[Fibrosarcoma: immunohistochemical study of the extracellular matrix]

Immunofluorescent examination of extracellular matrix of 5 fibrosarcomas showed the matrix to contain fibronectin and collagen type I, III, V. Fibrosarcoma matrix is characterized by the absence of collagen type IV and collagen type III predominance over type I differentiating this tumor from synovial sarcoma, neurogenic sarcoma, dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, malignant fibrous histiocytoma. Their matrices showed the presence of type IV collagen, equal proportion of interstitial collagens or collagen type I predominance over type III typical for synovial sarcoma. The findings can be employed in practical morphologic diagnosis of soft tissue tumors.