Expression of p63 in cutaneous metastases

p63 is an oncogene belonging to the p53 gene family. In normal human skin, p63 is expressed by the least-differentiated keratinocytes of the epidermis and its appendages, by myoepithelial cells of sweat glands, and by a wide variety of primary tumors arising therefrom. The expression of p63 by metas...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:American journal of clinical pathology 2007-11, Vol.128 (5), p.753-758
Main Authors: KANITAKIS, Jean, CHOUVET, Brigitte
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adenocarcinoma - metabolism
Adenocarcinoma - secondary
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Biological and medical sciences
Biomarkers, Tumor - metabolism
Cell Count
Diagnosis, Differential
DNA-Binding Proteins - metabolism
Female
Humans
Immunoenzyme Techniques
Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects)
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques
Retrospective Studies
Skin Neoplasms - metabolism
Skin Neoplasms - pathology
Trans-Activators - metabolism
Transcription Factors
Tumor Suppressor Proteins - metabolism
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Summary:p63 is an oncogene belonging to the p53 gene family. In normal human skin, p63 is expressed by the least-differentiated keratinocytes of the epidermis and its appendages, by myoepithelial cells of sweat glands, and by a wide variety of primary tumors arising therefrom. The expression of p63 by metastatic skin tumors has been more controversial. In this study, we assessed the usefulness of p63 detection in the differential diagnosis between primary and secondary (metastatic) skin tumors. The expression of p63 was studied in 45 cases of cutaneous metastases, mostly of known primary origin, and 94 benign and malignant epithelial primary skin tumors. p63 was expressed by 85 (89%) of 96 primary skin tumors and 5 (11%) of 45 cutaneous metastases. These results suggest that p63 may be a useful adjunct in the diagnosis of skin carcinomas; however, contrary to what has been previously claimed, expression of p63 does not rule out the metastatic origin of a cutaneous carcinoma.
ISSN:0002-9173
1943-7722
DOI:10.1309/BD3K8U7KD969Y07U