Our objective is to investigate the relation between localized amyloid accumulation and p53 protein expression in basal cell carcinoma (BCC).

Randomly chosen 50 BCC cases were re-evaluated, and the diagnosis was confirmed. Cross sections stained with hematoxylin eosin were examined to find out the histopathological subtype of the tumor. Anti-p53 antibody and Congo-Red were applied to the 4-µ thick sections cut out from the paraffin blocks. p53 positivity was scored as negative when it was below 5% (0), as (+) when it was between 5% and 25%, as (++) when it was between 25% and 50%, and as (+++) when it was above 50%. Amyloid accumulation was scored under polarized light between 1 and 3, as very low (+), moderate (++), and intense (+++).

Of the BCCs, 21 were evaluated as solid, 15 as adenoid, 10 as infiltrative, and 4 as micronodular type. Of the 50 cases, 32 (64%) were found to have amyloid and 24 (48%) were found to have p53 positive. There was not any statistically significant correlation between amyloid accumulation and p53 positivity, and age, sex and histopathological type (p>0.05). No significant relation was found between amyloid accumulation and p53 positivity (r:-0.052, p>0.05).

No significant relation could be found between amyloid accumulation and p53 positivity in our study . This suggests that amyloid accumulation and p53 positivity in BCC can be associated with extended development process of the tumor and prolonged exposure to ultraviolet rays.