title: Comparative immunohistochemical oestrogen receptor analysis in primary and metastatic uveal melanoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The investigation reported here was carried out to determine the oestrogen receptor status of metastatic and primary uveal melanomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  A series of 23 primary and 24 metastatic formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded choroidal melanomas were analysed immunohistochemically with the monoclonal antibody (MAb) 1D5 using the avidin-biotinylated peroxidase method and antigen retrieval with microwaves. Melanophages were identified with MAb PG-M1 to macrophages.
  
  
  RESULTS
  None of the primary or metastatic melanomas contained tumour cells that would have shown a nuclear immunoreaction for oestrogen receptors with MAb 1D5. However, in 20 of the 23 primary tumours and in 14 of the 24 metastases a variable number of infiltrating cells showed a strong positive cytoplasmic immunoreaction with MAb 1D5. The cells contained pigmented cytoplasmic granules that resisted bleaching of melanin and their cytoplasm was strongly labelled with MAb PG-M1, identifying them as cross-reacting macrophages.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oestrogen receptors can not be used as a prognostic indicator if anti-oestrogen therapy is considered for treatment of metastatic uveal melanoma. However, because anti-oestrogens also act by other mechanisms on both tumour and host tissues, the lack of oestrogen receptors does not automatically negate their therapeutic effect in disseminated melanoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mäkitie
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tarkkanen
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kivelä
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008545:Melanoma / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000556:secondary; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014604:Uveal Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen