Immunohistochemical expression of survivin in cutaneous sebaceous lesions.
BACKGROUND
Survivin is a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis family of proteins implicated in the inhibition of apoptosis and cell cycle control, both crucial in the progression to malignancy. Survivin overexpression has been demonstrated in numerous malignancies including cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. To date, there are no studies evaluating the expression of survivin in sebaceous neoplasms.


METHODS
Immunohistochemical expression of survivin was evaluated in a total of 20 extraocular sebaceous neoplasms: sebaceous hyperplasia (SH, 8), sebaceous adenoma (SA, 8), and sebaceous carcinoma (SC, 4). All the results were independently evaluated by a single dermatopathologist.


RESULTS
Nuclear expression of survivin was present in 1.4% of lesional SH cells, 8.2% of SA cells, and 12.5% of SC cells. A significant difference in survivin expression with the Student t test was noted between SH and SA (P=0.01), SA and SC (P=0.05), and SH and SC (P=0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
There is a statistically significant difference in survivin expression among SH, SA, and SC. These findings demonstrate the potential diagnostic utility of survivin, further assisting in the microscopic differentiation of benign and malignant sebaceous neoplasms. However, larger studies are needed to determine the significance of survivin expression as it relates to recurrence, metastatic potential, and outcome.
Calder
Kenneth B
KB
Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, University of South Florida, and James A. Haley Veterans Hospital, Department of Pathology, Tampa, FL 33604, USA. kcalder@hsc.usf.edu
Khalil
Farah K
FK
Schlauder
Scott
S
Cualing
H D
HD
Morgan
Michael B
MB
D018266:Adenocarcinoma, Sebaceous / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000236:Adenoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012626:Sebaceous Gland Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012627:Sebaceous Glands / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D000077022:Survivin
C107489:BIRC5 protein, human; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D000077022:Survivin