RESUMO
BACKGROUND/AIM: Regulatory functions of amyloid precursor-like protein 2 (APLP2) expression in intracellular trafficking of major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) and biological behavior of tumor cells have been reported in various types of malignancies but not in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC). This study aimed to investigate the role of APLP2 expression in the pathogenesis of CSCC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The expression of APLP2 and a key modulator of cancer immune escape, MHC-I, were determined in CSCC tissue samples obtained from 141 patients using immunohistochemistry. The regulatory effects of APLP2 expression on the biological behavior and surface expression of MHC-I in CSCC cells were investigated by trypan blue assay, Matrigel invasion assay, and in vivo xenograft analysis. RESULTS: APLP2 immunoreactivity was high in 73 (51.8%) tissue samples from patients with CSCC and was significantly related to subcutaneous fat invasion and poor prognosis in our cohort. Moreover, proliferation of and invasion by CSCC cells were significantly reduced after APLP2 knockdown in CSCC cells both in vitro and in vivo. A significant association was found between APLP2 and membrane MHC-I expression in patients with CSCC. In vivo xenograft analysis showed that APLP2 knockdown increased membrane MHC-I expression in CSCC cells. CONCLUSION: APLP2 not only acts as an oncogene in CSCC progression but also as a possible modulator of cancer immune escape by influencing MHC-I expression on the cell surface. APLP2 may serve as a novel molecular biomarker and therapeutic target for patients with CSCC.