Clinicopathologic Correlation of Kaposi Sarcoma Involving the Ocular Adnexa: Immunophenotyping of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Targets.

PURPOSE: To describe the clinicopathologic characteristics and the expression of diagnostic/treatment targets in ocular adnexal Kaposi Sarcoma.

METHODS: We conducted a clinical-pathologic retrospective case series. Immunohistochemical staining for cluster of differentiation 31 (CD31), human herpesvirus-8 (HHV8), platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFR-A), vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (VEGF), tyrosine-protein kinase Kit (c-Kit), and programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) were performed. Percentage of positive tumor cells was recorded for PD-1; staining intensity and distribution (H-score) were determined for the remaining stains. A Friedman non-parametric ANOVA analysis evaluated the staining.

RESULTS: The study cohort included 13 patients (age 25 to 95 years; mean 46): 7 lesions were in the eyelid, 5 in the conjunctiva, and 1 in the cornea. Nine of 11 lesions (82%) were in human immunodeficiency syndrome-positive patients (human immunodeficiency syndrome status was unknown in 2 cases). Staging included 6 plaques and 7 nodules. The mean H-scores of CD31, HHV8, c-Kit, VEGF, and PDGF-A were 8.00, 8.23, 2.77, 11.54, and 10.31, respectively. Mean PD-1 staining was 6.46%. The Friedman non-parametric ANOVA analysis showed VEGF, PDGF-A, CD31, and HHV8 differed significantly, and all differed significantly from c-Kit. Programmed cell death protein 1 staining was not significant with any clinical variable.

CONCLUSIONS: Cluster of differentiation 31 and HHV8 are helpful diagnostic adjuncts for ocular adnexal Kaposi Sarcoma. Platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha and VEGF are promising treatment targets. Programmed cell death protein 1/PD-L1 and c-Kit are targets that are useful in several tumors; their roles in ocular adnexal Kaposi Sarcoma warrant further studies.