The expression of human high molecular weight melanoma-associated antigen in acral lentiginous melanoma.

Abstract

The high molecular weight melanoma-associated antigen (HMW-MAA) is a membrane-bound chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan that is highly expressed on the surface of melanoma cells. It represents an attractive target for immunotherapy of malignant melanoma. Previously, it was reported that HMW-MAA was detected in about 20-30% of primary acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM) lesions by immunohistochemical staining (IHC) of frozen sections with monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). In the present study, we examined the expression of HMW-MAA in 95 paraffin-embedded, primary ALM lesions and 13 primary superficial spreading melanoma (SSM) lesions. A total of 51 primary ALM lesions (53.6%) were positive for HMW-MAA. Almost all of these positive cases showed a weak staining intensity. On the other hand, all 13 primary SSM lesions were strongly positive for HMW-MAA expression. Our data showed that the staining intensity of HMW-MAA ALM lesions was weaker than that of SSM. Furthermore, the percentage of HMW-MAA positive staining in ALM lesions was higher than previously reported.

• Authors: Hazuki Nishi, Yuji Inoue, Toshiro Kageshita, Minoru Takata, Hironobu Ihn
• Journal: Bioscience trends (Biosci Trends) Vol. 4 Issue 2 Pg. 86-9 (Apr 2010) ISSN: 1881-7823 [Electronic] Japan
• PMID: 20448346 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Monoclonal
• Antigens, Neoplasm
• HMW-MAA

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Antibodies, Monoclonal
• Antigens, Neoplasm (metabolism)
• Female
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• Male
• Melanoma (metabolism)
• Middle Aged
• Skin Neoplasms (metabolism)