Prognostic value of CD34 expression status in patients with myxofibrosarcomas and undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcomas

It is controversial whether patients with myxofibrosarcomas (MFSs) have better prognoses than those with undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcomas (UPSs). No useful prognostic factors have been established to date. We therefore aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of CD34 expression status in 192 patients with MFSs and UPSs. Using the log-rank test, we showed that patients with MFSs had a significantly better overall survival than did those with UPSs when defining the former as having a>10% myxoid component (p=0.03), but not when defining it as having a>50% myxoid component (p=0.1). Under the definition of MFSs as>10% myxoid component, the log-rank test revealed that the diagnosis of the UPS and the CD34 loss (p<0.001) were significant adverse predictors of overall survival. As per the Cox model, the CD34 loss remained an independent prognostic factor (hazard ratio=3.327; 95% confidence interval 1.334-8.295), while the diagnosis of the UPS was a nonsignificant confounding factor (hazard ratio=1.084; 95% confidence interval 0.679-1.727). In conclusion, CD34 expression status is a useful prognostic factor in patients with MFS and UPS, and it should be incorporated into grading systems that are used to predict outcomes.