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. All were examined for intratumoral and peritumoral immunohistochemical expression of podoplanin antibody (D2-40). In addition, morphometric measurement of lymphatic vessel density was evaluated in all studied specimens.

Results: Podoplanin expression was significantly upregulated in all the studied epidermal tumor specimens in comparison to normal control skin specimens. The highest mean value of podoplanin expression (both intratumoral and peritumoral cells) was observed in SCC followed by BSC, then BCC, SK, and control skin in the same sequence. Positive correlations were detected between its expression in both BSC and SCC with the mean of lymphatic vessel density in the studied specimens and the presence of lymph node metastasis.

Conclusions: Podoplanin plays an evident role in the development and progression of both benign and malignant skin neoplasms and may serve as a potential predictor of their clinical course and prognosis.