title: Immunohistochemical profile of oral mucosal and head and neck cutaneous melanoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In addition to ultraviolet radiation exposure, various molecular markers may differ between oral mucosal and cutaneous head and neck melanomas and lead to variations in their biologic behavior and prognosis. The aim of this study was to compare four such markers, namely microphthalmia transcription factor (MITF), P75, P53, and Ki-67 in malignant melanomas originating from the oral cavity and head and neck skin.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 19 oral mucosal and 23 head and neck cutaneous melanomas were subjected to immunohistochemical analysis using antibodies against MITF, P75, P53, and Ki-67. Statistical comparison of data was performed by t-test and chi-square analysis (P < 0.05).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant differences in MITF (P = 0.016) and Ki-67 (P = 0.002) were observed between oral mucosal and cutaneous melanomas. P75 (P = 0.80) and P53 (P = 0.76) did not differ significantly, between these locations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to the results obtained in this study, the biological properties of cutaneous and mucosal melanoma differ, especially regarding MITF and Ki-67.
authors.affiliation: Dental Research Centre, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mojgan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alaeddini
authors.forename: Shahroo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Etemad-Moghadam
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000737:chemistry; D005153:Facial Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D005887:Gingival Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000737:chemistry*; D051739:Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor / Q000032:analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000737:chemistry*; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D010157:Palatal Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000032:analysis; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry*; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; C497234:MITF protein, human; D051739:Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor; C484065:NGFR protein, human; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
keywords: Ki-67 antigen; melanoma; microphthalmia-associated transcription factor; nerve growth factor receptor; tumor suppressor protein P53