Open AccessExpression of c‐myc oncoprotein represents a new prognostic marker in cutaneous melanoma
Author(s) -
Ross D. A.,
Wilson G. D.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
british journal of surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.202
H-Index - 201
eISSN - 1365-2168
pISSN - 0007-1323
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2168.1998.00528.x
Subject(s) - medicine , melanoma , clinical significance , disease , cancer research , metastatic melanoma , pathology , immunohistochemistry , oncology
Background Overexpression of the c‐myc oncoprotein has been observed to be of prognostic significance in several human cancers. This study was undertaken to establish whether c‐ myc has any prognostic significance in melanoma. Methods Expression of c‐myc oncoprotein was studied in a prospective series of primary and secondary malignant melanomas. Ethanol‐fixed tissue was digested into nuclei and stained for flow cytometric analysis using a pan‐myc antibody. Results Overexpression of the c‐myc oncoprotein was prevalent in both disease stages. In primary disease, overexpression was associated with tumour thickness and with the presence of ulceration, age and reduced disease‐free interval. Of most importance, high expression of c‐myc predicted poor outcome in both primary and metastatic disease. In addition, c‐myc was able to discriminate prognosis in melanomas uniformly stratified as thick (greater than 3 mm) lesions. Conclusion These results indicate an important role for c‐ myc in melanoma which may lead to better prognostic information and identification of new therapeutic strategies. © 1998 British Journal of Surgery Society Ltd