Desmocollin 2 is a new immunohistochemical marker indicative of squamous differentiation in urothelial carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
Urothelial carcinoma (UC) with squamous differentiation tends to present at higher stages than pure UC. To distinguish UC with squamous differentiation from pure UC, a sensitive and specific marker is needed. Desmocollin 2 (DSC2) is a protein localized in desmosomal junctions of stratified epithelium, but little is known about its biological significance in bladder cancer. We examined the utility of DSC2 as a diagnostic marker.


RESULTS
We analysed the immunohistochemical characteristics of DSC2, and studied the relationship of DSC2 expression with the expression of the known markers uroplakin III (UPIII), cytokeratin (CK)7, CK20, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and p53. DSC2 staining was detected in 24 of 25 (96%) cases of UC with squamous differentiation, but in none of 85 (0%) cases of pure UC. DSC2 staining was detected only in areas of squamous differentiation. DSC2 expression was mutually exclusive of UPIII expression, and was correlated with EGFR expression. Furthermore, DSC2 expression was correlated with higher stage (P = 0.0314) and poor prognosis (P = 0.0477).


CONCLUSIONS
DSC2 staining offers high sensitivity (96%) and high specificity (100%) for the detection of squamous differentiation in UC. DSC2 is a useful immunohistochemical marker for separation of UC with squamous differentiation from pure UC.
Department of Molecular Pathology, Hiroshima University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Japan.
Tetsutaro
T
Hayashi
Kazuhiro
K
Sentani
Naohide
N
Oue
Katsuhiro
K
Anami
Naoya
N
Sakamoto
Shinya
S
Ohara
Jun
J
Teishima
Tsuyoshi
T
Noguchi
Hirofumi
H
Nakayama
Kiyomi
K
Taniyama
Akio
A
Matsubara
Wataru
W
Yasui
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D051187:Desmocollins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C081561:DSC2 protein, human; D051187:Desmocollins