BACKGROUND: - Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of human cancer. Studies employing molecular and genetic biology techniques, associated with histomorphology, lead to the identification of risk factors in the development of more recurring and aggressive lesions. OBJECTIVE - To correlate markers expression of apoptosis (p53 and bcl-2) and cell proliferation (Ki-67 and PCNA) with histological indicators of tumor severity. METHODS - Five samples of the nodular, morpheaform and superficial types of carcinoma were studied, espectively.One control group with three lesion-free patients was also included in the study. The Mann-Whitney test was used to compare these markers expression with the manifestation form of basal cell carcinoma. RESULTS - Bcl-2 expression was significant in basal cell carcinomas said to be aggressive (morpheaform and nodular types). Of the studied tumors, 66.7% (n =10) strongly expressed p53.Our results show a greater expression of Ki-67 in nodular and superficial basal cell carcinoma, with no expression in the controls. PCNA showed a strong expression in all types of tumors and in the controls. CONCLUSION - The findings allow us to conclude that Bcl-2 and p53 show a tendency to indicate the severity of basal cell carcinoma. In contrast, Ki-67, due to its variable behavior, cannot be considered a marker of severity. Also, PCNA was not a good marker of cell proliferation.
carcinoma, basal cell; cell cycle proteins; immunohistochemistry; skin neoplasms; tumor markers; biological
