Jouhi Lauri, Koljonen Virve, Böhling Tom, Haglund Caj, Hagström Jaana
Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
Department of Plastic Surgery, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
Anticancer Res. 2015 Apr;35(4):1843-9.
We sought to clarify whether the expression of toll-like receptors (TLR) in Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is linked to tumor and patient characteristics, especially the presence of Merkel cell polyoma virus (MCV).
The study comprised of 128 patients with data on Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCV) status and clinical features were included in the study. Immunohistochemistry for TLR expression was performed on tissue microarray (TMA) slides.
TLR 2, 4, 5, 7 and 9 expression was noted in most of the tumor specimens. Decreased expression of TLR 9 correlated strongly with MCV positivity. Cytoplasmic TLR 2 expression correlated with small tumor size, while nuclear TLR 2 and TLR 5 expressions with larger tumors. Increased nuclear TLR 4 expression and decreased TLR 7 expression were associated with older age.
TLR 2, 4, 5, 7 and 9 appear to reflect certain clinicopathological variables and prognostic markers of MCC tumors.
