Expression of phosphorylated Stat3, cyclin D1 and Bcl-xL in extramammary Paget disease

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Stat3 (Signal transducer and activator of transcription-3) is an oncogene that plays a critical role in regulating fundamental processes associated with malignant transformation and cell survival. It participates in oncogenesis through upregulation of genes encoding apoptosis inhibitors (Bcl-xL) and cell cycle regulators (cyclin D1). The expression of Stat3, Bcl-xL and cyclin D1 protein has not been investigated in extramammary Paget disease (EMPD). To study the expression of phosphorylated Stat3 (p-Stat3), Bcl-xL and cyclin D1 protein in EMPD and to evaluate the relationships among them. Thirty-six tissue samples from 34 patients with primary EMPD were subjected to immunohistochemical staining for p-Stat3, cyclin D1 and Bcl-xL. Thirty-five of 36 specimens were clearly positive for p-Stat3 in EMPD, while 30 of 36 and 32 of 36 were positive for cyclin D1 and Bcl-xL expression, respectively. In all of four invasive EMPD specimens, strong and frequent expression of these three molecules was evident; moreover, two invasive EMPD specimens with lymph nodal metastasis showed very strong nuclear and membranous p-Stat3 staining. Two metastatic lymph node specimens showed very strong nuclear and local membrane p-Stat3 staining. There were significant correlations between p-Stat3 and cyclin D1 expression and between p-Stat3 and Bcl-xL expression. Our study shows that the expression of p-Stat3, cyclin D1 and Bcl-xL may play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of EMPD.