title: Expression of cell cycle and apoptosis regulatory proteins and telomerase in melanocitic lesions.
abstract: To gain insight into the role and association of cell cycle and apoptosis regulatory proteins and telomerase activity in the course of progression of melanocitic lesions we have examined immunohistochemicaly, expression and the distribution of p53, bcl-2, Ki-67 and telomerase in 25 samples of common and dysplastic nevi, and 45 samples of primary invasive melanomas. Protein p53 expression was significantly increased in dysplastic as compared with common nevi and melanomas (p < 0.001). Bcl-2 protein expression was significantly increased in melanomas as compared with common aquired and dysplastic nevi (p = 0.001). Nevi and melanomas exhibited clear-cut differences in terms of Ki-67 expression. Telomerase expression was significantly increased in melanomas as compared with common acquired (p = 0.014) and dysplastic nevi (p < 0.001). Enhanced telomerase activity in association with increased bcl-2 expression in the course of melanoma progression could contribute to development and progression of melanoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatovenerology, Rijeka University Hospital, Rijeka, Croatia.
authors.forename: Tanja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Batinac
authors.forename: Ita
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hadzisejdić
authors.forename: Gordana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brumini
authors.forename: Alen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ruzić
authors.forename: Bozidar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vojniković
authors.forename: Gordana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zamolo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D004416:Dysplastic Nevus Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009506:Nevus / Q000378:metabolism; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000032:analysis; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D019098:Telomerase / Q000032:analysis*; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D019098:Telomerase