title: beta-2-microglobulin in benign and malignant adnexal skin tumors and metastasizing basocellular carcinomas.
abstract: Immunostaining for beta-2-microglobulin (beta-2m) was performed on various benign and malignant adnexal skin tumors and 3 cases of metastasizing basocellular carcinomas. All the tumors and their metastases, with the exception of 2 basocellular carcinomas gave evidence of beta-2m. Most tumors contained both stained and unstained cells. The stained cells showed differentiation, the unstained ones appeared to be undifferentiated and basal-like in character. The staining of cutaneous tumors for beta-2m may offer a tool for investigating tumor differentiation, but seems not to be of much value in distinguishing malignant from benign lesions.
mesh_terms: D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000032:analysis* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000032:analysis* / Q000473:pathology; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin