ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to investigate whether there are any abnormalities in the in vivo expression of retinoid acid receptors (RAR-alpha, RAR-beta and RAR-gamma) and retinoid X receptors (RXR-alpha, RXR-beta and RXR-gamma) in sebaceous cell carcinoma. METHODS: Expression of retinoid receptors in paired specimens of cancerous tissues (n = 10) and adjacent normal tissues (n = 10) from 10 patients with sebaceous cell carcinoma was studied immunohistochemically by using anti-retinoid receptor antibodies. RESULTS: In eight of the 10 normal tissue samples, all six receptors were expressed. In the other two samples, all receptors were expressed except RAR-gamma (one sample) or RXR-gamma (two samples). Five tumours (50%) lacked RAR-alpha; RAR-alpha expression was lower in tumours than in normal tissues in eight of 10 cases. RAR-beta was expressed in the cytoplasm of nine of 10 tumours; RAR-beta expression was at least as high in tumours as in normal tissue in eight of 10 cases. Two tumours lacked RAR-gamma; three tumours had lower RAR-gamma expression than paired normal epithelium; four had the same RAR-gamma expression, and one had higher RAR-gamma expression. RXR-alpha expression was strong in all normal tissues and tumour samples. Ten tumours lacked RXR-beta and all 10 tumours lacked RXR-gamma expression. CONCLUSIONS: Diminished RXR-beta and RXR-gamma expression might be related to the development of sebaceous cell carcinoma. Additional studies are required to establish whether the defects in RAR expression in sebaceous cell carcinoma might affect the potential response of this tumour to treatment with retinoids.
Subject(s)
Adenocarcinoma, Sebaceous/metabolism , Receptors, Retinoic Acid/metabolism , Sebaceous Gland Neoplasms/metabolism , Signal Transduction , Adenocarcinoma, Sebaceous/pathology , Aged, 80 and over , Animals , Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism , Cell Nucleus/metabolism , Cell Nucleus/pathology , Cytoplasm/metabolism , Cytoplasm/pathology , Epithelial Cells/cytology , Epithelial Cells/metabolism , Female , Humans , Immunoenzyme Techniques , Male , Middle Aged , Receptors, Retinoic Acid/classification , Retrospective Studies , Sebaceous Gland Neoplasms/pathologyABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To study retinoid receptor expression in sebaceous cell carcinoma of the eyelid. METHODS: Expression of retinoid receptors (RAR alpha, beta, and gamma and RXR alpha, beta, and gamma) in tumor specimens from 10 patients with sebaceous cell carcinoma of the eyelid and in 3 normal incidental tarsus specimens from healthy adults without cancer was studied immunohistochemically by using antiretinoid receptor antibodies. RESULTS: In all 3 specimens of normal tarsus, all 6 retinoid receptors were expressed. RARalpha expression was absent in 3 tumors and was decreased in 3 tumors compared with expression in the control tissues. RARbeta expression in carcinomas was primarily perinuclear; 6 tumors showed increased RARbeta expression compared with controls. RARgamma expression was absent in 4 tumors and was decreased in 2 tumors compared with controls. RXRalpha nuclear expression was decreased compared with controls in 5 tumors. RXRbeta expression was low in 7 tumors. RXRgamma expression was absent in 6 tumors. CONCLUSIONS: Aberrant expression of retinoid receptors in sebaceous cell carcinoma of the eyelid might play a role in the pathogenesis and progression of this carcinoma.
Subject(s)
Adenocarcinoma, Sebaceous/metabolism , Eyelid Neoplasms/metabolism , Receptors, Retinoic Acid/metabolism , Retinoid X Receptors/metabolism , Sebaceous Gland Neoplasms/metabolism , Adenocarcinoma, Sebaceous/pathology , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Eyelid Neoplasms/pathology , Eyelids/metabolism , Female , Humans , Immunoenzyme Techniques , Male , Middle Aged , Receptors, Retinoic Acid/classification , Retinoid X Receptors/classification , Sebaceous Gland Neoplasms/pathologyABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To examine the expression of molecules targeted by imatinib mesylate (STI571;Gleevec) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors in orbital lymphangiomas. DESIGN: Retrospective observational case series. PARTICIPANTS: Six patients with orbital lymphangioma treated at four institutions between March 2000 and December 2002. METHODS: Tissue specimens and medical records from six patients were collected. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed using antibodies against c-kit and platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) alpha and beta and EGFR tyrosine kinase.
