Tyrosinase expression in malignant melanoma, desmoplastic melanoma, and peripheral nerve tumors.

Abstract

CONTEXT:

Pathologists may encounter problems in the differential diagnosis of malignant melanoma, spindle and epithelioid neoplasms of peripheral nerves, and fibrohistiocytic tumors. Tyrosinase has been demonstrated to be a sensitive marker for melanoma.

OBJECTIVE:

To determine the specificity of tyrosinase expression in the differential diagnosis of melanoma, desmoplastic melanoma, and peripheral nerve sheath tumors.

DESIGN:

Immunoreactivity for tyrosinase, HMB-45 (anti-gp100 protein), S100 protein, CD34, and vimentin was studied in 70 tumors, including 15 melanomas (5 desmoplastic, 4 amelanotic, 6 melanotic), 13 malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors; 10 schwannomas (1 pigmented), 12 neurofibromas (4 pigmented), and 20 fibrohistiocytic tumors (10 dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans and 10 dermatofibromas). Microwave-based antigen retrieval was performed in 10mM citrate buffer, pH 6.0, for 20 minutes at 121 degrees C.

RESULTS:

All melanomas demonstrated positive immunostaining for tyrosinase, HMB-45, and S100 protein. Immunoreactivity for HMB-45 was generally stronger than that for tyrosinase in amelanotic lesions and significantly stronger in 1 of the desmoplastic lesions. The 4 pigmented neurofibromas were focally positive for tyrosinase, but did not stain for HMB-45. The pigmented schwannoma was focally positive for both tyrosinase and HMB-45. The malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors, dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, and dermatofibromas were nonreactive for tyrosinase and HMB-45.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our results support the sensitivity of tyrosinase expression and demonstrate the relative specificity of tyrosinase as a marker for melanocytic lesions, including desmoplastic melanoma, although pigmented peripheral nerve tumors may demonstrate focal positive staining. Immunoreactivity for tyrosinase and HMB-45 may have been enhanced by the microwave-based antigen-retrieval technique used in this study.

• Authors: Jenny L Boyle, Helen M Haupt, Jere B Stern, Hinke A B Multhaupt
• Journal: Archives of pathology & laboratory medicine (Arch Pathol Lab Med) Vol. 126 Issue 7 Pg. 816-22 (Jul 2002) ISSN: 0003-9985 [Print] United States
• PMID: 12088451 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antigens, CD34
• Antigens, Neoplasm
• Biomarkers, Tumor
• Melanoma-Specific Antigens
• Neoplasm Proteins
• S100 Proteins
• Vimentin
• Monophenol Monooxygenase

Topics

• Antigens, CD34 (analysis)
• Antigens, Neoplasm
• Biomarkers, Tumor (analysis)
• Dermatofibrosarcoma (chemistry, enzymology, secondary)
• Diagnosis, Differential
• Humans
• Immunoenzyme Techniques
• Melanoma (chemistry, enzymology, secondary)
• Melanoma-Specific Antigens
• Monophenol Monooxygenase (analysis, metabolism)
• Neoplasm Proteins (analysis)
• Nerve Sheath Neoplasms (chemistry, enzymology, secondary)
• S100 Proteins (analysis)
• Skin Neoplasms (chemistry, enzymology, pathology)
• Vimentin (analysis)