Syndecan-1 expression is decreased with increasing aggressiveness of basalcell carcinoma

Syndecans, a family of cell-surface proteoglycans of which syndecan-1 is th e prototypical member, play an important role in limiting tumor growth and invasive capacity through their actions as receptors for growth factors and extracellular matrix. Cutaneous biopsy specimens of basal cell carcinoma, including superficial, nodular, infiltrative, and morpheic subtypes, were a ssessed regarding the pattern of syndecan-1 expression. We found that with increasing aggressiveness of basal cell carcinomas, syndecan-1 expression i s lost from the surface of the neoplastic cells. However, within the dermis , which is normally devoid of syndecan-1 expression, immunopositivity for s yndecan-1 is present in areas adjacent to aggressive tumors. This pattern o f staining indicates that syndecan-1 expression is produced by stromal cell s rather than being shed by the carcinoma cells into the stroma.