PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - SATORU KASE
AU  - KAZUHIKO YOSHIDA
AU  - MITSUHIKO OSAKI
AU  - HIRONOBU ADACHI
AU  - HISAO ITO
AU  - SHIGEAKI OHNO
TI  - Expression of Erythropoietin Receptor in Human Merkel Cell Carcinoma of the Eyelid
DP  - 2006 Nov 01
TA  - Anticancer Research
PG  - 4535--4537
VI  - 26
IP  - 6B
4099  - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/26/6B/4535.short
4100  - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/26/6B/4535.full
SO  - Anticancer Res2006 Nov 01; 26
AB  - Background: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) of the eyelid is a rare malignant solid tumor of the elderly, which demonstrates a large, firm, reddish nodule mimicking an angiomatous lesion. The expression of erythropoietin (Epo) and Epo receptor (EpoR), as well as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), VEGF receptor (VEGFR) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) were examined in human MCC tissues. Materials and Methods: Three patients diagnosed with MCC of the eyelid underwent surgical excision. Isolated tissues were fixed by 4% paraformaldehyde and then were examined using immunohistochemistry. Results: The carcinoma cells consisted of irregular tumor nests with linear stroma and showed hypercellularity indicated by small round nuclei with several mitoses. While immunoreactivity of Epo was undetectable, an increased expression of EpoR was noted in the carcinoma cells. Cytoplasmic immunoreactivity for EpoR was detected in a variety of carcinoma cells, including mitotic cells. VEGF, VEGFR, and bFGF, other angiogenic factors were not expressed in the MCC tissues. Conclusion: EpoR was highly expressed in MCC of the eyelid, suggesting that the Epo-EpoR pathway plays an important role in the formation of MCC. Copyright© 2006 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved