title: Desmosomal defects in acantholytic squamous cell carcinomas.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acantholytic squamous cell carcinoma (Acantholytic SCC) are epithelial tumors characterized by a loss of cell adhesion between neoplastic keratinocytes. The mechanism underlying loss of cell-cell adhesion in these tumors is not understood.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis of acantholytic SCC (n = 17) and conventional SCC (n = 16, controls not showing acantholysis) was conducted using a set of desmosomal and adherens junction protein antibodies. Immunofluorescence microscopy was used to identify tumors with loss of adhesion protein expression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The vast majority of acantholytic SCC (89%) showed focal loss of at least one desmosomal cell adhesion protein. Most interestingly, 65% of these tumors lost expression of two or more desmosomal proteins.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Loss of cell adhesion in acantholytic SCC is most likely linked to the focal loss of desmosomal protein expression, thus providing potential mechanistic insight into the patho-mechanism underlying this malignancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA; Charles C. Gates Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Biology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA.
authors.forename: Charlene
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: O'Shea
authors.forename: James E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Fitzpatrick
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Koch
mesh_terms: D000051:Acantholysis / Q000473:pathology*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D003896:Desmosomes / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*
keywords: Acantholytic squamous cell carcinomas; Desmocollin; Desmoglein; Desmoplakin; Desmosomes