RESUMEN
The immune response against melanoma can be influenced by cytokines with potentially opposite effects on tumour cell growth, such as interleukin-10 (IL10), interleukin-6 (IL6) and interferon-gamma (IFNgamma). Our objective in this study was to investigate whether polymorphisms in the regulatory regions of IL10, IL6 and IFNgamma genes are associated with the development of primary cutaneous melanoma and/or the prognosis of this tumour. We studied genotypic variations at positions -1082, -819 and -592 in the IL10 promoter, -174 in the IL6 promoter and +874 in the IFNgamma intron 1 in 42 melanoma patients and 48 healthy controls. These two populations showed very similar genotypic frequencies for IL10, IL6 and IFNgamma gene polymorphisms. There was a significant increase in the prevalence of IL10 low expression genotypes, specially the ACC/ATA genotype, among patients with a poorer prognosis. In contrast, IL6 promoter and IFNgamma intron 1 gene polymorphisms did not correlate with melanoma prognosis. These data indicate that investigation of polymorphisms in the regulatory regions of IL10, IL6 and INFgamma genes does not seem to be useful for predicting the risk of development of primary cutaneous melanoma. However, IL10 low expression genotypes may be associated with a poorer outcome in melanoma patients.
Asunto(s)
Interferón gamma/genética , Interleucina-10/genética , Interleucina-6/genética , Melanoma/genética , Polimorfismo Genético , Adulto , Anciano , Femenino , Genotipo , Humanos , Intrones , Masculino , Melanoma/diagnóstico , Melanoma/metabolismo , Persona de Mediana Edad , Pronóstico , Regiones Promotoras GenéticasRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: An important factor to be considered when performing lymphogammagraphy in melanoma patients is the adequate distance of injection of the radiopharmaceutical from the biopsy excision site or the primary lesion. OBJECTIVE: To test the reproducibility of lymphatic mapping in patients with primary cutaneous melanoma who had undergone narrow excisional biopsy by injecting a technetium marker at different distances from the biopsy scar. METHODS: After informed consent, two lymphoscintigraphies were performed on each of 19 melanoma patients, following narrow excisional biopsy. Four aliquots of the radiocolloid were intradermally injected in each procedure, surrounding the biopsy excision site at 1.5 and 0.5 cm, respectively. RESULTS: Both lymphoscintigraphies showed similar lymph channels and sentinel node(s). CONCLUSION: In melanoma patients who have undergone narrow excisional biopsy, lymphoscintigraphy marks with accuracy the sentinel node, at least when the radiopharmaceutical is injected at a distance of less than 1.5 cm from the limits of the biopsy scar.