Expression and prognostic significance of galectin-1 and galectin-3 in benign nevi and melanomas / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the expression and prognostic significance of galectin-1 and galectin-3 in different melanocytic lesions.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The expression of galectin-1 and galectin-3 in 39 cases of benign nevus, 58 cases of primary cutaneous melanoma, 24 cases of primary mucosal melanoma, 69 cases of melanoma with lymph node metastasis and 8 cases of melanoma with distant metastasis were studied by immunohistochemistry and tissue microarray.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The expression of galectin-1 and galectin-3 was higher in benign nevi than in melanomas (P < 0.01). The nuclear expression of galectin-3 was higher in primary cutaneous melanomas than in primary mucosal melanomas or melanomas with metastases (P < 0.01, respectively). The expression correlated with age of patients (P < 0.05), necrosis (P < 0.05) and survival time (P < 0.01). Clark's level also correlated with survival time in patients with cutaneous melanomas (P = 0.037). TNM staging was the only independent prognostic factor for melanomas (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The expression of galectin-1 and galectin-3 is decreased in melanomas. The decrease in nuclear expression of galectin-3 may represent a poor prognostic factor for melanomas. TNM staging is an independent prognostic factor which influences the survival time.</p>

Correlation between tumor cell proliferation and prognosis of primary cutaneous malignant melanoma in 127 patients / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the correlations among Ki-67 expression, mitosis and other clinicopathological parameters of primary cutaneous malignant melanoma, and search for prognostic factors of malignant melanoma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 127 cases of primary cutaneous malignant melanoma were collected from Beijing Cancer Hospital. Immunohistochemical study for Ki-67 was performed, and the mitosis was calculated referring to "hot spot" method recommended by the seventh edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) melanoma staging system. The correlations of Ki-67 expression, mitosis and other clinicopathological parameters were analyzed, and the survival analysis of all these risk factors including TNM and Clark level was conducted based on follow up data.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The expression level of Ki-67 was associated with necrosis and Breslow thickness (P < 0.05). Mitosis was correlated with Clark level and Ki-67 expression (P < 0.05). Univariate analysis indicated Ki-67 expression level (P = 0.043), mitosis (P = 0.030) and TNM stage (P < 0.001) might influence the survival of patients. However, multivariate analysis showed that the TNM staging was the only independent prognostic factor affecting survival.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The prognosis of patients with primary cutaneous malignant melanoma was closely related to the TNM staging at the fist examination. Ki-67 expression and mitosis are two important clinicopathological parameters of primary cutaneous malignant melanoma.</p>