CD10 immunoreactivity in cutaneous squamous and basal cell carcinoma

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare CD10 expression in tumoral and stromal cells of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC) in order to differentiate SCC from BCC in problematic cases.

Methodology: Twenty six SCC and 30 BCC cases were retrieved randomly from Al-zahra hospital pathology archive and CD10 expression was determined in tumoral and stromal cells (fibroblasts around tumoral nests) of each case based on immunohistochemical method.

Results: 25 of 26 SCC samples (96.2%) failed to stain with CD10 in tumoral cells whereas CD10 expression of stromal cells was identified in all SCC cases (100%). In contrast, 26 of 30 BCC cases (86.7%) were positive in tumoral cells and only 5 of 30 BCC samples (17.7%) were positive in stromal cells. Accordingly, the staining pattern of tumoral and stromal cells in BCC and SCC was statistically different (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: These findings support CD10 expression as a differential marker for BCC and SCC. CD10 staining pattern is mostly tumoral in BCC and stromal for SCC.