Expression of glutathione S-transferase-pi in malignant skin tumors

GST-pi has been known to be markedly increased in human (pre) neoplasms of several organs. In this paper, the significance of immunohistochemical detection of GST-pi in human malignant tumors of the skin was studied. In specimens from 40 patients with various skin cancers, malignant melanoma, Paget's disease and undifferentiated squamous cell carcinoma showed strong reactivity in GST-pi staining. The reactions were negative or weak in Bowen's disease, basal cell epithelioma and solar keratosis. In normal melanocytes, eccrine, apocrine, and breast gland cells stained positively but not in keratinocytes, sebaceus gland and fibroblasts. While immunohistochemical detection of GST-pi in the skin was not specific for malignancies, it contributed to aid the distinction of squamous cell carcinoma from other keratinocytic tumors. GST-pi might provide potentially useful information on chemosensitivity of skin cancer, and might serve as a biomarker of disease activity.