Abstract: Objective To investigate a possible role of basigin/CD147and a mechanism how basig in/CD147 functions in the progression of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).Methods Expression of basigin and matrix metalloproteinases(MMPs)was examined immunohistochemically in 36 specimens taken fromthe patie nts with SCC.Expression was compared between 7SCC in situ and 29 invasive SCC as well as 19SCC without recurrence/metastasis and 17with recurrence/metastasis.Immunoblot analysis and immunofluorescence microscopy were used to observe the expression and localization of basigin in SCC cells in vitro.Results Expression of basigin in primary SCC increased during the progression of tumor invasion.Primary SCC with recurrence/metastasis exh ibited significantly increased basigin expression compared to primary SCC without recurrence/metastasis.There were significant differences between SCCin situ and invasive SCCin the expression of MMP-1,MMP-2 and MT1-MMP in tumor cells and between SCC with and without recurrence/metastasis in the expression of MMP-1,MMP-2 and MT1-MMP in both tumor cells and fibro blasts.Significant correlation was found between basigin expression in tumor cells and MMP-1,MMP-2,MMP-3 and MT1-MMP expression in surrounding fibr oblasts.Immunoblot analysis revealed increased basigin expression in culture SCC cells.Basigin was found to localize on microvilli-like structures on cell membranes of tumor cells by immunofluorescence microscopy.Conclusions These results suggest that basigin/CD147 expressed in SCC cells might interact with surrounding fibroblasts to stimulate their MMPs expression and play an important role in the prog ression of SCC through this interaction.

Key words: Carcinoma,squamous cell, Metalloproteinases, Basigin/CD147