engleski

Beta-catenin expression in malignant melanoma

Beta-catenin is bound to E-cadherin in adherens junction formation, but also functions as a signaling molecule in the wnt pathway. We investigated beta-catenin expression in 41 superficial spreading melanomas. Our melanoma sample was analysed by immunohistochemistry and evaluated by image analysis as staining density, i.e. light permeability (LP). In normal skin beta-catenin showed homogenous membranous staining of the epidermis. Comparison of relative LP for beta-catenin in tumor tissue and adjacent skin did not show any differences (157.8 compared to 156.6 ; t= -1.087, P=0.283). However, the cellular location of beta-catenin changed considerably in melanoma. The protein was observed in the cytoplasm in 32% of patients, in 29% in the cell membrane, in 24% in both the cytoplasm and membrane, in 5% in the cytoplasm and nucleus, while in 9.8% of patients beta-catenin could not be observed. There was a marked difference in beta-catenin distribution correlated to the Clark stages of melanoma progression. Patients with Clark 4 and 5 had significantly less beta-catenin than patients with Clark 2 and 3 ( 2 = 11.3 ; P=0.01). Our results suggest that changes of beta-catenin levels have roles in melanoma and could be used as markers of disease progression.

malignant melanoma; beta-catenin; image analysis

Rad je kao poster prezentiran na skupu 17th Ljudevit Jurak International Symposium on Comparative Pathology, održanom od 02.-03.06.2006, Zagreb, Hrvatska.