MIB-1 immunoreactivity correlates with metastatic dissemination in primary thick cutaneous melanoma.
BACKGROUND
The proliferation rate of transformed cells is a putative prognostic indicator. MIB-1 is a murine monoclonal antibody to a Ki-67 epitope that detects a nuclear antigen found only in proliferating cells.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to test for a correlation between MIB-1 immunoreactivity and the metastatic potential of malignant melanoma.


METHODS
MIB-1 reactivity (% total tumor nuclei) was assessed in 34 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded primary cutaneous melanomas and correlated with metastatic potential and overall survival (follow-up, 10.5 +/- 1.8 years).


RESULTS
Whereas no correlation was found between MIB-1 reactivity and metastases in primary thin cutaneous melanoma (Breslow thickness, < 0.75 mm; mean thickness, 0.39 +/- 0.16 mm), good correlation was found (p = 0.0001) in primary thick cutaneous melanoma (Breslow thickness, > 1.5 mm; mean thickness, 3.0 +/- 1.3 mm). MIB-1 reactivity was 12.3% +/- 7.7% and 0.7% +/- 1.3% with and without metastases, respectively, and was highest in the primary melanomas that later metastasized. However, overall survival in patients with thick cutaneous melanoma and metastases did not correlate with MIB-1 reactivity.


CONCLUSIONS
MIB-1 proliferative activity is a useful prognostic indicator in primary cutaneous melanomas thicker than 1.5 mm and may predict the development of metastases.
Böni
R
R
Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of Zurich, Switzerland.
Doguoglu
A
A
Burg
G
G
Müller
B
B
Dummer
R
R
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D034961:Antigens, Nuclear; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000032:analysis*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D002455:Cell Division; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000473:pathology; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D000939:Epitopes; D005404:Fixatives; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005557:Formaldehyde; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000556:secondary*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D016612:Paraffin Embedding; D011379:Prognosis; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D015996:Survival Rate
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D034961:Antigens, Nuclear; D001324:Autoantigens; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D000939:Epitopes; D005404:Fixatives; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D005557:Formaldehyde