Background: CD and C-erb-B2 isoforms have been
reported to be involved in tumor invasion and metastasis
in a variety of human cancers. Nevertheless, few studies
have dealt with their expression in cutaneous squamous
cell carcinoma (SCC).
Objectives: To elucidate the role of C-erb-B2 and
CD44s expression in cutaneous SCC in relation to its
biologic behavior.
Material and Methods: Paraffin blocks from 40 skin
biopsies [23 SCC, 7 seborrheic keratosis (SK), 4 keratoacanthoma
(KA), one squamous cell papilloma (SCP) and
5 normal skin controls] were cut and placed on poly-Llysine
coated slides. The standard Streptavidin Biotin
Peroxidase method was used after microwave antigen
retrieval. Immunohistocheinical staining was evaluated
semi-quantitatively and correlated with tumor type, degree
of histological differentiation and invasion of resected
surgical margins.
Results: CD44s was expressed in normal skin, SK and
SCC. High expression for CD44s (52, S3) was found in
17/23 (73.9%) of SCC cases and significantly correlated
with that of C-erb-82 (p = 0.006), with advanced age (p
= 0.031) and with safety margin invasion (0.026). C-erb-
B2 was not expressed in normal skin, SK, or SCP but
expressed in 19/23 (82.6%) of SCC and in 18/23(78-3%)
of cases in epidermis overlying tumors. One case of KA
(25%) was also positive for C-er-bB2 Conclusion: Absence
of c-erb-82 in normal skin, SK and SCP contributes to its
relation to malignant transformation in cutaneous SCC.
Moreover, it could be used as a differentiating marker
between keratoacanthoma and well-differentiated SCC.
C044s overexpression could be related to aggressive
behavior in this type of tumors. |
