title: Immune-phenotypical markers for the differential diagnosis of melanocytic lesions.
abstract: For specific subsets of melanocytic proliferations, there are morphologic limitations in the histological diagnosis, especially for borderline melanocytic tumors. In particular, Spitzoid proliferations can be difficult to diagnose. For these reasons, in the last years, clinic research has focused attention on discovery of new diagnostic markers. Published gene expression and proteomic profiling data indicate new candidate molecules involved in melanoma pathogenesis, and useful in differential diagnosis of difficult melanocytic lesions. Recently, the diagnostic power of galectin-3 was demonstrated in series of melanocytic lesions, with a strong increasing of expression in malignant lesions compared with benign lesions. Similarly, the accumulation of Collagen XVII antibody was detected in vertical melanoma fronts and associated with invasive phenotype. Moreover, overexpression of cyclin D1 and p21 was detected in Spitz nevi compared with non-spitzoid melanomas; Ki-67 appears highly expressed in deep areas of non-spitzoid melanomas. In this review, we overview of the main molecular markers that a useful tool for the differential diagnosis of benign, borderline and malignant melanocytic lesions, related to their biological behavior, useful also for predicting the evolution of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Pathology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori Fondazione "G. Pascale", via Mariano Semmola Naples 80131, Italy.
authors.forename: Gerardo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Botti
authors.affiliation: Pathology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori Fondazione "G. Pascale", via Mariano Semmola Naples 80131, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marra
authors.affiliation: Pathology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori Fondazione "G. Pascale", via Mariano Semmola Naples 80131, Italy.
authors.forename: Annamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Anniciello
authors.affiliation: Pathology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori Fondazione "G. Pascale", via Mariano Semmola Naples 80131, Italy.
authors.forename: Giosuè
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scognamiglio
authors.affiliation: Pathology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori Fondazione "G. Pascale", via Mariano Semmola Naples 80131, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gigantino
authors.affiliation: Pathology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori Fondazione "G. Pascale", via Mariano Semmola Naples 80131, Italy.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cantile
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D018332:Nevus, Epithelioid and Spindle Cell / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010641:Phenotype; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor
keywords: Benign and malignant melanocytic lesions; differential diagnosis; immunohistochemical markers