Korean J Dermatol.  2005 Jun;43(6):756-761.

Immunohistochemical Study of Malignant Melanoma with HMB-45, Antibodies against S100 Protein, Melan-A, and Tyrosinase

• Park JH
• Lee DY
• Lee ES

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Immunohistochemical confirmation is needed to correctly diagnose malignant melanoma, due to its heterogeneous histological appearance. OBJECTIVE: In the diagnosis of malignant melanoma, we evaluated the usefulness of recently introduced antibodies against Melan-A and tyrosinase, and compared them with antibodies against S100 protein and HMB-45. METHOD: Immunohistochemical staining with the above 4 antibodies was performed on 36 cases of malignant melanoma which had been excised. The percentage of positive tumor cells with the semi-quantitative estimation were than graded as follows; 0% = grade 0, 1-25% = grade 1, 26-50% = grade 2, 51-75% = grade 3, 76-100% = grade 4. We regarded grade 0 as negative, and grade 1 to 4 as positive. The association of Breslow thickness with the individual grade of 4 antibodies was then evaluated. RESULTS: 1. Positiveness of the 4 antibodies were as follows; 100% of the antibody against S100 protein, 97.2% of HMB-45, 97.2% of the antibody against tyrosinase, 91.7% of the antibody against Melan-A. 2. A case of a HMB-45 negative melanoma showed a grade 4 for the antibody against S100 protein, a grade 2 for the antibody against Melan-A, and a grade 3 for the antibody against tyrosinase. 3. The Breslow thickness had a significant positive correlation with the individual grade of antibody against Melan-A. CONCLUSION: In combination with the antibody against S100 protein and HMB-45, the newly developed antibodies against Melan-A and tyrosinase may be useful in the diagnosis of malignant melanoma.

Keyword

S100 protein; HMB-45; Melan-A; tyrosinase

MeSH Terms

Antibodies*
Diagnosis
MART-1 Antigen*
Melanoma*
Monophenol Monooxygenase*
Antibodies
MART-1 Antigen
Monophenol Monooxygenase