Impaired regulation of apoptosis is known to be associated with the development of various cancers, and Fas/Fas-ligand (FasL) is known to play an important role in apoptosis. CD40 is a cell surface receptor, which when ligated modulates apoptosis in some cell types. The expressions of CD40 and FasL were examined in 10 normal skins, 7 Bowen's disease skins, 10 squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) and 12 basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) immunohistochemically. In the normal epidermis, CD40 was more highly expressed in the keratinocytes of the squamous cell and granular layers than in those of the basal layer, and FasL expression was observed in the cell membrane of keratinocytes at the basal and squamous cell layers. CD40 expression was significantly higher in SCCs than in normal or Bowen's disease skin, while FasL expression was significantly higher in Bowen's disease than in SCCs. BCCs expressed the lowest levels of CD40 and FasL. These results suggest that altered CD40 and FasL expression may be related with the progression of SCC, and the marked reduced expression of CD40 and FasL may explain the biologic behavior of BCCs.
Antigens, CD40/*metabolism ; Bowen's Disease/*metabolism ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell/*metabolism ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/*metabolism ; Human ; Membrane Glycoproteins/*metabolism ; Reference Values ; Skin/metabolism ; Skin Neoplasms/*metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the involvement of E-cadherin-catenin adhesion system in Bowen's disease (BD) and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

METHODSFifteen normal skin, 28 BD and 18 SCC specimens were stained with monoclonal antibodies against E-cadherin and beta-catenin. Evaluation of the staining results was performed with semi-quantification of the pattern and intensity of staining, percentage of positive cells, and cytoplasmic staining.

RESULTNormal skins strongly expressed membranous E-cadherin and beta-catenin, but their expression was remarkably reduced in BD and SCC. Abnormal staining of beta-catenin was observed in the cytoplasm or cell nuclei of BD and SCC.

CONCLUSIONAbnormal expression of the E-cadherin/catenin complex is common in SCC and BD.

Adult ; Aged ; Bowen's Disease ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cadherins ; biosynthesis ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Skin Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; beta Catenin ; biosynthesis

PURPOSE: Forkhead box p3 (Foxp3) positive T regulatory cells (Tregs) have a functionally immunosuppressive property that prevents effector cells from acting against self in autoimmune diseases or a tumor. It is known that Tregs may be highly relevant in cancer progression. Dendritic cells (DCs) induce cutaneous immune response, however several studies have suggested that DCs are involved in immunosuppression. The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of Tregs and DCs infiltration in cutaneous premalignant and malignant squamous lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated Tregs and DCs in skin tissue samples obtained from 83 patients with actinic keratosis, Bowen's disease or squamous cell carcinoma by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The prevalence of Tregs and DCs was significantly higher in squamous cell carcinoma and Bowen's disease than in actinic keratosis. In addition, the number of DCs was closely correlated with the prevalence of Tregs, and DCs were also located in direct proximity to Tregs. CONCLUSION: Tregs is related to cutaneous squamous tumor progression.
Bowen's Disease/immunology/metabolism/pathology ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/immunology/metabolism/pathology ; Dendritic Cells/immunology/metabolism/pathology ; Forkhead Transcription Factors/immunology/*metabolism ; Humans ; Immune Tolerance ; Keratosis, Actinic/immunology/metabolism/pathology ; Skin Neoplasms/*immunology/metabolism/pathology ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/*immunology/metabolism/pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of promyelocytic leukaemia (PML) protein of PML protein in Bowen's disease (BD), skin squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and explore the role of PML in the pathogenesis of these diseases.

METHODSPML protein in normal skin tissues and lesions of Bowen's disease, SCC and BCC were detected with immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSNormal skin tissues did not express PML protein. In BCC, PML showed rather low expressions in the skin lesions (8.69% in cell nuclei and 4.35% in cytoplasm). The lesions in BD and SCC (grade I and II) showed obvious overexpression of PML protein in the cell nuclei and cytoplasm, and its expression in the cell nuclei of these lesions was significantly higher than that in grade III-IV SCC.

CONCLUSIONPML protein may play an important role in the early stage of SCC, and its overexpression may contribute to the carcinogenesis and metastasis of SCC.

Adult ; Aged ; Bowen's Disease ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nuclear Proteins ; metabolism ; Promyelocytic Leukemia Protein ; Skin Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; metabolism