Expression of parathyroid hormone related protein in normal skin and in tumours of skin and skin appendages.

Parathyroid hormone related protein (PTHrP) has been demonstrated in the tumour cells of squamous cell carcinomas originating in a variety of organs, in undifferentiated small cell tumours of the bronchus, and in carcinoma of the kidney. The protein hormone is thought to produce the hypercalcaemia which may complicate some of these malignancies. By using an antibody raised in rabbits against the N-terminal portion of the molecule, the polypeptide may be demonstrated in cells of the prickle cell layer of normal skin and in the cells of hair follicles. Skin tumours showing squamous or hair follicle differentiation are shown to contain the protein antigen, while basal cell carcinomas and tumours with sweat gland differentiation do not. The hormone may be primordial in origin and the progenitor of parathyroid hormone.