title: [The relationship between Fas/FasL and proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression and malignant degree in human melanoma].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the expression of Fas, Fas-ligand (Fas/FasL), and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in malignant melanoma (MM), melanocytic nevus, and normal skin, and the relationship of Fas, Fas/FasL, and PCNA expressions to malignant degrees of MM.
  
  
  METHODS
  Immunohistochemistry SP methods was used to detect the expressions of Fas, Fas-ligand (Fas/FasL), and PCNA in 35 samples of MM, 21 samples of melanocytic nevus, and 28 normal skin samples obtained by operation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The positive Fas rate of the MM group was 92.86% (26/28), significantly higher than those of the melanocytic nevus group (76.19%, 16/21) and normal skin group (45.71%, 16/35) (chi2 = 16.84, v =2, P < 0.01). The positive FasL rate of the MM group was 3.57% (1/28), significantly lower than those of the melanocytic nevus group (19.05%, 4/21) and normal skin group (62.86%, 22/35) (chi2 = 27.27, v = 2, P < 0. 01). The PCNA positive rate of the MM group was 100% (35/35), significantly higher than those of the melanocytic nevus group (33.33%, 7/21) and normal skin group (10.71%, 3/28) (chi2 = 54.4, v = 2, P < 0.01). The positive index (PI) of PCNA of the MM group was 55.0% +/- 14.8%, significantly higher than those of the melanocytic nevus group (6.2% +/- 3.0%, t = 19. 89, P < 0.01) and normal skin group (4.0% +/- 2.0%, t = 22.63, P < 0.01), however, there was no significant difference in the PCNA PI between the melanocytic nevus and normal skin groups (P > 0.05). The greater the infiltration depth of MM, the higher the PCNA PI. However, there was no direct dose-effect relationship between PI and pathological types.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The expressions of Fas/FasL and PCNA reflect the malignant degree of human melanoma, and the more expression of PCNA, the more malignant degree of melanoma. The expressions of Fas/FasL and PCNA are closely associated with the development of MM.
authors.affiliation: Biological Therapy Center, First Clinical Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
authors.forename: Yong-Chen
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tan