Immunoexpression of Ki67, P16 and Beta-catenin in precursor lesions of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) is the second most common type of skin cancer, after basal cell carcinoma, representing about 10–20% of all malignant skin tumors. The mortality rates of CSCC approach those of renal and oropharyngeal carcinomas, as well as melanoma, with the increasing of the risk once metastases and perineural invasion occur. Both actinic keratosis (AK) and Bowen’s disease (BD) are direct precursors with the potential for progression to CSCC. In this study, we analyzed the expression of Ki67, P16 and Beta-catenin in the precursor lesions of CSCC in relation to histological prognostic parameters, respectively between them, with the aim of identifying possible correlations with a role in prognosis. Ki67 and P16 presented higher scores in advanced precancerous lesions, such as keratinocyte intraepithelial neoplasia (KIN) III and BD and low scores in seborrheic keratosis (SK). The immunoreactivity to the investigated markers confirms the multistage skin carcinogenesis, and their involvement starting from the initiation phase of the cancer process. The importance of the studied markers in the evolution and prognosis of precancerous lesions of CSCC is also supported by the linear correlations revealed between the immunoexpressions of P16, Ki67 and the membranous immunoexpression of Beta-catenin in AK.