Interleukin 8 serum concentration, but not lactate dehydrogenase activity, positively correlates to CD34 antigen in melanoma tumors.

CD34 promotes melanoma cell motility, negative regulation of cellular response to hypoxia and positive regulation of vasculogenesis. Interleukin 8 (IL-8) is responsible for angiogenic response in endothelial cells, increases proliferation, metastasis, and survival of melanoma cells. The aim of our study was evaluation of relationship between CD34 immunoexpression and IL-8 serum concentrations in melanoma patients. The study was conducted on patients with melanoma that were divided in: Clark II (17 patients - 19.3%), Clark III (33 patients - 37.5%), Clark IV (22 patients - 25%), and Clark V (16 patients - 18.2%) levels. CD34 expression was absent for Clark II melanomas, and positive for Clark III (6.1%), Clark IV (40.9%), and Clark V (56.2%). The CD34 immune-mark was highly positive only for Clark IV and V levels. Interleukin 8 (IL-8) had high values (above 15 pg/mL) for all patients with melanoma (58.9% - Clark II; 87.8% - Clark III; 90.9% - Clark IV and 93.7% - Clark V). We have found a strong and statistically significant correlation between CD34 and IL-8 for Clark IV (r = 0.54, P < 0.05) and Clark V (r = 0.72, P < 0.05) melanomas. CD34 and IL-8 are associated with poor prognosis of melanoma, metastasis, and neoangiogenesis.

Antibodies against GM1 gangliosides associated with metastatic melanoma.

The aim was to analyze humoral immune response against GM1 ganglioside expressed on the surface of melanocytic cells, and the possible correlation between the level of antibodies against GM1 IgG and IgM class and melanoma progression. The study included 128 adult patients with malignant melanoma, without paraneoplastic neurologic disorders, 48 adults with dysplastic nevi and 48 healthy volunteers. The presence of IgM and IgG antibodies against GM1 was demonstrated by Immunodot method. Automatic evaluation of strips marked with GM1 antigen was performed by EUROLineScan software. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity was evaluated by spectrophotometry. Serum concentration of gangliosides was determined using the method with resorcinol-HCl. IgG antibodies against GM1 gangliosides were identified in six patients with melanoma (4.68%) and in none of the subjects from other groups. AntiGM1 IgM class were observed in 20 (15.63%) melanoma patients, three (6.25%) dysplastic nevi patients and one healthy volunteer. No statistically significant difference was observed when serum profile of GM1 IgM antibodies in patients with localized melanoma was compared with that of other study subjects. The levels of IgM antibodies varied with clinical stage of tumor and histopathologic features. Moreover, a statistically significant positive correlation was found between IgM antibodies and LDH (r=0.87; p=0.01; IC=95%). In conclusion, antibodies against GM1 ganglioside are frequent in patients with melanoma. Dysplastic nevi and early melanoma cannot be differentiated using the antiGM1 antibody profile. The synthesis of these antibodies is characteristic for advanced stages of melanoma.

Serum total gangliosides level: clinical prognostic implication.

PURPOSE: The gangliosides overexpression contributes to the development of skin melanoma. The purpose of this study was to determine if the total gangliosides serum levels might predict the tumor growth in patients with melanoma or if the transfer of shed cell gangliosides reflects the implication in the clinical prognostic of these patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Total gangliosides serum levels were measured in the cryopreserved serum by estimating lipid-associated sialic acid in 761 patients before surgical resection of melanoma, in 406 patients with precancerous pigmentary lesions, and in 410 healthy individuals. This study was performed at the Dermatovenereological Research Center, Bucharest, Romania, during 1991-2010. All sera obtained after surgical resection of melanocytic tumors were analyzed to see if adjuvant therapy (chemo-, immuno-, immunochemo-therapy) induced gangliosides changes in melanoma patients and if the responses were correlated with survival. RESULTS: Total gangliosides serum levels were higher in melanoma patients than in precancerous melanocytic lesions patients or in healthy individuals. Larger tumors in Breslow index and more advanced stage of disease were correlated with higher total gangliosides serum values. Augmented total gangliosides serum levels after melanoma adjuvant treatment were predictive for decreased overall survival, whereas decreased total gangliosides serum levels were predictable for improved overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: A marker for early melanoma complications and survival may be the total gangliosides serum level.

Pericytes and myofibroblasts reaction in experimental thermal third degree skin burns.

Pericytes and myofibroblasts are two types of connective cells that appear in large quantities in reparative processes. In order to evaluate their response and any relationships between them, we have inflicted third degree skin burns to seven groups of five common Wistar rats each from which we sampled granulation tissue at three days interval for histological and immunohistochemical studies. Alpha-SMA and CD34 antibodies revealed that granulation tissue myofibroblasts do not express CD34 and do not arise from pericytes. The parallel arrangement of myofibroblasts in relation to the burned wound surface suggests that their main function is mechanical traction on granulation tissue and wound edges.

Giant keratoacanthoma of the hand.

Giant keratoacanthoma (KA) is a very rare tumor which benefits of surgical treatment. We present a case of 61-years-old man with a giant keratoacanthoma situated on the dorsum of the right hand. The diagnosis is established by routine histopathologic examination.