BACKGROUND: The Wnt-signaling pathway, involving beta-catenin, apc, and axin, plays a critical role in numerous developmental events. Alterations in the Wnt-signaling pathway have been detected in a wide variety of neoplasms. However, similar aberrations have not been described in Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). The aim of this study was to determine the status of the Wnt-signaling pathway in MCC. METHODS: Twelve cases of MCC were tested for the expression of beta-catenin and mutational status of CTNNB1 (gene for beta-catenin), APC, AXIN1, and AXIN2. Genomic DNA extracted from paraffin blocks was subjected to a polymerase chain reaction/single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis and sequencing. RESULTS: Nuclear accumulation of beta-catenin was observed in only one case (8.3%), as determined by immunochemistry. No mutations were found in CTNNB1, APC, and AXIN2 in all cases, although silent mutations in AXIN1 were detected in three cases. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the Wnt-signaling pathway does not play an important role in tumorigenesis in MCC.
BACKGROUND: The Wnt-signaling pathway, involving beta-catenin, apc, and axin, plays a critical role in numerous developmental events. Alterations in the Wnt-signaling pathway have been detected in a wide variety of neoplasms. However, similar aberrations have not been described in Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). The aim of this study was to determine the status of the Wnt-signaling pathway in MCC. METHODS: Twelve cases of MCC were tested for the expression of beta-catenin and mutational status of CTNNB1 (gene for beta-catenin), APC, AXIN1, and AXIN2. Genomic DNA extracted from paraffin blocks was subjected to a polymerase chain reaction/single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis and sequencing. RESULTS: Nuclear accumulation of beta-catenin was observed in only one case (8.3%), as determined by immunochemistry. No mutations were found in CTNNB1, APC, and AXIN2 in all cases, although silent mutations in AXIN1 were detected in three cases. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the Wnt-signaling pathway does not play an important role in tumorigenesis in MCC.
Authors: Claudia Lill; Sven Schneider; Bahil Ghanim; Markus Brunner; Gregor Heiduschka; Robert Loewe; Dietmar Thurnher Journal: Wien Klin Wochenschr Date: 2013-08-09 Impact factor: 1.704
Authors: Kelly G Paulson; Bianca D Lemos; Bin Feng; Natalia Jaimes; Pablo F Peñas; Xiaohui Bi; Elizabeth Maher; Lisa Cohen; J Helen Leonard; Scott R Granter; Lynda Chin; Paul Nghiem Journal: J Invest Dermatol Date: 2008-11-20 Impact factor: 8.551