SATB2/β-catenin/TCF-LEF pathway induces cellular transformation by generating cancer stem cells in colorectal cancer

CDX2 and SATB2 positivity in pilomatrix carcinoma: Avoiding an erroneous diagnosis of cutaneous metastasis of gastrointestinal origin

An 80-year-old female presented with a slowly growing 2-cm nodule on her shoulder over a 1-year period. Histopathologic sections of a biopsy specimen showed a multinodular, dermal-based basaloid tumor with areas of clear-cell change, stromal induction, as well as significant cytologic atypia and atypical mitotic activity. An initial investigation revealed positive staining of CDX2, a well-known marker of tumors of gastrointestinal origin. The case was referred to our dermatopathology service for consultation to determine if the lesion was in keeping with a cutaneous metastasis. On receipt of the case, an extended immunohistochemical panel was performed including SATB2, which displayed a similar pattern of staining as seen with CDX2. Although pathologists are most familiar with CDX2 and SATB2 as markers of gastrointestinal origin, the recent dermatopathology literature highlights that primary adnexal lesions of the skin also display positivity for CDX2 and can exhibit SATB2 positivity. We share a case of pilomatrix carcinoma with positive expression of nuclear CDX2 and SATB2, adding to the recent literature to (a) increase recognition of this staining pattern in hair follicle tumors, and (b) discuss briefly the shared molecular underpinnings in the tumorigenesis of gastrointestinal tumors and tumors of hair follicle origin that help clarify this underrecognized immunohistochemical pattern.