Syndecan-1 Expression Is Decreased With Increasing Aggressiveness of Basal Cell Carcinoma

Abstract

Syndecans, a family of cell-surface proteoglycans of which syndecan-1 is the 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 assessed regarding the pattern of syndecan-1 expression. We found that with increasing aggressiveness of basal cell carcinomas, syndecan-1 expression is lost from the surface of the neoplastic cells. However, within the dermis, which is normally devoid of syndecan-1 expression, immunopositivity for syndecan-1 is present in areas adjacent to aggressive tumors. This pattern of staining indicates that syndecan-1 expression is produced by stromal cells rather than being shed by the carcinoma cells into the stroma.

Induction of Syndecan-1 Expression in Stromal Fibroblasts Promotes Proliferation of Human Breast Cancer Cells

“…However, stromal Sdc1 induction is not unique to breast carcinomas. Stromal Sdc1 expression has been reported in basal cell carcinomas of skin and in gastric carcinomas, where its presence is associated with a poor clinical outcome (30,31). The impact of stromal Sdc1 on breast carcinoma prognosis is currently under investigation in our laboratory.…”

Molecular analysis of transitional cell carcinoma using cDNA microarray

“…Some represent secreted or membranal proteins while others code for intracellular proteins. Proteins that are secreted, like HAI-2 and syndecan-1 (both of which are overexpressed in several cancers; Bayer-Garner et al, 2000;Dobra et al, 2000;Itoh et al, 2000;Kataoka et al, 2000), are suitable for the development of a noninvasive urine-based diagnostic test for TCC. Alternatively, an RT-PCR-based test on urine samples may be developed for genes coding for intracellular proteins, since the transitional epithelium cells are exfoliated in the urine in both normal and disease conditions (Rotem et al, 2000).…”

Basal cell carcinoma: biology, morphology and clinical implications

“…Perhaps corroborating this hypothesis is the fact that the aggressive growth BCCs have been shown to selectively express syndecan-1 in the adjacent stroma, but not in the tumor cells. 87 Syndecan-1 is a member of the syndecan glycoprotein family, held to play an important role in inhibiting tumor growth and invasion through its role as a receptor for growth factors in the extracellular matrix.…”