Expression of metallothionein I/II and Ki-67 antigen in various histological types of basal cell carcinoma Expression of metallothionein I/II and Ki-67 antigen in various histological types of basal cell carcinoma

Abstract

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most frequent skin cancer, with many different histological subtypes.<br />Recent studies have investigated the expression of proliferative markers, but little is known about the<br />expression of metallothioneins (MT) in different histological subtypes of this cancer and their impact on proliferation<br />intensity in BCC. In this study, we examined MT-I/II expression by immunohistochemistry in 58 different<br />histological subtypes of BCC (38 nodular, six adenoid, eight infiltrative, and six metatypic cases) and correlated<br />its expression with tumor size and Ki-67 proliferation rate. Statistical analysis revealed no significant differences<br />in the expression of studied markers in regard to the histological subtype. A positive correlation between<br />MT and Ki-67 expression was observed for all the studied cases (r = 0.26; p = 0.049), but was even<br />stronger in the metatypic subtype of BCC (r = 0.85; p = 0.033). MT and Ki-67 expression did not correlate with<br />tumor size. In conclusion, it seems that metallothioneins may have an impact on the proliferation rate of BCC,<br />but further studies are required to determine whether MT may be a risk factor of recurrences. <br />Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most frequent skin cancer, with many different histological subtypes.<br />Recent studies have investigated the expression of proliferative markers, but little is known about the<br />expression of metallothioneins (MT) in different histological subtypes of this cancer and their impact on proliferation<br />intensity in BCC. In this study, we examined MT-I/II expression by immunohistochemistry in 58 different<br />histological subtypes of BCC (38 nodular, six adenoid, eight infiltrative, and six metatypic cases) and correlated<br />its expression with tumor size and Ki-67 proliferation rate. Statistical analysis revealed no significant differences<br />in the expression of studied markers in regard to the histological subtype. A positive correlation between<br />MT and Ki-67 expression was observed for all the studied cases (r = 0.26; p = 0.049), but was even<br />stronger in the metatypic subtype of BCC (r = 0.85; p = 0.033). MT and Ki-67 expression did not correlate with<br />tumor size. In conclusion, it seems that metallothioneins may have an impact on the proliferation rate of BCC,<br />but further studies are required to determine whether MT may be a risk factor of recurrences. <br />