Nucleolin protein expression in cutaneous melanocytic lesions.
BACKGROUND
Nucleolin is a major nucleolar argyrophilic protein involved in carcinogenesis. There are only few studies on its tissue expression in human cancer and none in melanoma. We aimed at exploring this protein and its prognostic impact in cutaneous melanocytic lesions.


METHODS
We studied 193 cases including benign, dysplastic and malignant melanocytic lesions. Nuclear positivity was evaluated by immunohistochemistry and quantified by automated image analysis.


RESULTS
Most dysplastic and malignant lesions showed high percentages of cells with abnormal patterns of nuclear positivity (Abn+N) consisting in multiple, irregular, positive dots (ID+) and a coarse, irregularly positive nucleoplasm (CNpl+) or both (ID+CNpl+). The patterns CNpl+ and/or ID+CNpl+ were never observed in benign lesions, in which ID+ were also virtually absent. Abn+N% was significantly lower in dysplastic nevi than in primary melanomas and metastases and in primary melanomas than in metastases (p < 0.05). Furthermore, Abn+N was the second powerful prognostic discriminator, after melanoma thickness, and a significantly lower survival was observed in vertical growth phase melanoma patients showing Abn+N in more than 50% of melanoma cells.


CONCLUSIONS
An altered nuclear nucleolin expression seems to accompany melanoma progression. Further investigation on nucleolin functionality and subcellular trafficking could add information on its altered role in melanoma.
Mourmouras
Vasileios
V
Department of Human Pathology and Oncology, Section of Pathological Anatomy, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
Cevenini
Gabriele
G
Cosci
Elena
E
Epistolato
Maria C
MC
Biagioli
Maurizio
M
Barbagli
Letizia
L
Luzi
Pietro
P
Mannucci
Susanna
S
Miracco
Clelia
C
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D018450:Disease Progression; D004416:Dysplastic Nevus Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008545:Melanoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D000097796:Nucleolin
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D000097796:Nucleolin