BACKGROUND: The maximum thickness of a primary malignant melanoma as measured by Breslow's method is currently the most important prognostic factor. However, some thin melanomas (< or= 0.75 mm), which should have an excellent prognosis according to Breslow, can be lethal due to their ability to metastasize. METHODS: In our study, thin malignant melanomas (< or= 0.75 mm) from 36 patients were analyzed with immunohistochemical techniques using monoclonal antibodies directed against PLK1 and Ki-67. The immunoreactivity of 22 melanomas which developed metastases within 5 years of follow-up was compared with a group of 14 non-metastasized melanomas. Two independent investigators evaluated stained sections. Differences of PLK1 and Ki-67 indices between melanomas with and without metastases were tested statistically using the Mann-Whitney U-test. RESULTS: Malignant melanomas with metastases expressed PLK1 at markedly elevated levels compared to melanomas without metastases (median, 60.00% vs. 37.98%; p = 0.000053). The difference of the Ki-67 index between both groups was not significant (median, 6.35% vs. 4.53%; p = 0.150473). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that PLK1 expression in thin melanomas is a reliable marker to identify patients at high risk for metastases.
BACKGROUND: The maximum thickness of a primary malignant melanoma as measured by Breslow's method is currently the most important prognostic factor. However, some thin melanomas (< or= 0.75 mm), which should have an excellent prognosis according to Breslow, can be lethal due to their ability to metastasize. METHODS: In our study, thin malignant melanomas (< or= 0.75 mm) from 36 patients were analyzed with immunohistochemical techniques using monoclonal antibodies directed against PLK1 and Ki-67. The immunoreactivity of 22 melanomas which developed metastases within 5 years of follow-up was compared with a group of 14 non-metastasized melanomas. Two independent investigators evaluated stained sections. Differences of PLK1 and Ki-67 indices between melanomas with and without metastases were tested statistically using the Mann-Whitney U-test. RESULTS:Malignant melanomas with metastases expressed PLK1 at markedly elevated levels compared to melanomas without metastases (median, 60.00% vs. 37.98%; p = 0.000053). The difference of the Ki-67 index between both groups was not significant (median, 6.35% vs. 4.53%; p = 0.150473). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that PLK1 expression in thin melanomas is a reliable marker to identify patients at high risk for metastases.
Authors: Yongzhen Qian; Emily Hua; Kheem Bisht; Stephan Woditschka; Konstantine W Skordos; David J Liewehr; Seth M Steinberg; Edi Brogi; Muzaffar M Akram; J Keith Killian; Daniel C Edelman; Marbin Pineda; Stephanie Scurci; Yan Y Degenhardt; Sylvie Laquerre; Thomas A Lampkin; Paul S Meltzer; Kevin Camphausen; Patricia S Steeg; Diane Palmieri Journal: Clin Exp Metastasis Date: 2011-09-21 Impact factor: 5.150
Authors: Syed Mohd Danish Rizvi; Abdulaziz Arif A Alshammari; Waleed Abdullah Almawkaa; Abo Bakr F Ahmed; Ahmed Katamesh; Ahmed Alafnan; Tariq J Almutairi; Rakan F Alshammari Journal: 3 Biotech Date: 2019-02-09 Impact factor: 2.406
Authors: Jung-Eun Park; Luowei Li; Joobae Park; Rainald Knecht; Klaus Strebhardt; Stuart H Yuspa; Kyung S Lee Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Date: 2009-01-30 Impact factor: 11.205