Immunophenotypic differences between uveal and cutaneous melanomas.
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.
Iwamoto
Satori
S
Department of Medicine, Division of Dermatology, University of Washington Medical Center, Box 356524, Seattle, WA 98195-6524, USA. siwamoto@u.washington.edu
Burrows
Robert C
RC
Kalina
Robert E
RE
George
David
D
Boehm
Michael
M
Bothwell
Mark A
MA
Schmidt
Rodney
R
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
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