Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0025202 (melanoma)
 69,561 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Different results have been reported on the expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in human melanocytic lesions, which may be due to different methodologic approaches. Therefore, we compared EGFR expression in six human melanoma cell lines by utilizing the monoclonal antibodies 2E9, 425, and 225, applying four immunocytochemical staining procedures. The results were compared with those obtained by a multiple point ligand binding assay. In addition, Northern blot analysis was performed. A three-step immunoperoxidase method using the monoclonal antibody 2E9 proved most sensitive. Staining intensities, estimated semiquantitatively, correlated well with the quantitative data obtained by the ligand-binding assay. Expression on the mRNA level was also in agreement with these results. Immunohistochemical staining of a large series of human cutaneous melanocytic lesions using the method selected showed differential EGFR expression in various stages of melanocytic tumor progression: 19% of common nevocellular nevi; 61% of dysplastic nevi, 89% of primary cutaneous melanomas, and 91% of melanoma metastases showed staining of the melanocytic cells. Intralesional heterogeneity of EGFR expression was present. Although the mean percentage of positive melanocytic cells in positive lesions did not increase with progression, mean staining intensity was stronger in malignant lesions compared to benign lesions. Ligand binding assays showed that EGFR expression in the highly metastasizing cell lines MV3 and BLM was at least 40 times higher than in the cell lines IF6, 530, M14, and Mel57, which do not or only sporadically metastasize after subcutaneous inoculation in nude mice. Although the differences between the various stages of progression are not absolute, we provide further evidence that EGFR expression increases in human melanocytic tumor progression.
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PMID:Increasing epidermal growth factor receptor expression in human melanocytic tumor progression. 162 28

A review of the hereditary aspects of the malignant melanomas showed causal heterogeneity and similar pathogenesis based on the dysregulation of the paracrine/autocrine growth mechanisms. The genetically different malignant melanomas have a range of recurrence risks from 1% for the nonfamilial, solitary, malignant melanoma to a risk exceeding 70% for the syndromic melanomas of neurocutaneous melanosis and the nine types of xeroderma pigmentosum. A recurrence risk of 6% is relevant to the members of dysplastic nevus syndrome families without malignant melanomas and the risk increases in excess of 50% for the individuals of families with dysplastic nevi and more than one malignant melanoma.
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PMID:The genetics of malignant melanomas. 164 97

Hereditary cutaneous malignant melanoma in association with the presence of multiple precursor lesions termed the dysplastic nevus syndrome (DNS) has been reported to display autosomal dominant inheritance with high penetrance. The gene for this disease was recently assigned to the distal short arm of chromosome 1 on chromosomal band 1p36, 7.6 centimorgans distal to the locus for the pronatrodilatin (PND) gene. We assessed 119 family members of eight newly described Australian families, 30 of whom had cutaneous malignant melanoma. Only eight of these affected individuals also had dysplastic nevi (DN). An additional 15 family members had DN alone. Pedigrees fell into three groups: 1) hereditary melanoma alone with no associated DN, 2) hereditary melanoma with occasional DN-affected individuals, and 3) hereditary melanoma with DN. All families displayed an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance. An analysis of the cosegregation of the cutaneous malignant melanoma/DN trait with eight polymorphic DNA markers on the short arm of chromosome 1, including the distally located DNA markers D1S47 and PND yielded a strongly negative probability of linkage. The putative gene for susceptibility to melanoma in these families was effectively excluded from this region of the short arm of chromosome 1. No evidence for linkage was found at any of the other chromosome 1 markers examined. These findings suggest that hereditary melanoma is heterogeneous in relation to the genetic basis and its association with the DNS.
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PMID:Hereditary melanoma in Australia. Variable association with dysplastic nevi and absence of genetic linkage to chromosome 1p. 167 Jun 25

Despite the growing list of xenogeneic monoclonal antibodies (MAb) that recognize malignant melanoma-associated antigens (MAA) in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue, none has been able to detect epitopes found in malignant melanomas and not in melanocytic nevi. A human MAb, 2-139-1, that showed promise in this regard was evaluated against 85 melanocytic neoplasms, including malignant melanoma and histological simulators, particularly Spitz's nevus. MAb 2-139-1 stained 18 (53%) of 34 melanomas, eight (57%) of 14 dysplastic nevi, six (38%) of 16 Spitz's nevi, and three (14%) of 21 banal nevi, which included three small congenital nevi. We observed a significant increasing trend in reactivity (% positive cells x intensity) associated with the potential for malignancy (p for linear trend = 0.002). We conclude that human MAb 2-139-1 is applicable to the study of melanocytic neoplasms in routinely processed tissue. Although the ability of this MAb to separate benign from malignant cells is not absolute, our results suggest that the expression of the 2-139-1 epitope may be an early event in melanocytic tumor progression.
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PMID:Evaluation of human monoclonal antibody (2-139-1) in cutaneous melanocytic neoplasms in fixed tissue sections. 170 58

gamma-Immune protein-10 (gamma-IP10) is a cytokine whose expression has been shown to be induced by interferon-gamma. It is a member of a group of closely related cytokines (e.g., interleukin 8 and platelet factor 4) with chemotactic properties. gamma-IP10 has been detected in keratinocytes, lymphocytes, monocytes, and endothelial cells in immunologically mediated processes, such as positive tuberculin skin tests, and in growth-activated keratinocytes, such as in psoriasis. Keratinocytes in normal epidermis do not produce gamma-IP10. We tested the hypothesis that keratinocytes adjacent to dysplastic nevi and melanomas would produce gamma-IP10, perhaps as part of an immune response to a tumor, and that this response would not be seen in ordinary melanocytic nevi. We used an affinity-purified, polyclonal rabbit anti-gamma-IP10 antibody to examine 10 nevi with moderate to severe histologic dysplasia, one superficial spreading melanoma, and 10 compound melanocytic nevi with no features of dysplasia. As predicted, keratinocytes surrounding all of the cytologically atypical melanocytic lesions displayed strong staining with gamma-IP10. There was no staining of keratinocytes adjacent to ordinary melanocytic nevi. The observed keratinocyte staining with gamma-IP10 may be related to a host immune response to antigenically abnormal cells.
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PMID:Detection of cytokine-induced protein gamma-immune protein-10 (gamma-IP10) in atypical melanocytic proliferations. 172 47

Patients with all the clinical features of FDNS but no family history of multiple abnormal nevi or melanoma can be compared with patients with neurofibromatosis due to a spontaneous mutation of the gene in utero. Whether or not such patients are in fact genetically identical to patients with FDNS and share their high risk of malignant melanoma remains to be determined. An isolated dysplastic nevus alone is not an adequate definition of SDNS, because current data are insufficient to show that its presence correlates with a uniquely high risk of melanoma when compared with other known risk factors. Until more specific tests for the FDNS gene become available, the diagnosis of SDNS must be made on the basis of close clinical and histopathologic resemblance to FDNS. Patients who present as adults with one or a few dysplastic nevi are best not labeled as having SDNS, because that label implies a genetic identity with FDNS that is probably not true and that deflects attention from other risk factors that are at least as important in estimating individual risks of developing melanoma.
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PMID:Dysplastic nevi and the dysplastic nevus syndrome. 173 Jan 67

Dysplastic nevi are an important indicator of risk of cutaneous malignant melanoma. The study of and, particularly, international communication regarding this group of lesions have been hindered by a lack of precision in diagnosis. In an effort to broaden understanding, a panel of pathologists agreed upon a set of criteria for the diagnosis of dysplastic melanocytic nevi. Two major and four minor criteria were defined. The major criteria are (1) basilar proliferation of atypical nevomelanocytes (extending at least three rete ridges or "pegs" beyond any dermal nevo-cellular component), and (2) organization of this proliferation in a lentiginous or epithelioid-cell pattern. Minor criteria are (1) the presence of lamellar fibrosis or concentric eosinophilic fibrosis, (2) neovascularization, (3) inflammatory response, and (4) fusion of rete ridges. Diagnosis required presence of both major criteria and at least two minor criteria. One hundred fourteen histologic specimens of benign acquired nevi, dysplastic nevi, and radial-growth-phase melanomas were examined by the members of this panel; their diagnoses were compared to determine degree of concordance. The established criteria yielded 92% mean concordance overall.
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PMID:Histopathologic diagnosis of dysplastic nevi: concordance among pathologists convened by the World Health Organization Melanoma Programme. 186 72

Antigen expression was studied by immunohistochemistry in 133 human melanocytic skin lesions to gain insight into the initial steps of tumor development, i.e. in particular the change from melanocytes to benign nevi. We refer to the proposed progression model of Clark and co-workers. The following types of antigens were investigated: (i) intermediate filament antigens (vimentin), (ii) melanoma-associated antigens (HMB-45, NKI/C3, MA-930, LS59), (iii) proliferation-associated antigens (S-100, Ki67, Ro/SSA, calmodulin), (iv) progression-associated antigens (HLA-DR, ICAM-1), and (v) basal membrane antigens (bullous pemphigoid antigen, laminin, fibronectin, collagen type IV). The intensity of expression and the topography of immunoreactive pigment cells were compared with the stage of tumor progression. Special attention was paid to the early steps of this process, i.e. the disturbance of the epidermal melanin unit and the development of melanocytic ("nevocellular")nevi. A dramatic shift of antigen expression (antigen types [i] to [v]) was noted in benign nevi compared with melanocytes. Nevi with cellular atypia disclosed a tendency towards an increased percentage of tumor cells reactive for melanoma- and progression-related antigens (types [ii] and [iv]). However, there was no clear cut level of distinction of antigen expression (types [i] to [v]) between benign and primary malignant melanocytic tumors. So-called dysplastic nevi resembled benign tumors or melanocytes rather than malignant melanoma. Metastatic melanoma of skin showed a relatively high number of Ki67-positive, cycling melanoma cells. The results have a bearing on the concepts of melanocytic nevus ontogenesis and "maturation". It appears that melanocytes lose maturity on their way down to the dermis in contrast to traditional concepts (Abtropfung); this might be of importance for our understanding of melanoma development in association with melanocytic nevi. Our findings are discussed with regard to Clark's model of tumor progression.
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PMID:The initial steps of tumor progression in melanocytic lineage: a histochemical approach. 174 97

HMB-45 is a monoclonal antibody directed against human melanoma cells and which stains epidermal and dermal melanoma cells, the junctional components of common and dysplastic melanocytic nevi, and melanocytes in fetal skin. In addition, melanocytes in a variety of reactive conditions have been shown to label with HMB-45, as have dermal melanocytes within Spitz and dysplastic nevi. No melanocytes in normal adult epidermis or in the dermis of common nevi have stained with HMB-45. In order to better understand the properties of this antibody, and of the melanocytes that react with it, we stained cultured human melanocytes grown in a variety of conditions. Melanocytes from human foreskins were grown for 2-3 weeks in MCDB 153 medium supplemented with insulin, epidermal growth factor, and bovine pituitary extract as a mixed population of keratinocytes and melanocytes. Some cells were transferred to basal medium MCDB 153 (unsupplemented) for periods ranging from 3-5 days, and a subset of these were returned to growth-factor supplemented medium. In all cases, S100 staining was used to confirm the presence of melanocytes. Melanocytes grown in complete medium showed strong granular cytoplasmic staining with HMB-45. Cells transferred to basal medium showed a markedly diminished staining intensity which was reversible within 3 days upon return of the cells to complete medium. The findings suggest that expression of the protein recognized by HMB-45 may be related to a growth factor present in complete medium, but missing from basal MCDB 153.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:HMB-45 monoclonal antibody recognizes an inducible and reversible melanocyte cytoplasmic protein. 176 83

Previous studies of the genetics of melanoma have focused on the dysplastic nevus syndrome (DNS). The variability in clinical and histopathological expression of affected individuals, however, has made definition and diagnosis of the syndrome difficult and subjective. Independent of the DNS, case-control studies have demonstrated the total number of nevi to be a significant risk factor for melanoma. In this article, we report results of genetic analyses of two quantitative nevus phenotypes that can be measured objectively in all subjects: the total number of nevi on an individual (TNN) and total nevus density (TND), a derived phenotype which incorporates both number and size of nevi. Ten kindreds ascertained for multiple cases of DNS-melanoma (multiplex ascertainment) and 16 kindreds and 19 solitary cases ascertained from a sequential list of melanoma cases without regard for family history (simplex ascertainment) were studied. Both phenotypes exhibited increased levels in relatives of probands compared with those in spouse controls. While neither TNN nor TND exhibited evidence for a major factor in the simplex pedigrees, a major factor was strongly indicated in the multiplex kindreds for TND. When both phenotypes were examined in more detail in the multiplex kindreds, the phenotype incorporating nevus size, TND, fit a mendelian pattern of inheritance better than the TNN. Significant residual familial correlations were found for both phenotypes. Parameter estimates from the best fitting genetic model indicated that a major gene may be responsible for 55% of the phenotypic variability of TND in the multiplex kindreds.
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PMID:Inheritance of nevus number and size in melanoma and dysplastic nevus syndrome kindreds. 177 May 51


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