Cell surface molecules in basal cell carcinomas
At the time of publication, Mary E. Maloney was not yet affiliated with the University of Massachusetts Medical School.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The factors determining a basal cell carcinoma's (BCC's) growth pattern and invasive potential are not known. In other tumors it has been shown recently that the expression of cellular adhesion molecules may determine a tumor's invasive and metastatic potential. Integrins, cell surface molecules important in cell stroma interactions, are present on BCCs and may help regulate the tumor's growth pattern.
OBJECTIVE: We compared the expression of cellular adhesion molecules alpha 2 integrin, beta 1 integrin, intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), leukocyte function antigen 1a (LFA-1a), and E-selectin in different histological subtypes of basal cell carcinomas.
METHODS: BCCs were obtained from patients undergoing Mohs surgery. The BCCs were classified as nodular, micronodular, mixed, infiltrative, and basosquamous types and stained using an avidin-biotin-immunoperoxidase technique with antibodies against alpha 2 integrin, beta 1 integrin, ICAM, LFA-1a, VCAM-1, and E-selectin.
RESULTS: BCCs expressed alpha 2 and beta 1 integrin, but no significant differences in the amount or pattern of expression was seen in the different histologic subtypes.
CONCLUSION: The expression of integrins by BCCs by binding to the surrounding stroma may limit BCC's growth; however, their expression does not appear to correlate with their histological pattern.