Differential expression of mucin core proteins and keratins in apocrine carcinoma, extramammary Paget's disease and apocrine nevus.
BACKGROUND
Apocrine carcinomas are rare, the immunohistochemical characterizations that are incomplete. The purpose of this study was to determine the immunohistochemical characteristics of mucin core proteins and keratins in apocrine carcinoma, extramammary Paget's disease (EMPD) and apocrine nevus.


METHODS
We report four cases of apocrine carcinomas along with immunohistochemical analyses: (i) an axillary apocrine carcinoma with an apocrine nevus, (ii) an inguinal apocrine carcinoma, (iii) a vulvar apocrine carcinoma with EMPD and (iv) an axillary apocrine carcinoma with EMPD and an apocrine nevus.


RESULTS
The tumor cells of apocrine carcinomas, EMPD and apocrine nevi displayed a positive reaction to MUC-1 and CK7 and a negative reaction to CK20. Apocrine carcinomas had high molecular weight (HMW) cytokeratin(+)/CK5(+)/CK14(-)/MUC5AC(-), EMPD with underlying apocrine carcinoma had HMW cytokeratin(-)/CK5(-)/CK14(-)/MUCA5AC(-) and the apocrine nevi had HMW cytokeratin(+)/CK5(+)/CK14(+)/MUCA5AC(+).


CONCLUSIONS
The immunohistochemical findings suggest that apocrine carcinomas, apocrine nevi and EMPD with underlying apocrine carcinomas are quite different, even though they are all derived from apocrine glands.
Miyamoto
Toru
T
Department of Dermatology, Tsuyama Central Hospital, Tsuyama, Japan.
Inoue
Sadanori
S
Adachi
Kouji
K
Takada
Rie
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001050:Apocrine Glands / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D018280:Carcinoma, Skin Appendage / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007633:Keratins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008297:Male; D009077:Mucins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D009506:Nevus / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D010145:Paget Disease, Extramammary / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D013544:Sweat Gland Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D009077:Mucins; D007633:Keratins