Immunohistochemical Study of Malignant Melanoma with HMB - 45 Monoclonal Antibody and Anti S - 100 Protein Antibody

Kim, Kyu Han; Cho, Kwang Hyun; Ham, Eui Keun

Abstract

We evaluated the characteristics of HMB-45 monoclonal antibody(MoAb) and compared it with a polyclonal anti-S-100 antibody in immunohistochemical staining of 22 primary melanomas of the skin ; 13 acral lentiginous melanomas(ALM), 3 superficial spreading melanomas(SSM), 4 lentigo maligna melanomas(LMM), 3 nodular melanomas(NMM). All speimens were formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded, and were studied with the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex technique. The results can be summarized as follows : l. In all tissue specimens, all or some of the melanoma cells in the dermis reacted with HMB-45 MoAb and anti-S-100 protein. 2. HMB-45 MoAb is more sensitive in detecting malignant melanoma cell heterogeneity t,han anti-S-100 protein. 3. Melanoma cells within the epidermis in 6 of 12 ALMs and 3 of 4 LMMs did not react with anti-S-100 antibody, whereas most melanoma cells within epidermis of 12 ALMs and 4 LMMs reacted with HMB-45 monoclonal antibody. These results indicated that immunohistochemical staining with HMB-45 MoAb and anti-S-100 protein is very useful in the study of biologic behavior of malignant, melanoma.