Expression of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor in Malignant Epidermal Tumors.
- Author:
Eui Soo PARK
;
Joon Young SONG
- Publication Type:In Vitro ; Original Article
- Keywords:
Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor;
Basal Cell Carcinoma;
Scuamous Cell Carcinoma
- MeSH:
Carcinoma, Basal Cell;
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell;
Cytoplasm;
Epidermal Growth Factor*;
Glycoproteins;
Keratinocytes;
Membranes;
Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor*;
Skin
- From:Korean Journal of Dermatology
1994;32(2):271-276
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Epidermal growth factor(EGF) usually stimulate she growth and proliferation of a variety of cell types in vitro and in vivo through binding to a peific cell surface receptor, a 170- kilodalton glycoprotein. The EGF receptor (EGFR) may be respansi ile for deranged keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to investigate the pattern of EGFR expression in malignant epidermal tumors. METHODS: We performecl immunohistochemical studies to reveal immunoreactivity of EGFR in 7 basal cell carcinomas, 6 squamous cell carcinomas, and five nomal control skin using the Uectastain ABC immunoperoxidase stain system. RESULTS: In normal skin, EGFR showed strong staining of basal cells and lower keratinocytes of the stratum malpighii. As squaous cells matured, staining gradually beame weaker. In all cases of basal cell carcinoma studied, there was loss of membrane labelling of the tumor cells and but in half the cases there was little or no siaining of the lesional cells. In squamous cell carcinomas, variable patterns were seen. The better differentiated tumors showed an essentially no mal pattern of EGFR expression. However, less well differentiated areas showed loss of membrane staining, cytoplasmic accumulation of receptor, and a heterogeneiy of staining intensity. CONCLUSION: Dysregulation of the EGFR may be important in the levelopment, of cutaneous epithelial malignancies but that giossly abnormal forms of the receptor do not occur. The quantitative and qualitative changes in EGFR that we have demonstrated may well be of importance in the pathogenesis of these keratinocyte tumors.
