Ann Dermatol.  2001 Jun;13(2):86-91. 10.5021/ad.2001.13.2.86.

The Expression of c-erbB-1 and c-erbB-2 in the Various Skin Tumors

• Ham SH
• Park CJ
• Yi JY

• KMID: 2163869
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5021/ad.2001.13.2.86

Abstract

BACKGROUND
c-erbB-1 (epidermal growth factor receptor) and c-erbB-2 oncoprotein have common tyrosine kinase activities, and alteration in their expression has been defined in various visceral tumors. However, relatively little is known about their expression in skin tumors.
OBJECTIVE
Our aim was to evaluate the distribution and expression pattern of c-erbB-1 and c-erbB-2 in skin neoplasms.
METHODS
We have undertaken an immunohistochemical survey of c-erbB-1 and c-erbB-2 in the tissue specimens of keratoacanthoma (KA), actinic keratosis (AK), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC).
RESULTS
Membranous c-erbB-1 expression had a tendency to be down-regulated in some specimens of SCC and dysplastic portions of AK. In invasive lesions of SCC, we observed increased cytoplasmic accumulation of c-erbB-1. Most specimens of BCC showed rather decreased expression of c-erbB-1 compared with other skin tumors. c-erbB-2 oncoprotein showed strong cytoplasmic staining in SCC, especially in the invasive tumor mass, and in some deeply dysplastic or hyperplastic portions of AK, though the difference of intensity was not striking between tumors. BCC revealed relatively weaker expression of c-erbB-2 than other skin tumors, which was similar in pattern to c-erbB-1.
CONCLUSION
The expression patterns of c-erbB-1 and c-erbB-2 are altered in various skin neoplasms, and seem to be related to the dysplastic status or differentiation level of tumor cells.

Keyword

c-erbB-1; c-erbB-2

MeSH Terms

Carcinoma, Basal Cell
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell
Cytoplasm
Keratoacanthoma
Keratosis, Actinic
Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
Skin Neoplasms
Skin*
Strikes, Employee
Protein-Tyrosine Kinases