Expression of cadherin/catenin cell--cell adhesion molecules in a onychomatricoma

Int J Surg Pathol. 2008 Jul;16(3):349-53. doi: 10.1177/1066896907310374.

Abstract

Onychomatricoma is a rare nail tumor with a distinctive architecture. Proximally, there are serum-filled invaginations of nail matrix epithelium into the stroma, and distally, dermal protrusions perforate the nail plate. Because other matrical tumors of follicular and odontogenic origin express nuclear beta-catenin, we examined the expression of cadherin/catenin proteins in this onychomatricoma case. The patient presented with a toenail yellow streak, and the biopsy revealed an onychomatricoma. E-cadherin and beta-catenin were at the cell membrane in the epithelial invaginations. P-cadherin was restricted to basal cells. In contrast to other matrical tumors, nuclear beta-catenin was not present. These results suggest that onychomatricoma may lack the transcriptional activating role of beta-catenin that characterizes follicular and odontogenic matrical tumors. This is the first report on the expression of cadherin/ catenin cell-cell adhesion proteins in this rare nail tumor.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism
  • Cadherins / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct
  • Humans
  • Immunoenzyme Techniques
  • Middle Aged
  • Nail Diseases / pathology*
  • Nails / pathology*
  • Skin Neoplasms / pathology*
  • beta Catenin / metabolism*

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Cadherins
  • beta Catenin