Expression of HSP 90, PTEN and Bcl-2 in conjunctival melanoma. Issue 6 (17th October 2010)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Westekemper, Henrike; Karimi, Sara; Süsskind, Daniela; Anastassiou, Gerasimos; Freistühler, Michael; Steuhl, Klaus-Peter; Bornfeld, Norbert; Schmid, Kurt-Werner; Grabellus, Florian
• Is Part Of: British journal of ophthalmology. Volume 95:Issue 6(2011)
• Page Start: 853
• Page End: 858
• Publication Date: 2010-10-17
• Subjects: HSP 90 -- PTEN -- Bcl-2 -- immunohistochemistry -- conjunctiva -- melanocytes -- melanoma -- ocular surface -- pathology -- neoplasia; Ophthalmology -- Periodicals; 617.7
• DOI: 10.1136/bjo.2010.183939
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0007-1161

Abstract

Abstract : Background: In conjunctival melanoma, little is known about the tumour biology and protein-expression patterns. In this study, the authors analysed the expression of the antiapoptotic oncoprotein B cell leukaemia/lymphoma-2 protein (Bcl-2), the tumour-suppressor phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN), and the heat-shock-protein HSP-90 in conjunctival melanoma (CoM) and conjunctival nevi (CoN) by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Material and methods: IHC was performed on 70 samples of CoM and 12 samples of CoN. Expression patterns between the diagnosis groups were compared. A receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed to determine the diagnostic value of the antigens. Results: HSP-90 (p<0.0001) and PTEN (p=0.001) showed the potential to differentiate between CoM and CoN. Bcl-2 expression was higher in CoM than in CoN (p=0.04). The loss of nuclear PTEN expression was more pronounced in the malignant melanomas than in CoN (p=0.02). Tumours located at unfavourable sites (fornix, palpebral conjunctiva, caruncle) that had developed recurrences expressed almost twice as much HSP-90 than recurrence-free tumours. Conclusions: Conjunctival melanocytes differentially express Bcl-2, HSP-90 and PTEN, depending on their entity. HSP-90- and PTEN expression may add relevant information for the differentiation between conjunctival melanoma and nevi.