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TAP1 down‐regulation in primary melanoma lesions: An independent marker of poor prognosis
Author(s) -
Kamarashev Jivko,
Ferrone Soldano,
Seifert Burkhardt,
Böni Roland,
Nestle Frank,
Burg Günter,
Dummer Reinhard
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
international journal of cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.475
H-Index - 234
eISSN - 1097-0215
pISSN - 0020-7136
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0215(20010120)95:1<23::aid-ijc1004>3.0.co;2-4
Subject(s) - melanoma , pathology , antigen , monoclonal antibody , human leukocyte antigen , medicine , primary tumor , immunohistochemistry , antibody , cancer , cancer research , metastasis , immunology
Melanoma tumor thickness is a major prognostic factor. Thin lesions, however, may metastasize, and sometimes thick tumors may not. To investigate the role of HLA class I–mediated antigen presentation, we correlated the expression of components of the antigen‐processing machinery in primary melanoma lesions with their thickness and with the development of metastases. Seventeen formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded primary melanomas thinner than 0.76 mm and 21 thicker than 1.50 mm were stained with anti‐LMP2, ‐LMP7, ‐TAP1, ‐TAP2, ‐HLA class I and ‐β 2 ‐microglobulin monoclonal antibodies. Twenty patients remained tumor‐free in the follow‐up period (10.5 ± 1.8 years). Eighteen patients relapsed within a median period of 15.0 months following tumor excision. Expression of all markers in the tested lesions was down‐regulated, the frequency ranging from about 40% for LMP and TAP subunits to about 70% for HLA class I antigens. Expression of all markers was not correlated with tumor thickness. Only TAP1 and TAP2 down‐regulation was significantly ( p = 0.026 and 0.042, respectively) correlated with the development of metastases. This correlation was independent of tumor thickness for TAP1. We suggest that TAP1 and probably TAP2 expression in primary lesions represents an independent prognostic marker in melanoma. Abnormalities in antigen presentation may account for the lack of absolute correlation between tumor thickness and prognosis. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.