Expression of cell cycle related proteins in a rapidly growing uveal malignant melanoma.
OBJECTIVE
To report the clinical and immunohistochemical findings of a rapidly growing uveal melanoma.


METHODS
A 71-year-old Japanese woman was diagnosed with a juxtapapillary uveal melanoma by clinical examination. The tumor grew rapidly with a 31.5-day doubling time. An enucleation was performed, and immunohistochemical examination for cell cycle proteins was performed in addition to routine histopathologic examination.


RESULTS
The melanoma cells were classified as spindle B-cells. The tumor cells were positive for HMB-45 protein, but negative for S-100 protein. The tumor showed immunohistochemical staining for p16 and Bcl-2, although p53 was not detected. Immunoreactivity for pRb was found in normal retinal and choroidal cells but not in the tumor cells.


CONCLUSIONS
This report describes a unique case of rapidly growing uveal melanoma, which showed low histopathologic grade while the cell cycle protein immunohistochemical profile suggests a more aggressive phenotype. The evaluation of cell cycle proteins may be useful adjunctive method to enhance the understanding of uveal melanoma growth patterns.
Honda
Shigeru
S
Department of Ophthalmology, Kitano Hospital, Tazukekofukai Medical Research Institute, Osaka, Japan. s-honda@kitano-hp.or.jp
Hirai
Tatsuya
T
Handa
James T
JT
Okuno
Tomoko
T
Saito
Isao
I
D000368:Aged; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 / Q000378:metabolism; D015353:Eye Enucleation; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008545:Melanoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D016160:Retinoblastoma Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014604:Uveal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D016160:Retinoblastoma Protein; D009418:S100 Proteins