Expression of Oct-4 transcription factor in squamous cell skin carcinoma and seborrheic keratosis / 南方医科大学学报

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To detect the expression of stem cell transcription factor Oct-4 in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and seborrheic keratosis (SK) and its association with cancer stem cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Immunohistochemistry was used to detect Oct-4 expression in 35 SCC cases, 21 SK cases and 15 normal control skin tissues.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Oct-4 expression was negative in normal skin and showed a significant difference between SCC and SK tissues (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The Oct-4-positive cells in SCC and SK are probably tumor stem cells. Oct-4 expression may provide an important evidence for isolation and identification of human SCC and SK stem cells.</p>