The Prognostic Value of Podoplanin Expression in Nonmelanoma Skin Cancers: Correlation With Lymphatic Vessel Density.

Background: Podoplanin is one of the integral molecules controlling cellular motility and migration that is considered crucial in initiating tumor invasiveness and metastasis.

Objective: This work aimed at studying the immunohistochemical expression of podoplanin in nonmelanoma skin cancers (NMSCs) and seborrheic keratosis (SK) in comparison to normal control skin and to evaluate its possible role in their pathogenesis.

Patients And Methods: This study included 120 patients and paraffin blocks of epidermal tumors [30 SK, 30 basal cell carcinoma (BCC), 30 basosquamous carcinoma (BSC) and 30 squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)], in addition to 30 normal control skin specimens from age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers.