BACKGROUND: Both dermal and ocular melanocytic nevi have been reported to undergo changes during pregnancy. This has been proposed to be related to hormonal influences; however, few studies have provided any proof. We therefore set out to evaluate the expression of sex hormone receptors and cell cycle proteins in melanocytic lesions of the ocular conjunctiva. METHODS: Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded material from 76 tumors--69 conjunctival nevi, 5 specimens of primary acquired melanosis (PAM), and 2 conjunctival melanomas--were included in a tissue microarray (TMA) format. The TMA sections were analyzed by immunohistochemistry with antibodies for progesterone and estrogen receptors, and cell cycle-related proteins (p16, MIB1-Ki67). RESULTS: Progesterone receptors were highly (96%) and similarly expressed in all lesions. In addition, progesterone receptor expression showed a tendency to increase with age (p=0.06). In contrast, estrogen receptor expression was completely absent in all tumors. The cell cycle regulator p16 was expressed in 97% of the lesions. The proliferation marker MIB1-Ki67 was expressed at low levels (mean+/-SD: 13+/-14%) in 79% of the lesions. No differences of expression were found between the different lesions and nevi types. The mean age of the patients was highest in conjunctival melanoma (70+/-22 years), followed by PAM (60+/-19 years) and nevi (36+/-18 SD years). The different types of nevi also showed significant age dependency (junctional 25+/-17 years, compound 34+/-17 years, dermal 49+/-15 years). CONCLUSION: Our findings reveal the expression of progesterone, but not estrogen, in melanocytic lesions of the ocular conjunctiva. In benign conjunctival lesions, p16 and MIB1-Ki67 expression was comparable to that in benign nevi of the skin.
BACKGROUND: Both dermal and ocular melanocytic nevi have been reported to undergo changes during pregnancy. This has been proposed to be related to hormonal influences; however, few studies have provided any proof. We therefore set out to evaluate the expression of sex hormone receptors and cell cycle proteins in melanocytic lesions of the ocular conjunctiva. METHODS:Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded material from 76 tumors--69 conjunctival nevi, 5 specimens of primary acquired melanosis (PAM), and 2 conjunctival melanomas--were included in a tissue microarray (TMA) format. The TMA sections were analyzed by immunohistochemistry with antibodies for progesterone and estrogen receptors, and cell cycle-related proteins (p16, MIB1-Ki67). RESULTS: Progesterone receptors were highly (96%) and similarly expressed in all lesions. In addition, progesterone receptor expression showed a tendency to increase with age (p=0.06). In contrast, estrogen receptor expression was completely absent in all tumors. The cell cycle regulator p16 was expressed in 97% of the lesions. The proliferation marker MIB1-Ki67 was expressed at low levels (mean+/-SD: 13+/-14%) in 79% of the lesions. No differences of expression were found between the different lesions and nevi types. The mean age of the patients was highest in conjunctival melanoma (70+/-22 years), followed by PAM (60+/-19 years) and nevi (36+/-18 SD years). The different types of nevi also showed significant age dependency (junctional 25+/-17 years, compound 34+/-17 years, dermal 49+/-15 years). CONCLUSION: Our findings reveal the expression of progesterone, but not estrogen, in melanocytic lesions of the ocular conjunctiva. In benign conjunctival lesions, p16 and MIB1-Ki67 expression was comparable to that in benign nevi of the skin.
Authors: A Nocito; L Bubendorf; E M Tinner; K Süess; U Wagner; T Forster; J Kononen; A Fijan; J Bruderer; U Schmid; D Ackermann; R Maurer; G Alund; H Knönagel; M Rist; M Anabitarte; F Hering; T Hardmeier; A J Schoenenberger; R Flury; P Jäger; J L Fehr; P Schraml; H Moch; M J Mihatsch; T Gasser; G Sauter Journal: J Pathol Date: 2001-07 Impact factor: 7.996
Authors: R Simon; A Nocito; T Hübscher; C Bucher; J Torhorst; P Schraml; L Bubendorf; M M Mihatsch; H Moch; K Wilber; A Schötzau; J Kononen; G Sauter Journal: J Natl Cancer Inst Date: 2001-08-01 Impact factor: 13.506
Authors: L Bubendorf; M Kolmer; J Kononen; P Koivisto; S Mousses; Y Chen; E Mahlamäki; P Schraml; H Moch; N Willi; A G Elkahloun; T G Pretlow; T C Gasser; M J Mihatsch; G Sauter; O P Kallioniemi Journal: J Natl Cancer Inst Date: 1999-10-20 Impact factor: 13.506
Authors: P Schraml; J Kononen; L Bubendorf; H Moch; H Bissig; A Nocito; M J Mihatsch; O P Kallioniemi; G Sauter Journal: Clin Cancer Res Date: 1999-08 Impact factor: 12.531
Authors: L Bubendorf; J Kononen; P Koivisto; P Schraml; H Moch; T C Gasser; N Willi; M J Mihatsch; G Sauter; O P Kallioniemi Journal: Cancer Res Date: 1999-02-15 Impact factor: 12.701
Authors: Menglu Yang; Haakon K Fjærvoll; Ketil A Fjærvoll; Nicholas H Wang; Tor P Utheim; Charles N Serhan; Darlene A Dartt Journal: Sci Rep Date: 2022-09-29 Impact factor: 4.996