Immunohistochemical Study on Expression of Transforming Growth Factor-betas in Keratoacanthoma and Squamous Cell Carcinoma / 대한피부과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Because of the clinical and histological similarities of keratoacanthoma(KA) and squamous cell carcinoma(SCC), it is often difficult to differentiate. Transforming growth factor-betas (TGF-betas) are the multifunctional peptides that regulate the cellular growth and differentiation. It has been known that the isoforms of TGF-beta(TGF-beta1, TGF-beta2, TGF-beta3) are differently expressed in human cancers such as basal cell carcinoma, pancreatic cancer, thyroid cancer, etc. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the expression patterns of TGF-beta isoforms on KA and SCC using the immunohistochemical staining method with anti-TGF-betas antibodies and to evaluate the usefulness of this method in distinguishing each other. METHODS: We performed immunoperoxidase staining(LSAB technique) using polyclonal anti-TGF-beta1, b2, and b3 antibodies from the formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded biopsy specimens obtained from 11 patients with KA, 11 pntients with SCC, and 10 healthy volunteers. RESULTS: In the normal skins, TGF-beta1, b2 and b3 were almost negative or only weakly positive in the epidermis, whereas TGF-beta3 was moderately to strongly positive in the suprabasal layer. In KAs, the expression patterns of TGF-beta1, b2, and b3 were similar to those of the normal skins. In SCCs, however, the expression of TGF-beta1 was increased and TGF-beta3 was decreased compared with the normal skins. CONCLUSION: In these results, the immunohistochemical staining using the anti-TGF-betas antibodies, especially anti-TGF-beta1 and b3, can be used for the differentiation of KA and SCC. Also, it can be suggested that the charige of expressions of TGF-beta isoforms in the epidermis may play an important role in the carcinogenesis of SCC.