Naslov
Beta-catenin expression in malignant melanoma

Autori
Žigmund, Martina ; Pećina-Šlaus, Nives ; Kušec, Vesna ; Nikuševa-Martić, Tamara ; Čačić, Mirjana ; Šlaus, Mario ; Bulić-Jakuš, Floriana

Izvornik
Acta clinica Croatica (0353-9466) 45 (2006); 133-139

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
malignant melanoma; beta-catenin; image analysis

Sažetak
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.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Temeljne medicinske znanosti

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

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