Differential expression of tetraspanin CD9 in basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas of the skin and actinic keratosis

作者：Ach Thomas; Ziemer Mirjana; Dawczynski Jens; Strobel Jurgen; Sauer Georg; Deissler Helmut^*

来源：Oncology Letters, 2010, 1(1): 37-40.

DOI：10.3892/ol_00000006

• tetraspanin
• cutanous
• neoplasm
• solar keratosis
• immunohistochemistry

Tetraspanins are potentially useful molecular markers that differentiate between tumour classes and subtypes, since members of this protein family were often found to be altered during malignant conversion and tumour progression In this study, we analysed expression of the tetraspanin CD9 in the frequent cutaneous neoplasms basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and actinic keratosis (AK), which is considered a precursor lesion (carcinoma in situ) from which an invasive SCC can develop A moderate to strong CD9-specific staining of the tumour cells' plasma membranes was uniquely observed in all BCCs, SCCs and AKs All SCCs showed additional intracellular CD9 which was rarely (20%) seen in AKs Semi-quantitative assessment of CD9 present in the plasma membranes of tumour cells of BCCs (mean staining intensity 1 91) and SCCs (3 64) reflected the different CD9 expression of normal precursor cells from which these tumours most likely originate Although considered an intermediate stage in the development of SCCs, AKs did not show intense staining of the plasma membranes typical of normal keratino-cytes or invasive SCCs (p=0 011) but only mode rate intensity (mean 1 63) In BCCs, significantly (p=0 0005 n=56) stronger CD9-specific immunoreactivity was seen in the inner regions of the tumours than at their sites of expansion In summary, our results point to an important role of CD9 at the front of tumour expansion in BCCs and SCCs, and in the pathogenesis of invasive SCCs

• 出版日期2010-2