다양한 표피종양에서 syndecan-1, E-cadherin, beta-catenin 발현에 관한 면역조직화학적 연구

Abstract

Background: Syndecan-1, E-cadherin, and beta-catenin are cell adhesion molecules which are expressed primarily on the surface of adult epithelial cells. Their expression have been appeared to be inversely correlated with tumor aggressiveness and invasiveness. Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of syndecan-1, E-cadherin, and beta-catenin in tissue sections of normal sun-damaged skin, cutaneous premalignant lesions, and squamous cell carcinoma in all stages of the evoluation associated sun exposure. Methods: Five normal skins in the patients with the actinic keratosis, 10 cases of seborrheic keratosis, 5 cases of actinic keratosis, 5 cases of Bowen's disease, 5 cases of keratoacanthoma without dysplatic cells, 5 cases of keratoacanthoma with dysplastic cells in invasive margin, 5 cases of poor-differentiated squqmous cell carcinoma, and 5 cases of acantholytic squamous cell carcinoma were investigated. Specimens were assessed for syndecan-1, E-cadherin, and beta-catenin expression using a semi-quantitative method in which intensity of membranous staining was evaluated. Result: In almost cases the expression of the E-cadherin and beta-catenin was very similar. These adhesion molecules were progressively reduced in the epidermis of normal sun-damaged skin through premalignant lesions (actinic keratosis and Bowen’s disease) to squamous cell carcinoma. Also, the expression of syndecan-1 was similar to the E-cadherin and beta-catenin expression except for normal expression in premalignant lesions. But, all three adhesion molecules diminished with decreasing cell differentiation. Conclusions: These results suggest that syndecan-1, E-cadherin, and beta-catenin is expressed similarly in the epithelium, and that the decreased expression of these adhesion molecules is associated with malignant transformation.