Expression of the CD117, COX-2 and HSP90 antigens and cell proliferation in fine-needle-aspirated cells from metastatic melanomas.
BACKGROUND
Blocking therapies aimed at COX-2, HSP90 and CD117 have been described recently. The objective of the study was to analyze expression of these antigens and the proliferation rate in metastatic melanomas.


METHODS
Fine-needle aspirates from 30 patients were analyzed. Immunocytochemical methods were applied to assess COX-2, HSP-90 and CD117. Cell proliferation was analysed using expression of Ki-67. Findings were compared with histopathological parameters.


RESULTS
All cases expressed COX-2 and HSP90. CD117 was expressed in 46% of cases. The proliferation index ranged between 7% and 54%. No correlation was found between histological properties of the primary tumours and expression of CD117, COX-2 and HSP90 in their metastases. An inverse correlation was found between HSP90 and MIB-1 index.


CONCLUSIONS
A large proportion of metastatic melanomas expressed COX-2 and HSP90. This may have a clinical implication for blocking therapy of the corresponding molecules. Expression of CD117 antigen was observed in only 5/30 melanoma cases. We hypothesize that such melanomas may benefit from targeted therapy with kinase inhibitors.
Sviatoha
Vitali
V
Department of Pathology and Cytology, Radiumhemmet, Karolinska Hospital, Solna, 17176 Sweden. vitalijs.svjatoha@karolinska.se
Kleina
Regina
R
Tani
Edneia
E
Skoog
Lambert
L
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D048708:Cell Growth Processes / Q000502:physiology; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D018841:HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000556:secondary; D008875:Middle Aged; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / Q000096:biosynthesis
D018841:HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C513496:MIB1 ligase, human; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit