The Significance of Mast Cells Associated with Basal Cell Carcinoma

Abstract

In the stroma of basal cell carcinoma (BCC), the numbers of mast cells are increased, but their significance remains unknown. In a retrospective histological study of 74 cases, we investigated the significance of mast cells related to BCC and the possible relationship between increased numbers of mast cells and clinical and histological parameters including the patients' age, sex, subtype of BCC, and severity of peritumoral inflammation. We found a significant increase in peritumoral mast cell numbers over those in uninvolved skin (p<0.0001). Morpheaform BCCs had significantly more mast cells than did the other variants (p=0.047). No significant relationship was found between mast cell number and the degree of peritumoral inflammation, patient age, or gender. Our results support previous reports indicating that mast cell numbers are increased in RCC, particularly in its morphoeic variant, implying a contributory role for mast cells in the aggressiveness of BCC.

Mast cells and cutaneous malignancies

“…13,14,27,30,31 As well, the density of mast cell and microvessels is increased in Figure 1 The accessory roles of mast cells in the progression and spread of cutaneous malignancies. UV-B, ultraviolet-B; SCF, stem cell factor; IL, interleukin; TNF-a, tumor necrosis factor-a; VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor; ECs, endothelial cells; TGF-b, transforming growth factor-b; FGF-2, fibroblast growth factor-2.…”

“…Basal cell carcinoma cells secrete stem cell factor and IL-1, which can stimulate mast cell proliferation and degranulation, thus forming a paracrine loop. 10,28,31 Opposing roles for mast cells?…”

“…These suppressor T cells in turn release higher levels of immune suppressive cytokines including IL-10, and induce apoptosis of antigen-presenting cells. 31,43,58 Suppression of immune responses to melanoma antigens and functional inactivation of tumor-reactive T cells are important for the development of melanoma in humans. Treatment of mice with cimetidine, an H2 receptor antagonist, has been reported to retard the growth of melanoma.…”

Immunohistochemical analysis of mast cell infiltrates and microvessel density in oral squamous cell carcinoma

“…Until now, the role of mast cell accumulation has been evaluated in a number of tumors, such as oral malignant and premalignant lesions, [3][4][5][6][7], carcinomas of the stomach [8], colon, [9], liver [10], breast [11], endometrium [12], cervix [13,14], prostate [15], nonsmall cell pulmonary carcinomas [16], neoplasms of vascular origin [17], Hodgkin lymphomas [18], basal cell carcinomas [19] and melanocytic skin lesions [20]. Mast cells are considered to interact with various neoplasms, significantly affecting their growth, progress and capability to metastasize [21]; however, it is still a poorly investigated area and drawing conclusions on the actual, often compound, role of these cells requires particular care.…”

Newly Defined Roles of Mast Cells in Surgical Diseases and Surgical Tumors: Review

“…Ör ne ğin, özo fa gu sun sku a möz ve de ri nin ba zal hüc re li karsi no ma la rın da, MH yo ğun lu ğu (MHY) gü ve ni lir bir prog nos tik be lir le yi ci ola rak tü mö rün ag re sif li ğin -den so rum lu tu tul muş tur. 26,27 Di ğer ta raf tan, mi de kan se ri, 197 me me kan se ri va ka sı ve yu mu şak doku sar ko ma la rın da ya pı lan ça lış ma lar da, MHY`nin tü mö rün pro li fe ras yon ve ya yı lı mı nı in hi be ede bildi ği sa vu nul muş tur. [28][29][30] Tü mör do ku sun da MHY'yi de ğer len di ren geniş çap lı bir araş tır ma olan 300 rek tal kan ser li biyop si de ger çek leş ti ri len NSABP (US Na ti o nal Sur gi cal Ad ju vant Bre ast and Bo wel Pro ject) isimli ça lış ma da, dü şük MHY sap ta nan va ka la rın progno zu nun, MHY yük sek olan la ra gö re da ha iyi ol du ğu be lir len miş tir.…”