MART-1 Expression in Malignant Melanoma and Benign Melanocytic Nevi / 대한피부과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: MART-1(melanoma antigen recognized by T cell) is a well-known marker for malignant melanoma. Its immunoreactivity is also expressed in other melanocytic lineage. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose is to evaluate the usefulness of MART-1 in the diagnosis of malignant melanoma. METHODS: MART-1 immunostaining was performed in 26 cases of malignant melanoma and 12 cases of benign melanocytic nevi. HMB-45 immunostaining was performed in 26 cases of malignant melanoma. RESULTS: 1. Eighteen of 26 melanomas(69%) and 10 of 12 benign melanocytic nevi(83%) showed reactivity with MART-1. 2. HMB-45 showed a higher sensitivity(85%) than that of MART-1 in the staining of malignant melanoma. 3. Two of 5 HMB-45-negative melanomas were immunoreactive with MART-1, and 2 of 7 MART-1-negative melanomas were reactive with HMB-45. CONCLUSION:MART-1 immunostaining is not helpful to differentiate malignant melanoma from benign melanocytic nevi. MART-1 was immunoreactive to some cases of HMB-45 negative malignant melanoma. MART-1, together with S-100 protein and HMB-45, is another useful marker of malignant melanoma.