The Beta-2, microglobulin is the part of light chain of human histocompatibility
antigen (HLA). This protein can be observed in most of the human nucleated cells.
Some of reports indicated that the Beta, 2-microglobulin was lost completely or partially
in the malignant or premalignant lesions. Observations on presence of Beta-2,
microglobulin were made on 24 cases of malignant, premalignant and benign epithelial
umors and 6 cases of normal or non, neoplastic epithelial lesions in the skin, using PAP
method.
The results obtained were follows:
1) Normal epidermis and non, neoplastic cutaneous lesions (chronic non, specific
dermatitis, actinic change of skin with pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia) showed strong
positive staining along the cutaneous epithelial cytoplasmic surface for Beta, 2,
microglobulin in all 6
2) Benign cutaneous tumors (keratoacanthoma, squamous cell papilloma and pigmented
nevus) showed similar strong positive staining for Beta-2-microglobulin along the
epithelial cell surface in 4 out 6 cases. Remaining 2 cases were out of 4 pigmented
nevus, which showed weakly or pretty weakly staining.
3) Premalignant cutaneous lesions as solar keratosis showed generally weak positive
staining along the epthelial cytoplasmic surface in all 4 cases.
4) Malignant cutaneous tumors (basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma,
Bowen's disease and malignant melanoma) showed mostly negative staining along the
surface of epithelial cells for Beta, 2, microglobulin, in 8 out of 14 cases. Remaining 6
cases showed slightly weak or patchy positive staining.
As above observation, the presence of Beta, 2-microglobulin in cutaneous epithelial
lesions using PAP method could be indicated as one of good differential tool for
histopathologic diagnosis in cutaneous malignant lesions.
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