Expression of CXCR4, E-cadherin, Bcl-2, and survivin in Merkel cell carcinoma: an immunohistochemical study using a tissue microarray.
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare but highly aggressive cutaneous malignancy with a mortality rate exceeding that of melanoma. Although smaller studies of markers of progression have been performed, large-scale investigation has been difficult due to the rarity of this tumor. Investigation of 4 potential immunohistochemical progression markers using an MCC tissue microarray was performed. An immunohistochemical analysis of CXCR4, E-cadherin, Bcl-2, and Survivin was performed on a tissue microarray of two hundred twenty-seven 0.6-mm tumor cores-110 primary, 73 local/regional metastatic, and 44 distant metastatic-from 87 patients, 23 of which were sampled 2 or more times. There was a statistically significant increase in immunoreactivity to CXCR4 and Survivin in local/regional nodal MCC metastases compared with primary and distant metastatic lesions. No significant differences by disease location were found for either Bcl-2 or E-cadherin. These results suggest a potential role for CXCR4 and Survivin in MCC tumor progression. However, previous data from other studies suggesting a role for Bcl-2 and E-cadherin in MCC progression are not confirmed in this larger sample. Further discovery of additional markers are needed to better characterize this rare but deadly malignancy.
Department of Dermatology, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa, FL 33612-4272, USA. cknapp@health.usf.edu
Charles F
CF
Knapp
Zena
Z
Sayegh
Michael J
MJ
Schell
Bhupendra
B
Rawal
Tatiana
T
Ochoa
Vernon K
VK
Sondak
Jane L
JL
Messina
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015266:Carcinoma, Merkel Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000077022:Survivin; D046888:Tissue Array Analysis
C107489:BIRC5 protein, human; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C527276:CXCR4 protein, human; D015820:Cadherins; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4; D000077022:Survivin