title: Expression of c-FLIP in malignant melanoma, and its relationship with the clinicopathological features of the disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Numerous molecular events have been associated with the development of malignant melanoma (MM). The cellular FLICE-like inhibitory protein (c-FLIP) was originally identified as an inhibitor of death-receptor signalling through competition with FADD-like interleukin-1β-converting enzyme (FLICE; also known as caspase-8) for recruitment to the FAS-associated death domain (FADD), and it has been suggested recently that c-FLIP is required for the survival and proliferation of various cell types. Aim.  To investigate the relationship of c-FLIP expression with the clinicopathological features of MM.
  
  
  METHODS
  Immunohistochemical staining with anti-c-FLIP antibody was performed on tissue samples taken from 77 MMs and 20 naevi. The proliferative cells were visualized by staining with Ki-67 antibody. Annexin V-propidium iodide labelling, a marker for chromatin condensation, was performed to observe the rate of cell apoptosis by flow cytometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Expression of c-FLIP was increased in MM tissue compared with the matched pigmented naevi. The c-FLIP expression was significantly associated with the histological type and Clark level of MM, and correlated strongly with the Ki-67 labelling index. Downregulation of c-FLIP might increase apoptosis in MM cell lines.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  c-FLIP might play an important role in the obtaining of aggressive biological behaviours and be useful in predicting prognosis of patients with MM.
authors: Department of Dermatology, Affiliated Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Tian
authors: J J
authors: JJ
authors: Lu
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Wang
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Li
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Yang
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Li
authors: Y Q
authors: YQ
authors: Liu
authors: G X
authors: GX
authors: Shen
authors: Y T
authors: YT
authors: Tu
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Tao
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D053446:CASP8 and FADD-Like Apoptosis Regulating Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D008545:Melanoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009508:Nevus, Pigmented / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D053446:CASP8 and FADD-Like Apoptosis Regulating Protein; C506386:CFLAR protein, human; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins