Connective Tissue Tumor Screening - Immunohistochemistry: Vimentin

Immunohistochemical (IHC) assays reveal the expression of vimentin, a type III intermediate filamentary protein that forms part of the cell structure in a wide range of non-epithelial cells. Vimentin is expressed in mesenchymal (stromal) cells such as fibroblasts, smooth muscle cells, endothelial cells, and immune cells, and in some epithelial cells during epithelial-stromal transition (EMT). It is used as a sensitive but nonspecific marker to confirm the mesenchymal/stromal nature of cells in the diagnosis of sarcomas and some epithelial tumors undergoing EMT.