Comparative immunoistochemical evaluation of ephrin receptors in cutaneous squamous Carcinoma of immunosuppressed versus immunocompetent patients

Abstract

Squamous cell Carcinoma is the second most common non-melanoma skin cancer. On immunosuppressed patients, this incidence is even higher as even as the tumor aggressiveness. Erythropoietin (Eph) producing hepatocellular carcinoma receptors are deeply related to signaling pathways that control cell migration and morphology. The tumoral development, frequently, is related to some of these events become dysregulated. Thus, we may find the expression of Eph receptors in normal and tumor tissues, as well as in the tumor microenvironment. EphB2 and EphA3 receptors are related to several types of cancer, like prostate, lung, and colorectal cancer. The EphB2 receptor is involved in the oncogenesis of the cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, in which its downregulation is responsible for reducing the proliferation, invasion, and migration in cell culture. In the attempt to better understand the cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma microenvironment, the goal of this study is to evaluate, comparatively, the expression levels of EphB2 and EphA3 receptors on cases of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of immunosuppressed and immunocompetent patients. Protein expression analysis will be performed and subsequently correlated with the clinicpathological characteristics of patients. We seek to comprehend this tumor cells behavior in the context of immune evasion. We also try to unveil potential paths for developing new assays that may enable tumor target therapies, which reflect on instruments for clinical application and the benefit of future patients affected by these neoplasms. (AU)