E-cadherin expression in basal cell carcinoma.
E-cadherin (E-CD) is a calcium-dependent cell-cell adhesion molecule which is expressed in almost all epithelial tissues. E-CD expression is involved in epidermal morphogenesis and is reduced during tumour progression of mouse epidermal carcinogenesis. It has been suggested that E-CD could play a role as an invasion-suppressor molecule. In the present work we have studied the E-CD expression in 31 patients with basal cell carcinoma (BCC) using an immunohistochemical technique with a monoclonal antibody (HECD-1) specific for human E-CD. E-CD expression was preserved in all specimens of superficial and nodular BCC, and was reduced in 10 of 15 infiltrative BCCs. A heterogeneous distribution of cells with different immunostaining intensity was more frequently observed in specimens of infiltrative BCC. These results suggest that E-CD might be related to the growth pattern and the local aggressive behaviour of BCC, and support the idea that E-CD might play a role as an invasion-suppressor molecule in vivo.
Pizarro
A
A
Servicio de Dermatologia, Hospital La Paz, Madrid, Spain.
Benito
N
N
Navarro
P
P
Palacios
J
J
Cano
A
A
Quintanilla
M
M
Contreras
F
F
Gamallo
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015820:Cadherins / Q000032:analysis*; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000473:pathology; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015820:Cadherins