title: Immunophenotypic differences between uveal and cutaneous melanomas.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the immunophenotypic differences between uveal and cutaneous melanomas, employing standard melanoma markers as well as p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) and microphthalmia transcription factor (MITF).
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen uveal melanomas (5 spindle, 5 epithelioid, and 5 mixed uveal subtypes) were immunolabeled with a panel of antibodies that included S100, tyrosinase, melan-A, HMB-45 and HMB-50 combination, MITF, and p75NTR. The results were tabulated on the basis of intensity and pervasiveness of the labeling and compared with a prior study on cutaneous spindle and epithelioid melanomas.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In contrast to its strong labeling of cutaneous melanomas, S100 immunolabeling of uveal melanomas was weak and variable. p75NTR, known to differentiate spindle from epithelioid melanomas of the skin, did not immunolabel uveal melanomas. HMB-45, HMB-50, tyrosinase, melan-A, and MITF immunolabeled all uveal melanomas strongly, irrespective of the histologic subtype, but not cutaneous melanomas. Microphthalmia transcription factor was especially clear in its labeling of uveal melanomas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although cutaneous and uveal melanomas share many molecular markers in common, there are differences between the 2 types of melanoma. First, the level of expression of S100 differs between cutaneous and uveal melanomas. Second, while cutaneous melanomas can be further subdivided into spindle and epithelioid types based on their immunophenotype, the uveal melanomas cannot.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Dermatology, University of Washington Medical Center, Box 356524, Seattle, WA 98195-6524, USA. siwamoto@u.washington.edu
authors.forename: Satori
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iwamoto
authors.forename: Robert C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Burrows
authors.forename: Robert E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Kalina
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: George
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boehm
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bothwell
authors.forename: Rodney
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schmidt
mesh_terms: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D002830:Choroid Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification* / Q000473:pathology; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D058965:MART-1 Antigen; D008545:Melanoma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification* / Q000473:pathology; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens; D051739:Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase / Q000032:analysis; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D020800:Receptor, Nerve Growth Factor; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000032:analysis; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification* / Q000473:pathology; D014157:Transcription Factors
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D058965:MART-1 Antigen; C497234:MITF protein, human; C548667:MLANA protein, human; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens; D051739:Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D020800:Receptor, Nerve Growth Factor; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor; D009418:S100 Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase