P75 nerve growth factor receptor as a useful marker to distinguish spindle cell melanoma from other spindle cell neoplasms of sun-damaged skin.

P75 nerve growth factor receptor (p75 NGF-R) is a low-affinity receptor expressed on the surface of neural crest-derived cells and in a variety of neural tumors. Strong p75 NGF-R expression has been found in spindle cell melanoma (SCM). We studied spindle cell neoplasms of sun-damaged skin to determine whether this marker can reliably distinguish between SCM and other spindle cell malignancies.

P75 nerve growth factor receptor staining is superior to S100 in identifying spindle cell and desmoplastic melanoma.

Background: Spindle cell melanoma (SCM) including desmoplastic melanoma (DM) is a rare variant of malignant melanoma that may present diagnostic difficulties particularly when staining with S100 is negative, weak, focal, or a combination of these. Conventional melanocytic markers in SCM are usually negative.

Objective: We sought to compare the staining of p75 nerve growth factor receptor (NGF-R) and S100 in SCMs.