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Transcriptional profiling identifies an interferon‐associated host immune response in invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the skin
Author(s) -
Wenzel Joerg,
Tomiuk Stefan,
Zahn Sabine,
Küsters Daniel,
Vahsen Anja,
Wiechert Andreas,
Mikus Sandra,
Birth Michael,
Scheler Marina,
von Bubnoff Dagmar,
Baron Jens M.,
Merk Hans F.,
Mauch Cornelia,
Krieg Thomas,
Bieber Thomas,
Bosio Andreas,
Hofmann Kay,
Tüting Thomas,
Peters Bettina
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
international journal of cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.475
H-Index - 234
eISSN - 1097-0215
pISSN - 0020-7136
DOI - 10.1002/ijc.23799
Subject(s) - immunosurveillance , basal cell carcinoma , biology , cxcl9 , gene expression profiling , immune system , cxcr3 , downregulation and upregulation , interferon , immunology , skin cancer , cancer research , cxcl10 , chemokine , gene expression , pathology , gene , cancer , medicine , basal cell , chemokine receptor , biochemistry , genetics
Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC) represent the 2 most common types of nonmelanoma skin cancer. Both derive from keratinocytes but show a distinct biological behavior. Here we present transcriptional profiling data of a large cohort of tumor patients (SCC, n = 42; BCC, n = 114). Differentially expressed genes reflect known features of SCC and BCC including the typical cytokeratin pattern as well as upregulation of characteristic cell proliferation genes. Additionally, we found increased expression of interferon (IFN)‐regulated genes (including IFI27, IFI30, Mx1, IRF1 and CXCL9) in SCC, and to a lower extent in BCC. The expression of IFN‐regulated genes correlated with the extent of the lesional immune‐cell infiltrate. Immunohistological examinations confirmed the expression of IFN‐regulated genes in association with a CXCR3+ cytotoxic inflammatory infiltrate on the protein level. Of note, a small subset of SCC samples with low expression of IFN‐regulated genes included most organ transplant recipients receiving immunosuppressive medication. Collectively, our findings support the concept that IFN‐associated host responses play an important role in tumor immunosurveillance in the skin. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.