FU-3 monoclonal antibody: a specific marker for malignant fibrous histiocytoma? An analysis of 32 malignant soft tissue and bone sarcomas

An immunohistochemical study on frozen sections was carried out on 51 malignant tumours of soft tissue and bone using the FU-3 monoclonal antibody. This antibody is claimed to be specific for malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) and liposarcoma and for normal and tumour cells located in perivascular fields. The results show a lack of specificity in MFH staining: several malignant tumours such as synovial sarcoma, fibrosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, osteogenic sarcoma, and including an anaplastic malignant melanoma, presented positive staining somewhat similar to that found in MFH. The value of this antibody in the differential diagnosis of MFH is doubtful. It might be useful to recognize a common pathway of terminal differentiation expressed by several pleomorphic sarcomatous neoplasms.This paper was presented in a short form at the XIX International Congress of the International Academy of Pathology, Madrid (18–23 October 1992).