Microvessel Density and Expression of p53 Protein in Skin Carcinoma: basal and squamous cell carcinoma

ABSTRACT

Basal cell carcinoma(BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) are very prevalent neoplasms of the human skin. Ultraviolet radiation in sunlight is a well-established mutagen of the p53 gene and is one of basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. The newly-formed vascular network is important for neoplasms to grow beyond a size of about 1 mm2. Recent reports have suggested the hypothesis that a mutant p53 protein is closely related with capillary density. Immumohistochemistry for p53 protein and CD34 was performed in 20 cases of BCCs and 14 SCCs to evaluated the relationship between p53 protein and capillary density. The results were as follows1. The microvessels stained by CD34 were mainly located in the interface of tumor cells and stroma. 2. There was no difference in the microvessel density according to the histologic types and age of the patients, but a higher microvessel density was noted in male patients. 3. The aggressive BCCs and the less-differentiated SCCs showed higher p53 immunostaining. 4. The mean microvessel density of cases showing strong positive immunostaining of the p53 gene(54.73+/-17.75) was higher than that of others(39.75+/-18.30). These results suggested that p53 protein expression and microvessel density are not related to the histologic types and age of the patients, but that differentiation and biologic behavior such as the infiltrating property of tumors and the microvessel density are closely related to p53 protein expression.