Expression and clinical significance of pepsinogen C in uveal melanomas.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

we investigated by immunohistochemistry the pepsinogen C (pepC) expression in uveal melanomas and analyzed the possible relationship to clinicopathological parameters and prognostic significance.

METHODS:

We studied 22 patients who had undergone enucleation of the eyeball or local tumor resection for uveal melanoma. The specimens were immunostained for pepC on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections. Sex, age, tumor location, histological type, local invasion, postoperative treatment and metastasis were evaluated.

RESULTS:

Eleven tumors (50%) were positive for pepsinogen C. The percentage of pepC-positive tumors was significantly higher in uveal melanomas with scleral invasion than in those without scleral invasion (p < 0.01). PepC expression was significantly associated with a shortened overall survival (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS:

Our results show that pepsinogen C may be expressed by uveal melanoma and suggest that this protein could be considered as a new, unfavorable prognostic factor in these tumors.

• Authors: M L Alvarez, L O González, J J Barbón, A Astudillo, F J Vizoso
• Journal: The International journal of biological markers (Int J Biol Markers) 2004 Jul-Sep Vol. 19 Issue 3 Pg. 240-4 ISSN: 0393-6155 [Print] United States
• PMID: 15503827 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Pepsinogen C

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Female
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• Male
• Melanoma (metabolism, pathology)
• Middle Aged
• Pepsinogen C (metabolism)
• Survival Rate
• Uveal Neoplasms (metabolism, pathology)