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Updated: Jul 14, 2026
Molecular and Immunologic Techniques in a Genetically Engineered Mouse Model of Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor
Published on: May 2, 2022
Thy-1 as a potential novel diagnostic marker for gastrointestinal stromal tumors
Despoina Oikonomou1, Kambiz Hassan, Jussuf T Kaifi
1Department of General, Visceral and Thoracic Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany. d.oikonomou@uke.uni-hamburg.de
Purpose:
Only few immunohistochemical markers besides c-kit exist for gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). Thy-1, a cell-surface glycoprotein, is a marker for several types of stem cells and particularly for neuronal precursor cells. The aim of this study was to determine Thy-1 expression in GISTs.
Materials And Methods:
Fifty-seven surgically resected and paraffin-embedded GIST samples were analyzed by immunohistochemistry with peroxidase method for Thy-1 molecule.
Results:
Thy-1 was detected in the majority of 57 GIST samples (54 out of 57 patients, 95%). All samples were c-kit positive and 90% were CD34 positive. All three Thy-1 negative samples were CD34 positive, had a low proliferative index (Ki-67
Conclusions:
Thy-1 is expressed in the majority of GISTs, suggesting a novel, additional standard marker for identifying GIST. Future studies should focus on the role of Thy-1 in the pathogenesis of GIST and subsequently on its potential to act as a molecular target for adjuvant therapy with new molecular antitumor agents.