Background:
@EN Epidermal growth factor(EGF) usually stimulates the growth and proliferation of a variety of cell types in vitro and in vivo through binding to a specific cell surface receptor, a 170-kilodalton glycoprotein. The EGF receptor (EGFR) may be
responsible for deranged keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation.
@ES Objective:
@EN Our purpose was to investigate the pattern of EGFR expression in malignant epidermal tumors.
@ES Methods:
@EN We performed immunohistochemical studies to reveal immunoreactivity of EGFR in 7 basal cell carcinomas, 6 squamous cell carcinomas, and five normal control skin using the Vectastain ABC immunoperoxidase stain system.
@ES Results:
@EN In normal skin, EGFR showed strong staining of basal cells and lower keratinocytes of the stratum malpighii. As squamous cells matured, staining gradually became weaker. In all cases of basal cell carcinoma studied, there was loss of membrane
labelling of the tumor cells and but in half the cases there was little or no staining of the lesional cells. In squamous cell carcinomas, variable patterns were seen. The better differentiated tumors showed an essentially normal pattern of EGFR
expression. However, less well differentiated areas showed loss of membrane staining, cytoplasmic accumulation of receptor, and a heterogeneity of staining intensity.
@ES Conclusion:
@EN Dysregulation of the EGFR may be important in the development of cutaneous epithelial malignancies but that grossly abnormal forms of the receptor do not occur. The quantitative and qualitative changes in EGFR that we have demonstrated may
well
be
of importance in the pathogenesis of these keratinocyte tumors. (Kor J Dermatol 1994 ; 32(2) : 271~276)
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