Retinoid receptor subtypes in sebaceous cell carcinoma of the eyelid.
OBJECTIVE
To study retinoid receptor expression in sebaceous cell carcinoma of the eyelid.


METHODS
Expression of retinoid receptors (RAR alpha, beta, and gamma and RXR alpha, beta, and gamma) in tumor specimens from 10 patients with sebaceous cell carcinoma of the eyelid and in 3 normal incidental tarsus specimens from healthy adults without cancer was studied immunohistochemically by using antiretinoid receptor antibodies.


RESULTS
In all 3 specimens of normal tarsus, all 6 retinoid receptors were expressed. RARalpha expression was absent in 3 tumors and was decreased in 3 tumors compared with expression in the control tissues. RARbeta expression in carcinomas was primarily perinuclear; 6 tumors showed increased RARbeta expression compared with controls. RARgamma expression was absent in 4 tumors and was decreased in 2 tumors compared with controls. RXRalpha nuclear expression was decreased compared with controls in 5 tumors. RXRbeta expression was low in 7 tumors. RXRgamma expression was absent in 6 tumors.


CONCLUSIONS
Aberrant expression of retinoid receptors in sebaceous cell carcinoma of the eyelid might play a role in the pathogenesis and progression of this carcinoma.
Chakravarti
Nitin
N
Department of Head & Neck/Thoracic Medical Oncology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston TX 77030, USA.
Saadati
Hossein G
HG
El-Naggar
Adel K
AK
Lotan
Reuben
R
Diba
Roxanna E
RE
Esmaeli
Bita
B
D018266:Adenocarcinoma, Sebaceous / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005142:Eyelid Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005143:Eyelids / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism*; D047488:Retinoid X Receptors / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism*; D012626:Sebaceous Gland Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid; D047488:Retinoid X Receptors