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Abstract. Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a rare soft tissue tumor with intermediate malignancy. It is initially located on the skin from where it is able to infiltrate the deep structures and has a tendency to recur locally following inadequate excision. A t(17;22)(q22;q13) chromosome translocation is the main cytogenetic alteration responsible for the onset of DFSP. Treatment options include complete surgical excision by performing conventional surgery with wide margins (>3 cm) or Mohs micrographic surgery. A retrospective study was conducted in our Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and all data were collected from medical records of 59 DFSP patients within this department from 1999 to 2011. A total of 13 of 59 (22%) cases were treated with conventional excision; 3 (5%) cases resulted in tumor-free margins, 8 (14%) cases required surgical revision and 2 (3%) cases lead to recurrence. A total of 46 of 59 (78%) cases were treated with wide excision; 43 (73%) cases resulted in tumor-free margins, 3 (5%) cases required surgical revision and 0 (0%) cases lead to recurrence. In conclusion, the data collected reveal the controversy surrounding the adoption of general guidelines regarding safe margins. Further studies are required to investigate the possibility of obtaining genotypically altered margins from margins that may appear phenotypically healthy.

Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) may transdifferentiate into cells belonging to mesodermal, endodermal, and ectodermal lineages. The aim of this study was to verify whether a neural differentiation of ASCs could be induced by a conditioned medium (CM) obtained from cultures of olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) or Schwann cells (SCs). ASCs were isolated from the stromal vascular fraction of adipose tissue and expanded for 2-3 passages. They were then cultured in OEC-CM or SC-CM for 24 hr or 7 days. At each stage, the cells were tested by immunocytochemistry and flow cytometer analysis to evaluate the expression of typical neural markers such as Nestin, PGP 9.5, MAP2, Synapsin I, and GFAP. Results show that both conditioned media induced similar positive effects, as all tested markers were overexpressed, especially at day 7. Overall, an evident trend toward neuronal or glial differentiation was not clearly detectable in many cases. Nevertheless, a higher tendency toward a neuronal phenotype was recognized for OEC-CM (considering MAP2 increases). On the other hand, SC-CM would be responsible for a more marked glial induction (considering GFAP increases). These findings confirm that environmental features can induce ASCs toward a neural differentiation, either as neuronal or glial elements. Rather than supplementing the culture medium by adding chemical agents, a "more physiological" condition was obtained here by means of soluble factors (cytokines/growth factors) likely released by glial cells. This culture strategy may provide valuable information in the development of cell-based therapeutic approaches for pathologies affecting the central/peripheral nervous system.

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