Oncogene interaction in basal cell carcinomas of human skin

The expression of the p53 protein (p53) was compared with those of several oncogenes including c-fos (Fos), c-jun (Jun), and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR1) using immunohistochemistry in frozen and paraffin-embedded sections of 25 basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) to find out any correlation between p53 and oncogenes in the pathogenesis of human BCC. In normal skin, positive reactions were obtained for EGFR1 and Fos, while p53 and Jun were negative in all cases. In the lesions, EGFR1 was observed in all cases and p53 was positive in 9 of 25 (36%). Fos was expressed in 21 of 25 (84%) and four negative cases were all p53-positive; this negative correlation between p53 and Fos staining was statistically significant (P < 0.01). Jun was detected in 14 of 20 (70%) and no significant relationship was observed between the expression of Jun and Fos or p53. These data suggest the possibility of down regulation of Fos expression by high levels of p53 protein. Further work is necessary to determine the mechanism of this interaction.