Does β-catenin have a role in pathogenesis of sebaceous cell carcinoma of the eyelid?
OBJECTIVE
Expression of β-catenin in sebaceous cell carcinoma (SbCC) of the eyelid and its correlation with histopathological features.


METHODS
48 cases of SbCC were analysed immunohistochemically using monoclonal β-catenin antibody and the results correlated with tumour size, histopathological differentiation, orbital invasion and pagetoid spread.


RESULTS
Cytoplasmic overexpression of β-catenin was seen in 66% cases of SbCC which correlated positively with tumour size, orbital invasion and pagetoid spread. This correlation was found to be significant in tumour size > 2 cm (p = 0.242). Nuclear staining was not observed in any of the cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Cytoplasmic overexpression of β-catenin was observed in the majority of the cases of SbCC of eyelid, and this correlated significantly with tumour size. The authors therefore hypothesise that β-catenin overexpression in SbCC of eyelid may be a result of Wnt/β-catenin pathway dysregulation. However, its role both in the development of sebaceous cell carcinoma of the eyelid as well as its prognosis needs to be explored further.
Jayaraj
Perumal
P
Department of Ocular Pathology, Dr Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India. ssenop@rediffmail.com
Sen
Seema
S
Kashyap
Seema
S
Sharma
Anjana
A
Pushker
Neelam
N
Bajaj
Mandeep Singh
MS
Ghose
Supriyo
S
Chosdol
Kunzang
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005142:Eyelid Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011379:Prognosis; D012626:Sebaceous Gland Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D047368:Tumor Burden; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000378:metabolism*
D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D051176:beta Catenin