Expression of protein mediators of type I interferon signaling in human squamous cell carcinoma of the skin

IFN-based therapy has been shown to be active in the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the skin and has promise for chemoprevention and treatment of several other cancers. In an effort to better understand the molecular mechanism of this activity, we have determined the expression pattern of several of the protein mediators of type I IFN signaling by immunohistochemistry in cutaneous SCC, SCC metastases, and adjacent nonmalignant epithelium from patient biopsies. All of the proteins, signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 1α/β, STAT2, p48, STAT3α, and STAT3β, are expressed at varying levels in the adjacent epidermis, as well as in other epidermal and dermal cell types. For the majority of samples tested, the expression of one or more of these proteins was reduced in SCC primary tumors compared with the adjacent nonmalignant epithelial cells, as determined by manual scoring. Quantitative densitometry of several samples revealed differences that are statistically significant. Our study provides the first direct evidence for the expression of the IFN-stimulated gene factor 3 (STAT1α/β, STAT2, and p48) and STAT3α and STAT3β mediators of IFN-α/β signaling in human skin and skin-derived SCCs. These data have led to the hypothesis that the loss of IFN sensitivity may contribute to the development and progression of skin SCC.