression of fascin, a dendritic cell marker. Am J Clin Pathol 2002; 118:335-43

This page last revised 16.7.2005.

©SMUHT/PW Bishop