THE INHIBITORY EFFECT OF UVB IRRADIATION ON THE EXPRESSION OF P53 ANDKI-67 PROTEINS IN ARSENIC-INDUCED BOWENS-DISEASE

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of ultraviolet B (WB) on arsenic-induced Bowen's disease. Four patients were irradiated with 750 mJ/cm(2) of UVB and biopsies were performed before treatment and 2 weeks later. Immunohistochemical stains of p53 and Ki-67 were compar ed by the labelled-streptavidin method before and after the UVB treatm ent. We found that the number of p53 and Ki-67 positive cells after th e UVB treatment were significantly fewer than those of non-UVB-treated specimens. These results suggest that the UVB inhibitory effect in Bo wen's disease needs further studies to clarify its value in potentiall y retarding the progression of the hyperproliferative status in overt skin cancer on a molecular basis. (C) Munksgaard 1997.