APOPTOSIS WITH DNA FRAGMENTATION IN BOWENS-DISEASE AND SQUAMOUS-CELL CARCINOMA

The clinical phenotypes of Bowen's disease and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) are very different although the origins of these tumors are epi dermal keratinocytes. Here we compared the degree of apoptosis in Bowe n's disease and squamous cell carcinoma. In Bowen's disease, several i ndividual tumor cells showed apoptosis. In contrast, apoptosis was not found at the tumor mass where the atypical epidermal cells invaded in to the dermis in cases of Bowen's carcinoma and squamous cell carcinom a. The possible molecular mechanisms underlying different behaviors of Bowen's disease and SCC are also discussed.