title: Apolipoprotein D expression in cutaneous malignant melanoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Apolipoprotein D (Apo D) is a protein component of the human plasma lipid transport system, and an androgen-regulated protein in both breast and prostate cancer cell lines. Our goal was to evaluate the expression of Apo D in malignant cutaneous melanomas, as well as to assess its possible relationship to clinical and pathological parameters.
  
  
  METHODS
  Apo D expression was analyzed in 32 paraffin-embedded tissues from patients with invasive cutaneous malignant melanomas, in 8 samples from in situ melanoma, and in 10 samples from 10 benign lesions (4 dermal melanocytic nevi, 4 compound melanocytic nevi, and 2 dysplastic melanocytic nevi), using immunohistochemical techniques.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The benign lesions were consistently negative for Apo D, whereas 3 of the 8 "in situ" melanomas (37.5%) and 12 of the 32 invasive melanomas (37.5%) showed positive immunostaining for Apo D. The percentage of Apo D-positive tumors was significantly higher in nodular than in superficial spreading melanomas (P = 0.011) and in melanomas with vertical growth phase than in melanomas with radial growth phase (P = 0.02). In addition, the percentage of Apo D-positive tumors was positively and significantly correlated with Clark's level of invasion (P = 0.046).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Apo D may be a new prognostic factor of unfavorable evolution in cutaneous malignant melanoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology. Hospital de Cabueñes, Gijón, Spain.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Miranda
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vizoso
authors.forename: Arancha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martín
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Quintela
authors.forename: María Daniela
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Corte
authors.forename: María Eugenia
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Seguí
authors.forename: Iratxe
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ordiz
authors.forename: Antonio Martínez
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Merino
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001053:Apolipoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D053399:Apolipoproteins D; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D011379:Prognosis; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D001053:Apolipoproteins; D053399:Apolipoproteins D