Esophageal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Melanoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Melanoma-Specific Antigens ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; S100 Proteins ; metabolism

Adolescent ; Brain Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Melanoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Melanoma-Specific Antigens ; metabolism ; Neurilemmoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; S100 Proteins ; metabolism ; Vimentin ; metabolism

Adult ; Breast Neoplasms ; secondary ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Melanoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; secondary ; Melanoma-Specific Antigens ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; S100 Proteins ; metabolism ; Sarcoma, Clear Cell ; pathology ; Skin Neoplasms ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mode of angiogenesis between highly invasive malignant melanoma and poorly invasive malignant melanoma by immunohistochemistry and periodic acid-Schiff stain (PAS) and to discuss whether the tumor cells in highly invasive malignant melanoma carry vasculogenic mimicry through self-metamorphosis, thus acquiring blood supply to sustain their growth.

METHODSThirty cases of highly invasive malignant melanoma and 30 cases of poorly invasive malignant melanoma were retrieved and reprocessed as tissue microarray for further investigations. The tissue microarray sections were then stained with CD34 and PAS; and the positivity rates were compared.

RESULTSThere was a significant difference between CD34 and PAS staining in highly invasive malignant melanoma (P < 0.01). The difference was not statistically significant in poorly invasive malignant melanoma (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONVasculogenic mimicry exists in some cases of highly invasive malignant melanoma. It is possible that the tumor cells can acquire blood supply to sustain growth and metastasize via this mechanism.

Antigens, CD34 ; analysis ; Antigens, Neoplasm ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Keratins ; analysis ; Melanoma ; blood supply ; metabolism ; pathology ; Melanoma-Specific Antigens ; Neoplasm Proteins ; analysis ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; metabolism ; pathology

In order to investigate the expression of endothelin receptor B (ETR-B) in human malignant melanoma (MM) cells A375 and SK-mel-1 and the proliferative effects of endothelin 3 (ET3) on A375 cells, RT-PCR was applied to detect the expression of ETR-B gene in human MM cells A375 and SK-mel-1. MTT method was used to evaluate the growth enhancing effects of ET3 on A375 cell line in vitro. The results showed that ETR-B gene was expressed in both MM A375 and SK-mel-1 cells. ET3 had stronger ability to enhance the proliferation of A375 cells in vitro in a concentration-dependent manner. It was suggested that ET3/ETR-B might play an important proliferative role in MM.
Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation/*drug effects ; Endothelin-3/*pharmacology ; Melanoma/*metabolism ; Melanoma/*pathology ; Receptor, Endothelin B/*metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

Aged ; Back ; Carcinoma, Medullary ; metabolism ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Melanoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; secondary ; surgery ; Melanoma-Specific Antigens ; metabolism ; S100 Proteins ; metabolism ; Skin Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; secondary ; surgery

The melanoma antigen (MAGE) family proteins are well known as tumor-specific antigens and comprise more than 60 genes, which share a conserved MAGE homology domain (MHD). Type I MAGEs are highly expressed cancer antigens, and they play an important role in tumorigenesis and cancer cell survival. Recently, several MAGE proteins were identified to interact with RING domain proteins, including a sub-family of E3 ubiquitin ligases. The binding mode between MAGEs and RING proteins was investigated and one important structure of these MAGE-RING complexes was solved: the MAGE-G1-NSE1 complex. Structural and biochemical studies indicated that MAGE proteins could adjust the E3 ubiquitin ligase activity of its cognate RING partner both in vitro and in vivo. However, the underlying mechanism was not fully understood. Here, we review these exciting advances in the studies on MAGE family, suggest potential mechanisms by which MAGEs activate the E3 activity of their binding RING proteins and highlight the anticancer potential of this family proteins.
Animals ; Humans ; Melanoma-Specific Antigens ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Protein Binding ; Protein Structure, Tertiary

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the impact of the biomarkers and the clinicopathological characteristics on the prognosis of malignant melanoma (MM).

METHODSThe clinical data of 127 MM cases were retrospective analyzed. The surgical specimens of MM were analyzed with immunohistochemistry for detecting HMB45, S-100 and vimentin expressions, and univariate and multivariate regression analysis was performed to analyze their correlation to the prognosis of the patients.

RESULTSAmong the 127 MM cases, the positivity rates of HMB45, S-100 and vimentin were 89.8%, 92.1% and 78.0%, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that the patients' age, ulcer, Clark classification, postoperative tumor margin, AJCC, treatment outcomes, and S-100 were significantly correlated to the prognosis, and multivariate analysis indicated that age, Clark classification, S-100, tumor margin and outcomes were the independent predictive factors for the prognosis of MM.

CONCLUSIONS-100, age, Clark classification, S-100, tumor margin and treatment outcomes were the independent prognostic factors for MM, and HMB45 and vimentin have no predictive value in the prognosis of MM.

Adult ; Aged ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Melanoma ; diagnosis ; mortality ; pathology ; Melanoma-Specific Antigens ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; S100 Proteins ; metabolism ; Skin Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Survival Rate ; Vimentin ; metabolism

Actins ; metabolism ; Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Adult ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Desmin ; metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Endometrial Stromal Tumors ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Leiomyoma, Epithelioid ; metabolism ; pathology ; Melanoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Melanoma-Specific Antigens ; metabolism ; Perivascular Epithelioid Cell Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Receptors, Progesterone ; metabolism ; Uterine Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Vimentin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the clinicopathologic features and differential diagnosis of perivascular epithelioid cell tumors (PEComas) occurring in the urinary system.

METHODSThe clinicopathologic features of 21 cases of PEComa from September 2002 to September 2010 occurring in the urinary system were retrospectively reviewed. Immunohistochemical study for HMB 45, S-100 protein, smooth muscle actin, desmin, Melan A and Ki-67 was carried out.

RESULTSAmongst the 21 cases studied, there were 5 males and 16 females. The age of patients ranged from 16 to 76 years (median = 51.3 years). Twenty cases occurred in the kidney and 1 in the bladder. The predominant histopathologic subtype of renal PEComas was classic type (10/20), followed by epithelioid type (5/20), smooth muscle type (3/20), inflammatory type (1/20) and sclerosing type (1/20). Immunohistochemical study showed that HMB 45 and smooth muscle actin were positive in 95.2% (20/21) and 80.9% (17/21) cases, respectively. Melan A, desmin and S-100 protein were expressed in 71.4% (15/21), 61.9% (13/21) and 33.3% (7/21) cases, respectively. The mean proliferative index was 1.29% (range = 0 to 5%). HMB 45 and Melan A were expressed in all of the 5 cases of epithelioid PEComas, whereas smooth muscle actin and desmin were only expressed in one of them. There was no significant difference between epithelioid PEComas and non-epithelioid PEComas in the expression of HMB 45, Melan A, smooth muscle actin and desmin. Positive staining for HMB 45 and smooth muscle actin was demonstrated in the case of bladder PEComa.

CONCLUSIONSPEComas of the urinary system predominantly affect the kidney. Epithelioid renal PEComas and bladder PEComa are relatively rare and have unique pathologic features. It is necessary to distinguish PEComas from other malignant tumors. Immunohistochemical study for HMB 45, Melan A and smooth muscle actin is helpful for confirmation of diagnosis.

Actins ; metabolism ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Desmin ; metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Kidney Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Leiomyosarcoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; MART-1 Antigen ; metabolism ; Male ; Melanoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Melanoma-Specific Antigens ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Perivascular Epithelioid Cell Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; S100 Proteins ; metabolism ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Young Adult