Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery/Surgical Oncology, University Health Network, Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Head Neck. 2013 Feb;35(2):184-9. doi: 10.1002/hed.22942. Epub 2012 Feb 6.
The purpose of this study was to determine the expression pattern of the Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) large T-protein antigen in patients with Merkel cell carcinoma.
A tissue microarray (TMA) containing 30 specimens was constructed and stained for the MCPyV large T protein. Immunohistochemical expression was determined semiquantitively and was compared to patients' outcome.
Nuclear expression of MCPyV large T protein was detected in 29 of 30 specimens (97%). In particular, 60% to 100%, 30% to 60%, and 10% to 30% of tumor cells were positive in 27 specimens (90%), 1 (3%), and 1 (3%), respectively. There was no difference in positivity between primary and metastatic lesions. Clinical data could not be correlated to MCPyV large T-protein expression.
MCPyV large T protein was significantly overexpressed in 97% of all specimens. Although we could not demonstrate a predictive effect, MCPyV large T protein may represent a molecular marker with utility in pathological diagnosis as well as a potential new therapeutic target in patients with Merkel cell carcinoma.
本研究旨在确定 Merkel 细胞多瘤病毒（MCPyV）大 T 蛋白抗原在 Merkel 细胞癌患者中的表达模式。
构建了一个包含 30 个标本的组织微阵列（TMA），并对 MCPyV 大 T 蛋白进行染色。免疫组织化学表达结果进行半定量测定，并与患者的预后进行比较。
在 30 个标本中的 29 个（97%）中检测到 MCPyV 大 T 蛋白的核表达。具体而言，在 27 个标本（90%）中，肿瘤细胞阳性率分别为 60%至 100%、30%至 60%和 10%至 30%；在 1 个标本（3%）中为 10%至 30%；在 1 个标本（3%）中为 1%至 10%。原发性和转移性病变之间的阳性率没有差异。临床数据无法与 MCPyV 大 T 蛋白表达相关联。
MCPyV 大 T 蛋白在所有标本中的表达均显著上调，达 97%。虽然我们未能证明其具有预测作用，但 MCPyV 大 T 蛋白可能代表一种在 Merkel 细胞癌患者的病理诊断中有实用价值的分子标志物，也是一个潜在的新治疗靶点。
