ABNORMAL EXPRESSION OF EPILIGRIN AND ALPHA-6-BETA-4 INTEGRIN IN BASAL-CELL CARCINOMA

BACKGROUND. Basal cell carcinoma is characterized by local invasion, a nd only rarely metastasizes. The role of the containing basement membr ane (BM) in, this tumor is unclear. Several BM components have been sh own to be absent or significantly reduced in BM surrounding infiltrati ng tumor. OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study is to examine the expre ssion of epiligrin, a BM-associated glycoprotein, and the integrin cha ins alpha 3, alpha 6, beta 1, and beta 4 in the basement membranes sur rounding basal cell carcinoma. METHODS. Samples were obtained from 20 patients with basal cell carcinomas and subjected to a standard avidin biotin complex/alkaline phosphatase immunohistochemical technique usi ng a panel of antibodies. RESULTS. There was a consistent abnormality of expression of epiligrin, alpha 6, and beta 4. CONCLUSION. We propos e that reduced expression of epiligrin is involved in the pathogenesis of the local invasion by tumor and that an altered integrin ratio in basal cell carcinoma enhances tumor spread. (C) 1998 by the American S ociety for Dermatologic Surgery, Inc.