Immunohistochemical Expression of Heparanase II in Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer

Abstract

Background: Heparan sulphate is present in the extracellular matrix of the skin. Heparanase is implicated in cellular invasion related to inflammation, cancer metastasis and angiogenesis. Heparanase II may inhibit heparanase activity by competing for the HS substrate. Heparanase II regulates selected genes that promote normal differentiation, endoplasmic reticulum stress, tumor fibrosis, and apoptosis, together resulting in tumor suppression. Aim: to investigate the involvement of heapranase II in non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) pathogenesis. Materials and Method: This study was carried out on a total number of 60 subjects, 30 cases with NMSC [15 cases with BCC and 15 cases with SCC] and 30 age- and gender-matched healthy subjects as a control group were included. Standard immunohistochemical technique was used to detect heparanase II expression. Results:. Heparanase II was not detected in NMSC cases neither in the epidermis nor tumor islands (0.0%), while in control cases it was expressed in 10% in the epidermis. Conclusion: Heparanase II could act as tumor suppressor and may have a protective role in skin where it’s expressed in normal skin but absent in NMSC.