TROP2 is highly expressed in cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas and a subset of adnexal carcinomas: A potential therapeutic target with TROP2-directed antibody drug conjugates.

Abstract

Trophoblast cell surface antigen 2 (TROP2) has emerged as a promising therapeutic target in oncology. TROP2-directed antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are now approved for treating advanced malignancies such as breast carcinomas by the Food and Drug Administration. However, the expression patterns and potential therapeutic relevance of TROP2 in cutaneous neoplasms remain largely unexplored. In this study, we evaluated TROP2 expression by immunohistochemistry in 198 cutaneous tumors, including squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs; n = 44), basal cell carcinomas (BCCs; n = 27), Merkel cell carcinomas (MCCs; n = 12), melanomas (n = 25), atypical fibroxanthomas/pleomorphic dermal sarcomas (AFXs/PDSs; n = 17), and various adnexal (n = 58) and mesenchymal (n = 15) neoplasms. H-scores were calculated to quantify expression levels. TROP2 was consistently expressed in all SCCs (100 %; median H-score: 272.5) and in nearly all adnexal tumors (98 %; 57/58). In contrast, TROP2 expression was minimal or absent in BCCs, MCCs, melanomas, AFXs/PDSs, and mesenchymal neoplasms. Among adnexal tumors, at least moderately positive (H-score >100) TROP2 expression was observed in endocrine mucin-producing sweat gland carcinomas (n = 6; median: 170), sebaceous carcinomas (n = 6; median: 140), trichilemmal carcinomas (n = 2; median: 220), and individual cases of porocarcinoma, hidradenocarcinoma, pilomatrical carcinoma, and squamoid eccrine ductal carcinoma (H-scores: 280-295). Statistical analysis revealed significant differences in TROP2 expression among five major tumor groups (p < 0.001). Our study suggests that TROP2 immunohistochemical expression may have diagnostic utility and that TROP2-directed ADCs could offer therapeutic benefit to patients with advanced cutaneous SCCs and select adnexal carcinomas.