title: Satellitosis and CD117 immunohistochemical expression correlates with poor outcome in thick vulvar melanoma.
abstract: Melanoma of the vulva is the second most common vulvar cancer after epidermoid carcinoma. Patients suffering from this disease usually present with a late-stage disease with a poor prognosis. The prognostic factors reported in previous studies are not homogeneous and the clinical/pathogenic role of c-KIT expression is not clear. Breslow staging currently is the most accurate predictor factor.
  
  
  
  A clinicopathological study with literature review was performed to identify predictors of prognosis and survival in melanoma of the vulva and investigated the expression of c-KIT (by immunohistochemistry) in 10 patients from the National Institute for Cancer Research (Mexico City).
  
  
  
  The 10 patients enrolled were all older women with delayed presentation, high-stage disease and limited response to treatment. Five patients (50%) were found to have c-KIT expression; 4 of them recurred (P=0.01), and ultimately 3 died (P=0.038). We identified satellitosis and c-KIT expression as prognostic predictors for death.
  
  
  
  We conclude that c-KIT expression is a valuable predictor of prognosis and survival, especially in thick (>4 mm) melanomas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology, National Institute for Cancer Research, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Rosa A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Salcedo-Hernandez
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomic Pathology, National Institute for Cancer Research, Mexico City, Mexico - Saul.lino.sil@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Leonardo S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Lino-Silva
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology, National Institute for Cancer Research, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Isla-Ortiz
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology, National Institute for Cancer Research, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: José A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Posada-Torres
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomic Pathology, National Institute for Cancer Research, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: José G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Chanona-Vilchis
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomic Pathology, National Institute for Cancer Research, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: M Delia
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Perez-Montiel
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Aguilar-Romero
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Jorge A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Dominguez-Rodriguez
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology, National Institute for Cancer Research, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Angel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Herrera-Gomez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology*; D008800:Mexico; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000378:metabolism*; D013534:Survival; D014846:Vulvar Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit