Alteration of PDGFRβ-Akt–mTOR Pathway Signaling in Fibrosarcomatous Transformation of Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a cutaneous mesenchymal tumor of intermediate malignancy and fibroblastic/myofibroblastic differentiation. Fibrosarcomatous (FS) component is a high-grade component of DFSP. The detailed oncogenic difference between DFSP and FS components is not clear. We thus investigated the Akt–mTOR pathway in both components. We used 65 tumor samples obtained from 65 patients. The phosphorylation of Akt–mTOR pathway proteins (Akt, mTOR, 4EBP1, and S6RP) and PDGFRα/β was assessed by immunohistochemical staining, the results of which were confirmed by western blotting.

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