title: HSP-70, C-myc and HLA-DR expression in patients with cutaneous malignant melanoma metastatic in lymph nodes.
abstract: HSP-70, C-myc and HLA-DR were examined in patients with cutaneous malignant melanoma metastatic to lymph nodes. Lymph-nodal fine-needle aspiration biopsies (FNABs) were analyzed and the results were correlated to other variables, such as the gender of the patients, Clark level and Breslow thickness of the primary tumor. Thirty cases of metastatic melanoma in lymph nodes from 30 patients with cutaneous malignant melanoma were studied. All patients (100%) had microscopic regional nodal metastasis and a recurrence of the lesion during the first two years. The HSP-70, C-myc and HLA-DR expressions were investigated immunocytologically, using the APAAP (alkaline phosphatase) method on the FNAB samples. The immunocytochemical expressions of HSP-70 protein, C-myc oncogene, and HLA-DR antigen were found in 18 cases (60%), in 14 cases (43.3%) and in 12 cases (40%), respectively. Clark levels were significantly associated with HSP-70 protein (< 0.01), C-myc oncogene expression (< 0.05) and HLA-DR antigen (< 0.01) expression. The HLA-DR antigen was also found to be related (< 0.05) to higher Breslow thickness (> 1.5 mm). The clinical course of malignant cutaneous melanoma is related to the expression of these indices, which seem to play a significant role in the metastasis and prognosis of this aggressive tumor. The immunocytochemical expression of HSP-70 in the malignant melanoma tumor could be of particular value in the identification of patients with poor prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Crete, Medical Faculty, P.O. Box 1393, Heraklion 71110, Crete, Greece. kalogerakimed@yahoo.gr
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kalogeraki
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Garbagnati
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Darivianaki
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Delides
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Santinami
authors.forename: E N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Stathopoulos
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Zoras
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000378:metabolism*; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / Q000378:metabolism*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc