ABSTRACT
Structural alternation of P53 gene is a common genetic change associated with basal cell carcinoma [BCC]. Proliferation antigens are expressed in the nuclei of cell during specific stages of the cell cycle including proliferating cell nuclear antigen [PCNA] and Ki-67. Studies have suggested that PCNA and Ki-67 are useful diagnostic tools to differentiate benign from malignant neoplasm and useful prognostic markers in malignant neoplasms. The aim of this work is to detect the expression of P53, PCNA, and Ki-67 in different histologic variants of BCCs, to study the probability of using such markers as diagnostic and prognostic tools. Thirty patients with different histologic variants of BCCs were diagnosed histopathologically. Seven skin biopsies were taken as controls. Immnunohistochemical staining for P53, PCNA, and Ki-67 detection. There is variable degree of positivity of P53, PCNA, and Ki-67 with different histologic variants of BCCs. There is high significant relation between percentage of their positive cells and both aggressiveness and recurrence of BCCs. There is positive relation between P53 and PCNA expression. PCNA expression is greater than Ki-67 in all studied variants except for the superficial variants, which were negative for P53 expression. Both the tumor suppressor gene P53 and the proliferation markers; PCNA and Ki-67 are expressed in BCCs. They are reliable prognostic markers for aggressive behavior of BCCs. They are valuable tool in prediction of possible recurrence. Their staining appeared to be superior to traditional histologic features in predicting clinical recurrence in primary BCC's and further prospective studies in a larger patient group are warranted