title: Measurement of c-myc oncoprotein provides an independent prognostic marker for regional metastatic melanoma.
abstract: Patients with melanoma who develop nodal metastatic disease represent a group with heterogeneous clinical outcome. Nodal positivity remains the most accurate prognostic marker for regional melanoma although it fails to predict outcome in a significant number of patients. Recent studies have illustrated the prognostic potential of c-myc oncogene expression in melanoma. The aim of this study was to measure c-myc oncoprotein in a series of regional metastatic specimens from 48 patients, and evaluate its use as a marker of clinical outcome. Oncoprotein expression was detected in 46 (96%) of the tumours with a median positivity of 68% (range 0-98%). Survival analysis revealed a significant association between oncoprotein positivity and survival (Long-Rank test, chi 2 = 15.2, P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis of outcome showed c-myc oncoprotein to be an independent prognostic marker more accurate than all other clinicopathological parameters including nodal positivity (chi 2 = 8.34, P = 0.003). Estimation of c-myc oncoprotein is therefore recommended as a powerful prognostic marker for regional metastatic melanoma.
authors.affiliation: RAFT Institute of Plastic Surgery, Mount Vernon Hospital, Northwood, Middlesex, UK.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grover
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sanders
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000556:secondary*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D011379:Prognosis; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / Q000032:analysis*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc