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.
Department of Ophthalmology, Kitano Hospital, Tazukekofukai Medical Research Institute, Osaka, Japan. s-honda@kitano-hp.or.jp
Shigeru
S
Honda
Tatsuya
T
Hirai
James T
JT
Handa
Tomoko
T
Okuno
Isao
I
Saito
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