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Updated: May 29, 2026
Establishment of a Clinic-based Biorepository
Published on: May 29, 2017
The nuclear factor kappa B p50 subunit and cortactin as markers to distinguish between keratoacanthoma and
M Fujii1, M Honma, H Takahashi
1Department of Dermatology, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan. ma0dj@asahikawa-med.ac.jp
Background:
Distinguishing keratoacanthoma (KA) from well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is sometimes difficult. Recent evidence indicates that the nuclear factor kappa B p50 subunit (p50) and cortactin might be useful to distinguish between these two conditions.
Aim:
To verify whether p50 and cortactin are useful differentiation markers to distinguish between subungual KA and well-differentiated SCC.
Methods:
Immunohistochemistry using p50, cortactin and Ki-67 was performed on 20 patients with KA and 20 patients with facial well-differentiated SC. Ki-67 staining was also evaluated and scored.
Results:
Both p50 and cortactin had higher levels of expression in KA than in SCC. Both were localized to the basal-cell layer of KA, whereas they were scattered without polarity throughout the SCC lesions. Although the Ki-67 index was not significantly different between KA and SCC, the staining pattern also showed loss of polarity in SCC.
Conclusion:
p50 and cortactin might be useful makers to distinguish between KA and well-differentiated SCC.
