Ameloblastoma versus basal cell carcinoma: an immunohistochemical comparison

Abstract Despite behavioral mimicry of ameloblastoma (AB) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC); they are classified at two extremes within pertinent WHO classifications with respect to benign and malignant designation. This study aims to appraise the current allocation of ameloblastoma in the classification through an immunohistochemical comparison of some aspects of behavior with basal cell carcinoma. Sections from retrospectively retrieved formalin fixed - paraffin embedded tissue blocks of ameloblastoma (n = 37) and basal cell carcinoma (n = 34) were comparatively examined for the immunohistochemical expression for Ki-67, Bcl-2, MMP-2, MMP-9, CD31 and D2–40 monoclonal antibodies. No statistically significant differences between the tumors were found regarding the immunoexpressions of Bcl-2 ( P = .252), CD31 microvessel density (MVD) ( P = .895), lymphatic vessel density (LVD) ( P = .642) and MMP-9 stromal expression ( P = .083). MMP-2 expression was significantly higher in epithelial and stromal regions of AB ( P = .009, P = .001; respectively) whereas Ki-67 and MMP-9 epithelial expression were significantly higher in BCC ( P < .000, P = .026; respectively). Within the studied immunohistochemical attributes for tumor behavior, the study accentuated the overall behavioral mimicry of the tumors and indicated that basal cell carcinomas surmount ameloblastomas by the proliferative rate only.