title: Multiple basal cell carcinomas associated with hairy cell leukaemia.
abstract: We report the case of a caucasian woman who, between the ages of 49 and 51 years, developed multiple (> 20) basal cell carcinomas (BCC). There was no family history of BCC. No abnormalities in the human homologue of the Drosophila segment polarity gene patched (PTCH), glutathione S-transferases T1 and M1, or cytochrome P450 1A1 were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based molecular analysis. There was, however, actinic damage of the skin in sun-exposed areas. The patient was diagnosed as having hairy cell leukaemia (HCL) at the age of 51 years, based upon leucocyte morphology as assessed by light and electron microscopy, tartrate-resistant acid leucocyte phosphatase (TRAP) staining, fluorescence activated cell scanning of peripheral blood leucocytes and bone marrow histology. As the leukaemia slowly progressed over a 3-month period, the patient developed four further BCCs. Given that HCL is characterized by a profound defect in T-cell function, it is conceivable that T-cell immune dysregulation can contribute to the pathogenesis of BCC, possibly enhancing the aetiological effect of ultraviolet irradiation.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Dermatology and Haematology, Heinrich-Heine-University, Moorenstrasse 5, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany. schoen.-duesseldorf@t-online.de
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Schön
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reifenberger
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Von Schmiedeberg
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Megahed
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gattermann
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Meckenstock
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Goerz
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ruzicka
mesh_terms: D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D007943:Leukemia, Hairy Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D009378:Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / Q000473:pathology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology