Overexpression of HER-2 in thick melanoma.

In this study we evaluated the overexpression status of HER-2 and its prognostic significance on survival in patients with thick cutaneous malignant melanoma. The immuno-alkaline phosphatase antigen detection technique was applied to archival diagnostic material from 51 patients with primary lesions measuring >or= 10 mm in Breslow thickness. Eleven additional patients with primary lesions measuring <or= 1 mm were also studied. HER-2 overexpression was evaluated using conventional light microscopy and an automated cellular imaging system (Chromavision Medical System). Fifteen (29.4%) out of 51 patients with thick lesions showed HER-2 overexpression. In contrast, no overexpression was seen in any of the thin lesions. Overexpression of HER-2 in this group of patients was of no prognostic significance for freedom from recurrence or survival when studied using univariate and multivariate analyses. Whilst the incidence of HER-2 overexpression in patients with thick cutaneous primary melanoma is similar to that reported in breast cancer, it was of no prognostic significance for survival in this study. However, further evaluation in larger numbers of patients with the full spectrum of Breslow thickness is clearly indicated.