Warthy-Basaloid Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Penile - Case Report

ObjectiveThe aim of the study was to present a case of penile squamous cell carcinoma and immunohistochemical identification and evaluation of E-cadherin and beta-catenin expression. MethodsWe are presenting a 70-year old man with a variant of penile squamous cell carcinoma with mixed warty and basaloid features. After diagnosis, the patient underwent partial penectomy. Samples taken from the material after surgery were subjected to basic histological staining and immunohistochemical identification of E-cadherin and beta-catenin. A Real-time PCR study was conducted to investigate the expression of E-cadherin and beta-catenin. ResultsRoutine histopathological examinations revealed the characteristic features of warty-basaloid squamous cell carcinoma. In the case studied, a positive immunohistochemical reaction was observed for E-cadherin and beta-catenin. QRT-PCR analysis showed a statistically significant decrease in E-cadherin expression in tumor samples compared to healthy tissue. In contrast, expression of the gene encoding beta-catenin was slightly higher in tumor samples compared to normal tissue. ConclusionsThe reduced level of the complex of adhesive elements, E-cadherin-beta-catenin, disturbs cell differentiation, promotes a more invasive phenotype-stromal infiltration and the formation of distant metastases. In the described case of the penile tumor, a decrease in E-cadherin expression was noted, which could be related to the occurrence of neoplastic infiltration of the spongy body space. In summary, E-cadherin and beta-catenin expression and the immunoreactivity of these proteins are expressed at different levels in tumor cells and in penile interstitial cells. Regulation of expression during various physiological and pathophysiological processes indicates a potentially important role of E-cadherin and beta-catenin in cell proliferation and adhesion.

Automated summary

The study presented a case of penile squamous cell carcinoma and evaluated the expression of E-cadherin and beta-catenin through immunohistochemical analysis. It was found that E-cadherin expression decreased while beta-catenin expression slightly increased in tumor samples compared to healthy tissue, which may be related to tumor invasion and metastasis. The findings suggest potential roles of E-cadherin and beta-catenin in cell proliferation and adhesion during physiological and pathophysiological processes.