The disintegrin-metalloproteinases ADAM 10, 12 and 17 are upregulated in invading peripheral tumor cells of basal cell carcinomas.
BACKGROUND
Members of the a disintegrin and metalloproteinase (ADAM) family are expressed in malignant tumors and participate in the pathogenesis of cancer. However, the presence of ADAM 10, 12, 17 and their role in basal cell carcinoma (BCC) have not been described. The purpose of this study was to investigate expression of ADAM 10, 12 and 17 in BCC.


METHODS
Expression of ADAM 10, 12 and 17 was analyzed by immunohistochemistry in skin tissues obtained from 25 patients with different types of BCC.


RESULTS
Immunoreactivity of ADAM 10, 12 and 17 was increased at the peripheral tumor margin compared with central areas of BCC tumor cell nests. Immunoreactivity of ADAM 10 and 12 was increased in the deep margin of invading tumor cell nests in mixed BCC. Focally increased expression of ADAM 12 was detected in squamous differentiated tumor cells of nodular BCC. In addition, immunoreactivity of ADAM 17 was increased in superficial BCC.


CONCLUSIONS
ADAM 10, 12 and 17 showed different expression pattern in BCC histologic subtypes, indicating their different role in the BCC pathogenesis. Overexpression of ADAM 10, 12 and 17 immunoreactivity in deep invasion area of BCC indicates that these three proteases may play an important role in the locally invasive and highly destructive growth behavior of BCC. Additionally, we suggest that ADAM 17 may play an important role in early development of BCC.
Oh
Shin Taek
ST
Department of Dermatology, Saarland University Hospital, Homburg/Saar, Germany.
Schramme
A
A
Stark
A
A
Tilgen
W
W
Gutwein
P
P
Reichrath
J
J
D051722:ADAM Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000072197:ADAM10 Protein; D000072199:ADAM12 Protein; D000072198:ADAM17 Protein; D053829:Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D015854:Up-Regulation
D008565:Membrane Proteins; D053829:Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases; D051722:ADAM Proteins; D000072199:ADAM12 Protein; C000606480:ADAM12 protein, human; D000072197:ADAM10 Protein; C491236:ADAM10 protein, human; D000072198:ADAM17 Protein; C000606462:ADAM17 protein, human