Relationship between apoptosis and expression of FADD and caspase-3 in cutaneous squamous and basal cell carcinomas

Objective: To study the expression of FADD and caspase-3 and its relation to apoptosis in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma(SCC) and basal cell carcinoma(BCC).Methods: Apoptosis and expression of FADD and caspase-3 in 48 SCCs and 41 BCCs were determined by TUNEL and SABC immunohistochemical technique,respectively.Results: Apoptosis index(AI) and FADD and caspase-3 expression in SCC were superior to those in BCC(P0.01).There were positive correlations between AI and FADD or caspase-3 expression,and between FADD and caspase-3 expression in SCC and BCC(P0.05).AI and caspase-3 expression were downregulated in poorly differentiated SCC(P0.05),and AI increased in primary lesion(P0.01).Conclusion: Fas-mediated pathway may be the primary apoptotic pathway in SCC and BCC;FADD and caspase-3 could play an important role in the apoptosis of SCC and BCC.