Molecular basis of basal cell carcinoma: analysis of differential gene expression by differential display PCR and expression array.

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common tumor in the Caucasian population. Although BCC rarely metastasize and cause death, they are problematic due to their destructive growth and the frequent localization on the face. Until now the knowledge of genes differentially expressed in BCC has been incomplete. To elucidate the complex alterations in BCC-associated gene expression, we took advantage of 2 techniques: the differential display RT-PCR (DD-PCR) and the differential hybridization of cDNA arrays. Using DD-PCR, we showed differential expression of genes known from other biological contexts (e.g., rac, ubiquitin hydrolase), which could now be associated with BCC. In addition, we detected unknown genes possibly contributing to the carcinogenesis of BCC. Of the 588 genes screened by differential hybridization of the Atlas™ human cDNA array, differences in the expression levels of BCC were observed for 10 genes. These data were obtained with RNA probes pooled from several BCC of different donors and were subsequently confirmed by semiquantitative RT-PCR for Janus protein tyrosine kinase 3 (Jak3), microsomal glutathione S-transferase 1 (GST 12), teratocarcinoma-derived growth factor cripto, glutaredoxin and the monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) in 10 individual BCC specimens, 2 squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), the cell line HaCaT and cultured normal human keratinocytes (NHK) in comparison to normal skin. These genes are candidates from gene families with known association to tumors, but they have not been reported in the carcinogenesis of BCC yet. In summary, both approaches allow the detection of differentially expressed genes possibly involved in the carcinogenesis of BCC. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.