Loss of epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) in infiltrative basal cell carcinoma.

摘要: Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common type of skin cancer and expresses high protein levels epithelial adhesion molecule (EpCAM, syn. CD326). Though BCCs only rarely metastasize, infiltrative destructive growth do occur. EpCAM has been studied extensively in context carcinogenesis but results studies relating expression to invasive potential or patient prognosis have inconsistent. In an attempt link with potential, we retrospectively stained paraffin embedded tissue samples nodular BCCs. A total 96 comprising 48 BCC cases were immuhistochemically anti-EpCAM clone BerEP4. Loss along tumor front was detected 6 (12.5%) as compared 29 (60.4%) (P < 0.0001). These exemplify important role for adhesion. infiltration seems be promoted by down-regulation invasion front.