Beta-catenin expression in relation to the histological pattern of basal cell carcinoma@

Beta-catenin expression in relation to the histological pattern of basal cell carcinoma Auepemkiate S, Thongsuksai P, Treerat P, Sirimujalin R. Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, 90110, Thailand Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand E-mail: [email protected] Songkla Med J 2005;23(Suppl 2):187-192 Background: Beta-catenin is a member of E-cadherins/catenin membrane complex which plays a role in tumor differentiation and aggressive behavior of various malignancies. Objective: To study the expression of beta-catenin in relation to the histological pattern of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) Materials and methods: One-hundred and eight BCC samples obtained during January 1992 to December 2002 from Songklanagarind Hospital were investigated by immunohistochemical method using monoclonal beta-catenin antibody. @This study was supported by a grant from Dr. Natth Bhamarapravati's Research Fund 1MD. (Dip., Thai Board of Dermatology), Assist. Prof. 2MD. (Dip., Thai Board of Anatomical Pathology), Assoc. Prof., Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, 90110, Thailand 3B.Sc. (Medical Technology) 4Ph.D. (Pathology), Assist. Prof., Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand รับต้นฉบับวันที่ 7 กุมภาพันธ์ 2548 รับลงตีพิมพ์วันที่ 19 เมษายน 2548 นิพนธ์ต้นฉบับ สงขลานครินทร์เวชสาร Beta-catenin expression, basal cell carcinoma ปีที่ 23 ฉบับพิเศษ (2) ตุลาคม 2548 เสาวรัตน์ เอื้อเพิ่มเกียรติ, ปารมี ทองสุกใส, พุทธยาลัย ตรีรัตน์ และคณะ 188 Results: Beta-catenin membrane expression was reduced in 90 of 108 BCC cases (83.3%). The reactivity was diffusely reduced in 54 of 66 cases (81.8%) of the nodular type, in 25 of 30 cases (83.3%) of the infiltrative type and in all 6 cases of the superficial type. The staining completely disappeared in the center of the large tumor sheath of the nodular type, but was present around the keratotic center of follicular differentiation. No nuclear staining was detected in any subtypes. A faint cytoplasmic staining was found only in the infiltrative type. Conclusion: A difference in pattern of expression of beta-catenin between undifferentiated and differentiated BCC was observed. By contrast, the levels of reduction appeared to be similar among the different growth patterns. Therefore, the beta-catenin may be implicated in tumor differentiation, but not for invasiveness of BCC.