Abstract
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common type of skin cancer in older persons and is a rapidly rising incidence. E-cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion activates Cdc42, a Rho GTPase essential for cell polarity in numerous settings. No study has yet addressed a biological significance of Cdc42 alterations in BCC pathogenesis. Our aim was to investigate E-cadherin-dependent cell-cell contacts and Cdc42 activity in BCC formation. We evaluated E-cadherin and Cdc42 expression by immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis in samples of 15 normal skin (NS) and 30 BCC (10 superficial, 9 nodular and 11 infiltrative subtypes). Low E-cadherin and high Cdc42 immunohistochemical expression were found in BCC samples compared with NS. E-cadherin staining was significantly reduced in infiltrative BCC compared with superficial and nodular. A significantly greater Cdc42 expression was observed in BCC compared with NS; moreover, superficial BCC had a significantly lower Cdc42 expression in respect to the other subtypes. Western blot analysis confirmed the significantly decreased E-cadherin expression in infiltrative BCC as well as Cdc42 reduction in superficial BCC in respect to the other subtypes. In BCC the increased Cdc42 in association with reduced E-cadherin might contribute to the disruption of adhesion mechanisms and to the loss of cell polarity, thus explaining a mechanism by which cancer cells can escape from the control of adjacent normal keratinocytes. Our study also showed that Cdc42 and E-cadherin expression differed according to aggressive behaviour of BCC subtypes and suggested important functions of these molecules in regulating tumour demarcation and progression.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 835-840 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Archives of Dermatological Research |
| Volume | 305 |
| Issue number | 9 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Nov 2013 |
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Keywords
- Basal cell carcinoma
- Cdc42
- Cell polarity
- E-cadherin
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Dermatology
Cite this
Cdc42 is involved in basal cell carcinoma carcinogenesis. / Tucci, Maria Giovanna; Lucarini, Guendalina; Zizzi, Antonio; Rocchetti, Romina; Brancorsini, Donatella; Primio, Roberto Di; Ricotti, Francesca; Ricotti, Giuseppe.
In: Archives of Dermatological Research, Vol. 305, No. 9, 11.2013, p. 835-840.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Cdc42 is involved in basal cell carcinoma carcinogenesis
AU - Tucci, Maria Giovanna
AU - Lucarini, Guendalina
AU - Zizzi, Antonio
AU - Rocchetti, Romina
AU - Brancorsini, Donatella
AU - Primio, Roberto Di
AU - Ricotti, Francesca
AU - Ricotti, Giuseppe
PY - 2013/11
Y1 - 2013/11
N2 - Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common type of skin cancer in older persons and is a rapidly rising incidence. E-cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion activates Cdc42, a Rho GTPase essential for cell polarity in numerous settings. No study has yet addressed a biological significance of Cdc42 alterations in BCC pathogenesis. Our aim was to investigate E-cadherin-dependent cell-cell contacts and Cdc42 activity in BCC formation. We evaluated E-cadherin and Cdc42 expression by immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis in samples of 15 normal skin (NS) and 30 BCC (10 superficial, 9 nodular and 11 infiltrative subtypes). Low E-cadherin and high Cdc42 immunohistochemical expression were found in BCC samples compared with NS. E-cadherin staining was significantly reduced in infiltrative BCC compared with superficial and nodular. A significantly greater Cdc42 expression was observed in BCC compared with NS; moreover, superficial BCC had a significantly lower Cdc42 expression in respect to the other subtypes. Western blot analysis confirmed the significantly decreased E-cadherin expression in infiltrative BCC as well as Cdc42 reduction in superficial BCC in respect to the other subtypes. In BCC the increased Cdc42 in association with reduced E-cadherin might contribute to the disruption of adhesion mechanisms and to the loss of cell polarity, thus explaining a mechanism by which cancer cells can escape from the control of adjacent normal keratinocytes. Our study also showed that Cdc42 and E-cadherin expression differed according to aggressive behaviour of BCC subtypes and suggested important functions of these molecules in regulating tumour demarcation and progression.
AB - Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common type of skin cancer in older persons and is a rapidly rising incidence. E-cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion activates Cdc42, a Rho GTPase essential for cell polarity in numerous settings. No study has yet addressed a biological significance of Cdc42 alterations in BCC pathogenesis. Our aim was to investigate E-cadherin-dependent cell-cell contacts and Cdc42 activity in BCC formation. We evaluated E-cadherin and Cdc42 expression by immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis in samples of 15 normal skin (NS) and 30 BCC (10 superficial, 9 nodular and 11 infiltrative subtypes). Low E-cadherin and high Cdc42 immunohistochemical expression were found in BCC samples compared with NS. E-cadherin staining was significantly reduced in infiltrative BCC compared with superficial and nodular. A significantly greater Cdc42 expression was observed in BCC compared with NS; moreover, superficial BCC had a significantly lower Cdc42 expression in respect to the other subtypes. Western blot analysis confirmed the significantly decreased E-cadherin expression in infiltrative BCC as well as Cdc42 reduction in superficial BCC in respect to the other subtypes. In BCC the increased Cdc42 in association with reduced E-cadherin might contribute to the disruption of adhesion mechanisms and to the loss of cell polarity, thus explaining a mechanism by which cancer cells can escape from the control of adjacent normal keratinocytes. Our study also showed that Cdc42 and E-cadherin expression differed according to aggressive behaviour of BCC subtypes and suggested important functions of these molecules in regulating tumour demarcation and progression.
KW - Basal cell carcinoma
KW - Cdc42
KW - Cell polarity
KW - E-cadherin
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84886717196&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84886717196&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s00403-013-1351-8
DO - 10.1007/s00403-013-1351-8
M3 - Article
C2 - 23589095
AN - SCOPUS:84886717196
VL - 305
SP - 835
EP - 840
JO - Archives of Dermatological Research
JF - Archives of Dermatological Research
SN - 0340-3696
IS - 9
ER -