title: Lecithin retinol acyltransferase as a potential prognostic marker for malignant melanoma.
abstract: Metabolism inside cells differs between cancer and normal cells. Because disturbance of vitamin A metabolism might be important, we investigated expression of the enzymes lecithin retinol acyltransferase (LRAT) and RPE65 by immunohistochemistry in melanoma metastases and melanocytic nevi. Semiquantitative evaluation of this expression revealed downregulated expression of RPE65 in malignant melanoma compared with benign melanocytic nevi (P < 0.001). In contrast, expression of LRAT was not significantly different (P = 0.339). High LRAT expression in melanoma metastases was inversely correlated with patient survival; Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed earlier melanoma-related death (P = 0.003). Expression of LRAT might, therefore, be a prognostic marker of the clinical course of melanoma.
authors.affiliation: Skin Cancer Unit, German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Jessica C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Hassel
authors.forename: Philipp M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Amann
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schadendorf
authors.forename: Stefan B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Eichmüller
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nagler
authors.forename: Alexandr V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Bazhin
mesh_terms: D000217:Acyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002453:Cell Cycle; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000166:cytology; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D011379:Prognosis; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000737:chemistry; D019745:cis-trans-Isomerases / Q000378:metabolism; D000099178:Retinoid Isomerohydrolase
chemical_list: D000217:Acyltransferases; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D014801:Vitamin A; D019745:cis-trans-Isomerases; D000099178:Retinoid Isomerohydrolase; C056942:lecithin-retinol acyltransferase
keywords: RPE65; lecithin retinol acyltransferase; melanoma; prognostic marker; vitamin A