title: Expression of HECA-452 antigen correlates with disease relapse in mycosis fungoides.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the expression of HECA-452 epitope in mycosis fungoides (MF), assess whether its expression increases in relapsed MF compared with nonrelapsed MF and determine the potential prognostic relevance of HECA-452 expression.
  
  
  METHODS
  HECA-452 expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in a consecutive series of 20 MF. In all patients we evaluated the disease-free survival rate according to HECA-452 expression in a univariate analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found a low expression in 5 MF (25%), a moderate expression in 8 MF (40%) and a high expression in 7 MF (35%) in the intraepidermal area. All patients were disease-free after appropriate therapy. Four of 20 patients (20%) relapsed within 2 years. HECA-452 expression significantly correlated with disease relapse in these patients. In fact, among the 7 patients whose lesions had a high expression, 4 had a disease recurrence (57%), whereas 0 of 13 (0%) with a low or moderate expression relapsed (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HECA-452 expression correlates with disease relapse in MF. Correlation with disease progression suggests that HECA-452 could be of prognostic relevance in the early stage of mycosis fungoides.
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Section, Department of Systematic Pathology, University of Naples, Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Rossella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Di Trolio
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Lorenzo
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iacono
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Filosa
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Delfino
authors.forename: Francesco Paolo
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: D'Armiento
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009182:Mycosis Fungoides / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D012008:Recurrence
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C445125:HECA protein, human; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins