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Expression of β-catenin and cyclin D1 in Merkel cell carcinomas of the head and neck

Das Expressionsmuster von β-catenin und Cyclin D1 in Merkelzellkarzinomen des Kopf-Hals-Bereiches

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Summary

Background

Merkel cell carcinomas (MCC) are very aggressive tumors of the sun-exposed skin with a high potential to metastasize. Little is known about the genesis of MCC and very few prognostic markers have been detected so far. The Wnt pathway protein β-catenin and the cell cycle protein cyclin D1 are two promotors of tumor growth and are expressed in a variety of malignant neoplasms such as lymphomas, thyroid, breast cancer, and many others.

Patients and Methods

Tissue samples of 27 patients with MCC were immunohistochemically stained for β-catenin and cyclin D1 and correlated with overall survival of patients. In addition, western blot analysis was carried out in the two MCC cell lines MCC-13 and MCC-26.

Results

β-catenin showed a cytoplasmatic expression of 10–30 % in 11 samples and an expression lower than 10 % in eight samples. Nuclear staining was visible in two samples. None of the 27 samples expressed cyclin D1.

Conclusion

Neither cyclin D1 nor β-catenin was expressed in a statistically significant manner, concluding that the development of MCCs is independent of β-catenin and cyclin D1 expression and these proteins are not suitable as prognostic markers. We could describe the expression pattern of cyclin D1 for the first time.

Zusammenfassung

Hintergrund

Merkelzellkarzinome (MCC) sind äußerst aggressive Tumore der sonnenexponierten Haut mit einem hohen Metastasierungspotential. Über die Entstehung der MCC ist wenig bekannt und es wurden bisher nur wenige prognostische Marker beschrieben. Das Wnt pathway Protein β-catenin und der Zellzyklusaktivator Cyclin D1 sind zwei Promoter des Tumorwachstums und können in einer Vielzahl maligner Neubildungen wie Lymphomen, Schilddrüsen- und Mammakarzinomen nachgewiesen werden.

Patienten und Methoden

Die Gewebeproben von 27 Patienten mit MCC wurden immunhistochemisch mit Antikörpern für β-catenin und Cyclin D1 gefärbt und mit dem Gesamtüberleben der Patienten korreliert. Zusätzlich wurden Western blot Analysen in zwei MCC Zelllinien, MCC-13 und MCC-26, durchgeführt.

Ergebnisse

β-catenin zeigte eine zytoplasmatische Expression von 10–30 % in 11 Patientenproben und eine geringere Expression (< 10 %) in acht Proben. Eine Kernfärbung konnte nur in zwei Proben beobachtet werden. Keine der 27 Patientenproben zeigte eine Expression von Cyclin D1.

Schlussfolgerung

Weder Cyclin D1 noch β-catenin zeigten eine statistisch relevante Expression, woraus man schlussfolgern kann, dass die Entstehung der MCC unabhängig von einer β-catenin und Cyclin D1 Expression stattfindet. Weiters können diese beiden Proteine nicht als prognostische Marker herangezogen werden. Das Expressionsmuster von Cyclin D1 in MCC wurde in dieser Arbeit erstmals beschrieben.

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The authors state no conflict of interest or any financial disclosure.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria

    Claudia Lill MD, PD, Sven Schneider MD, Markus Brunner MD, PD,  Gregor Heiduschka MD &  Dietmar Thurnher MD

  2. Department of Cancer Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

    Bahil Ghanim MD

  3. Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

    Robert Loewe MD

Authors
  1. Claudia Lill MD, PD
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  2. Sven Schneider MD
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  4. Markus Brunner MD, PD
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  5. Gregor Heiduschka MD
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  7. Dietmar Thurnher MD
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Correspondence to Claudia Lill MD, PD.

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Lill, C., Schneider, S., Ghanim, B. et al. Expression of β-catenin and cyclin D1 in Merkel cell carcinomas of the head and neck. Wien Klin Wochenschr 125, 501–507 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00508-013-0406-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00508-013-0406-3

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