Are the genetic variants/haplotypes of the CDH1 gene contribute to skin tags and internal malignancies in skin tag subjects? A pilot study

Background

What is the etiology of skin tags? What factors are involved in the patho-biochemistry of combined skin tags and internal malignancy? This study aimed to assess the possible linkage between CDH1 gene polymorphisms and skin tags and whether certain CDH1-SNPs are the key to developing internal malignancies in the subjects with skin tags.

Materials and methods

CDH1 polymorphisms were assessed in 164 skin tag subjects and 126 controls. We followed up the subjects with skin tags every six months for 48 months to assess whether anyone developed internal malignancy and if that malignancy was linked to certain CDH1 polymorphism.

Results

CDH1rs13689 genotypes were T/T (1.2% vs 4.8%), T/C (46% vs 60%) and C/C (70.7% vs 47.6%) for the skin tag subjects and the controls, respectively (p < 0.001). The CDH1rs17715799 genotypes were A/A (29.3% vs 50.8%), A/T (56.1% vs 44.4%) and T/T (14.6% vs 4.8%) for the skin tag subjects and the controls, respectively, (p < 0.001). After follow up, six patients with skin tags developed internal malignancies.

Conclusions

CDH1 genetic variants may be incriminated in the process of skin tag formation through epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Obesity and diabetes mellitus (DM) are substantial risk factors for EMT. Internal malignancy might develop with skin tags, so these patients should be followed up. The mutant CDH1rs13689 and/or rs17715799 may be the key to the presence of combined skin tags and malignancy.