Abstract
BackgroundBasal cell carcinoma (BCC) tumors are the most common skin cancer and are highly immunogenic.ObjectiveThe goal of this study was to assess how immune-cell related gene expression in an initial BCC tumor biopsy was related to the appearance of subsequent BCC tumors.Materials and MethodsLevels of mRNA for CD3ε (a T-cell receptor marker), CD25 (the alpha chain of the interleukin (IL)-2 receptor expressed on activated T-cells and B-cells), CD68 (a marker for monocytes/macrophages), the cell surface glycoprotein intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), the cytokine interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 were measured in BCC tumor biopsies from 138 patients using real-time PCR.ResultsThe median follow-up was 26.6 months, and 61% of subjects were free of new BCCs two years post-initial biopsy. Patients with low CD3ε CD25, CD68, and ICAM-1 mRNA levels had significantly shorter times before new tumors were detected (p = 0.03, p = 0.02, p = 0.003, and p = 0.08, respectively). Furthermore, older age diminished the association of mRNA levels with the appearance of subsequent tumors.ConclusionsOur results show that levels of CD3ε, CD25, CD68, and ICAM-1 mRNA in BCC biopsies may predict risk for new BCC tumors.
Highlights
In 2006, more than 2 million individuals in the United States were treated for non-melanoma skin cancers, mostly basal cell carcinomas (BCC) [1,2]
Our results show that levels of CD3e, CD25, CD68, and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) mRNA in Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) biopsies may predict risk for new BCC tumors
We found that lower levels of CD3e, CD25, CD68, and intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 mRNA in BCC tumor biopsies at baseline predicted subsequent BCCs
Summary
In 2006, more than 2 million individuals in the United States were treated for non-melanoma skin cancers, mostly basal cell carcinomas (BCC) [1,2]. The factors influencing the risk for additional primary BCCs after the first are not completely clear. There is good evidence that BCC is an immunogenic tumor. Patients who are immunosuppressed following organ transplantation have a substantially elevated risk for new BCCs, as well as squamous cell carcinoma [5,6,7,8]. The numbers of interleukin (IL)-2 receptor positive T lymphocytes and transferrin receptor-positive T lymphocytes were greater in regressing tumors compared to those that were not regressing, indicating that the T cells were activated [9,10]. Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) tumors are the most common skin cancer and are highly immunogenic
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