Relationship between sentinel lymph node status and regression of primary malignant melanoma.

The prognostic significance of spontaneous regression of primary melanoma is a controversial issue. Studies on sentinel lymph node status and circulating tumour cells may represent a step towards a better understanding. The clinical details of 269 melanoma patients who underwent sentinel lymph node biopsy were analysed.

[Etiologic factors of malignant melanoma in young adults].

Background: Malignant melanoma is the most aggressive type of skin cancers, involving the cutis and the mucosa. Its incidence keeps increasing dramatically in the last decades. It appears rarely in childhood.

[Role of S100B protein in neoplasms and other diseases].

The S100 protein family constitutes the largest subgroup of the Ca binding proteins. To date 20 members of the family were discovered. S100 proteins regulate intracellular processes such as cell growth and motility, cell cycle regulation, transcription and differentiation.

Accuracy of the determination of S100B protein expression in malignant melanoma using polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies.

Aims: To compare the routinely used polyclonal anti-S100 and a mouse monoclonal anti-S100B antibody for their accuracy in the detection of the S100B expression profile (pattern and intensity) in a series of 67 primary (n = 37) and lymph node metastatic (n = 30) melanoma tissues. S100B is the lineage marker of malignant melanoma. Antibodies routinely used for melanoma diagnosis are not necessarily specific for this protein.

Heterogenous S-100B protein expression patterns in malignant melanoma and association with serum protein levels.

Objective: Serum S-100B is a reliable tumor marker of malignant melanoma, but efficient use is restricted to patients with metastatic disease. Therefore, the aim of our study was to assess serum S-100B levels at different stages of malignant melanoma and to compare these levels with the expression of the S-100B phenotype in primary tumors and lymph node metastases.

Methods: Fifty-nine patients were included in this study; serum S-100B protein was measured using an immunoluminometric assay while the expression pattern in the primary tumor was determined by immunohistochemistry using an anti-S-100B monoclonal antibody.