High-resolution array-based comparative genomic hybridization for distinguishing paraffin-embedded Spitz nevi and melanomas.

Abstract

Distinguishing between Spitz nevus and melanoma presents a challenging task for clinicians and pathologists. Most of these lesions are submitted entirely in formalin for histologic analysis by conventional hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections, and fresh-frozen material for ancillary studies is rarely collected. Molecular techniques, such as comparative genomic hybridization (CGH), can detect chromosomal alterations in tumor DNA that differ between these 2 lesions. This study investigated the ability of high-resolution array-based CGH to serve as a diagnostic test in distinguishing Spitz nevus and melanoma using DNA isolated from formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded samples. Two of 3 Spitz nevi exhibited no significant chromosomal alterations, while the third showed gain of the short arm of chromosome 11p. The latter finding has previously been described as characteristic of a subset of Spitz nevi. The 2 melanomas showed multiple copy number alterations characteristic of melanoma such as 1q amplification and chromosome 9 deletion. This study has shown the utility of array-based CGH as a potential molecular test in distinguishing Spitz nevus from melanoma. The assay is capable of using archival paraffin-embedded, formalin-fixed material; is technically easier to perform as compared with conventional CGH; is more sensitive than conventional CGH in being able to detect focal alterations; and can detect copy number alterations even with relatively small amounts of lesional tissue as is typical of many skin tumors.

• Authors: Jeff D Harvell, Sabine Kohler, Shirley Zhu, Tina Hernandez-Boussard, Jonathan R Pollack, Matt van de Rijn
• Journal: Diagnostic molecular pathology : the American journal of surgical pathology, part B (Diagn Mol Pathol) Vol. 13 Issue 1 Pg. 22-5 (Mar 2004) ISSN: 1052-9551 [Print] United States
• PMID: 15163005 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Evaluation Study, Journal Article)

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Child
• Diagnosis, Differential
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Melanoma (diagnosis, pathology)
• Nevus, Epithelioid and Spindle Cell (diagnosis, pathology)
• Nucleic Acid Hybridization (methods)
• Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
• Paraffin Embedding
• Retrospective Studies
• Skin Neoplasms (diagnosis, pathology)