Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the immunohistochemical expression status of BerEP4, EMA and CK7 in cutaneous basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and to find out whether there is some difference in the expression pattern related to the anatomic location of lesions. Biopsy specimens from 32 cases of BCC of the skin were enrolled. All samples were immunohistochemically stained for EpCAM (clone BerEP4), EMA (clone E29), and CK7 (clone OV-TL 12/30). All cases (32/32; 100%) were strongly positive for BerEP4, while the vast majority of tumors (28/32) were completely negative for EMA. Four BCCs (12.5%) exhibited a focal staining for EMA, but it was only sporadic and did not exceed 5% of tumor epithelium. Cytoplasmic expression of CK7 was found in 19 cases (19/32; 59.4%). Comparing both, the chronically sun-exposed and the intermittently sun-exposed anatomic locations, the percentages of CK7-positive BCCs were 47.8 and 88.9%, respectively. In conclusion, all lesions showed a strong expression of BerEP4, the use of this marker is helpful especially in individuals suspected of having multifocal BCC with many microlesions, morpheic BCC, or BCCs with mixed histomorphology.
Highlights
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) of the skin is recently the most common malignancy in human population.1 It exhibits a very heterogeneous histomorphology, on the basis of which it is classified into several subtypes and variants.1 Despite of this variability, pathological diagnosis is usually not problematic and may be achievable from hematoxylin and eosin stained slides
This is in contrast with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, that is usually positive for epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) and negative for BerEP4.2, 3
The goal of this study was to evaluate an immunohistochemical expression status of BerEP4, EMA and cytokeratin 7 (CK7) in cutaneous BCCs and to find out whether there is some difference in the expression pattern related to the anatomic location of lesions
Summary
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) of the skin is recently the most common malignancy in human population. It exhibits a very heterogeneous histomorphology, on the basis of which it is classified into several subtypes and variants. Despite of this variability, pathological diagnosis is usually not problematic and may be achievable from hematoxylin and eosin stained slides. Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) of the skin is recently the most common malignancy in human population.1 It exhibits a very heterogeneous histomorphology, on the basis of which it is classified into several subtypes and variants.. A recent study have postulated an interesting theory that cytokeratin profile of BCC may differ according to the degree of sun exposure and to the anatomical localization. It has demonstrated, CK7 expression was mostly present in non-photoexposed parts of the body. The goal of this study was to evaluate an immunohistochemical expression status of BerEP4, EMA and CK7 in cutaneous BCCs and to find out whether there is some difference in the expression pattern related to the anatomic location of lesions
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
