Abstract
Using a computed video image analysis system, the staining intensity for both neurone specific enolase (NSE) and S100 protein was measured in sections from 19 malignant melanomas and 16 benign melanocytic lesions. The results of this study confirm previous reports that NSE and S100 protein are useful markers for malignant melanoma. NSE staining intensity in the cases of malignant melanoma was significantly higher than that in benign naevi (p = 0.011). Intensity of staining for S100 protein was not significantly higher in the malignant melanomas. There was, however, a significant S100 gradient when comparing superficial and deep intradermal portions of these tumours (p = 0.003). This feature was not seen in benign naevi. The greatest intensity of S100 protein staining was found in the deeper portions of the malignant melanomas. This gradient difference was not seen with staining for NSE. Although it seems that the overall intensity of staining for NSE is more effective in differentiating between benign and malignant lesions, the difference in staining intensity between the superficial and deep portions of the tumour may be the better indicator of adverse behaviour in lesions in which the diagnosis of malignancy is uncertain.
Full text
PDF
Images in this article
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Breslow A. Thickness, cross-sectional areas and depth of invasion in the prognosis of cutaneous melanoma. Ann Surg. 1970 Nov;172(5):902–908. doi: 10.1097/00000658-197011000-00017. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Clark W. H., Jr, From L., Bernardino E. A., Mihm M. C. The histogenesis and biologic behavior of primary human malignant melanomas of the skin. Cancer Res. 1969 Mar;29(3):705–727. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Dhillon A. P., Rode J. Immunohistochemical studies of S100 protein and other neural characteristics expressed by granular cell tumour. Diagn Histopathol. 1983 Jan-Mar;6(1):23–28. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Jarvis L. R., Whitehead R. Morphometric analysis of gastric dysplasia. J Pathol. 1985 Oct;147(2):133–138. doi: 10.1002/path.1711470209. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Rode J., Dhillon A. P. Neurone specific enolase and S100 protein as possible prognostic indicators in melanoma. Histopathology. 1984 Nov;8(6):1041–1052. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2559.1984.tb02419.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Shaw H. M., Balch C. M., Soong S. J., Milton G. W., McCarthy W. H. Prognostic histopathological factors in malignant melanoma. Pathology. 1985 Apr;17(2):271–274. doi: 10.3109/00313028509063766. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Søndergaard K. Biological behaviour of cutaneous malignant melanomas. Pathology. 1985 Apr;17(2):255–257. doi: 10.3109/00313028509063763. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]