BACKGROUND: beta-catenin plays a crucial role in the function of cell adhesion molecules and also participates in growth regulatory signalling pathways that may be involved in malignant transformation. OBJECTIVES: To examine beta-catenin expression in lesions of melanocytic origin for associations with clinicopathological markers of disease progression and for its significance as a predictor of disease recurrence and prognosis. METHODS: beta-catenin expression was examined by immunoperoxidase staining in 50 melanocytic naevi and 91 primary and 50 metastatic melanomas. RESULTS: beta-catenin was expressed in 96% of melanocytic naevi, in 94% and 65%, respectively, of radial and vertical growth phase primary melanomas, and in 38% of metastatic melanomas. Benign and malignant melanocytic lesions had distinct patterns of beta-catenin localization. Most lesions expressing beta-catenin exhibited cytoplasmic staining; however, over 40% of benign lesions also displayed nuclear staining, which was present only in 10% of primary and 15% of metastatic melanomas. Absent or weak expression of beta-catenin in primary melanomas was associated with several markers of disease progression, including tumour thickness and presence of lymph node metastases. A similar but not statistically significant trend was observed for the association of beta-catenin expression with disease recurrence and prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that loss or downregulation of beta-catenin expression in melanoma cells plays a significant role in progression of the disease.
BACKGROUND:beta-catenin plays a crucial role in the function of cell adhesion molecules and also participates in growth regulatory signalling pathways that may be involved in malignant transformation. OBJECTIVES: To examine beta-catenin expression in lesions of melanocytic origin for associations with clinicopathological markers of disease progression and for its significance as a predictor of disease recurrence and prognosis. METHODS:beta-catenin expression was examined by immunoperoxidase staining in 50 melanocytic naevi and 91 primary and 50 metastatic melanomas. RESULTS:beta-catenin was expressed in 96% of melanocytic naevi, in 94% and 65%, respectively, of radial and vertical growth phase primary melanomas, and in 38% of metastatic melanomas. Benign and malignant melanocytic lesions had distinct patterns of beta-catenin localization. Most lesions expressing beta-catenin exhibited cytoplasmic staining; however, over 40% of benign lesions also displayed nuclear staining, which was present only in 10% of primary and 15% of metastatic melanomas. Absent or weak expression of beta-catenin in primary melanomas was associated with several markers of disease progression, including tumour thickness and presence of lymph node metastases. A similar but not statistically significant trend was observed for the association of beta-catenin expression with disease recurrence and prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that loss or downregulation of beta-catenin expression in melanoma cells plays a significant role in progression of the disease.
Authors: Travis L Biechele; Nathan D Camp; Daniel M Fass; Rima M Kulikauskas; Nick C Robin; Bryan D White; Corinne M Taraska; Erin C Moore; Jeanot Muster; Rakesh Karmacharya; Stephen J Haggarty; Andy J Chien; Randall T Moon Journal: Chem Biol Date: 2010-11-24
Authors: Jeff S Pawlikowski; Tony McBryan; John van Tuyn; Mark E Drotar; Rachael N Hewitt; Andrea B Maier; Ayala King; Karen Blyth; Hong Wu; Peter D Adams Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Date: 2013-09-16 Impact factor: 11.205
Authors: Andy J Chien; Erin C Moore; Anke S Lonsdorf; Rima M Kulikauskas; Bonnie Gould Rothberg; Aaron J Berger; Michael B Major; Sam T Hwang; David L Rimm; Randall T Moon Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Date: 2009-01-14 Impact factor: 11.205