Premium
Proliferative characterization of basal‐cell carcinoma and trichoepithelioma in small biopsy specimens
Author(s) -
Lum Christopher A.,
Binder Scott W.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of cutaneous pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.597
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1600-0560
pISSN - 0303-6987
DOI - 10.1111/j.0303-6987.2004.00230.x
Subject(s) - immunohistochemistry , basal cell carcinoma , pathology , staining , cell cycle , biology , kinase , basal (medicine) , cancer research , cyclin b1 , carcinoma , cyclin , cell growth , biopsy , cell , cyclin dependent kinase 1 , medicine , microbiology and biotechnology , basal cell , endocrinology , genetics , insulin
We examined the proliferative characteristics of 20 basal‐cell carcinomas (BCCs) and 16 trichoepitheliomas (TEps) in an effort to understand and explore possible differences in their tumorigenic cell‐cycle properties. These tumors were first compared for their expression of the nuclear proliferative protein Ki‐67 and the tumor suppressor protein p53. We also compared the p53 downstream effector, p21 waf‐1/cip‐1 , an inhibitor of cyclin‐dependent kinases. The other p53‐dependent, cyclin‐dependent kinase inhibitor, p27 kip‐1 , has shown to be increased in TEps, which is consistent with this benign neoplasm's better‐differentiated state. In our findings, we confirmed through immunohistochemical staining for Ki‐67 that BCCs qualitatively showed a greater proliferative fraction compared to TEps (50.0 vs. 13.0%, p < 0.00001) as well as over‐expression of p53 (2+ vs. 1+, p < 0.0008). BCCs marked by p21 demonstrated scattered nuclear positivity compared to the virtual absence of staining in the TEps (p < 0.019). In studying their cell‐cycle properties, our findings suggest that abnormalities in the p53 pathway allow BCCs to obtain a growth advantage. We show that Ki‐67 and p53 staining both appear useful in resolving challenging differential diagnoses and thereby help in directing appropriate treatment strategies.