Erratum to "Intratumoral Heterogeneity of MAGE-C1/CT7 and MAGE-C2/CT10 Expression in Mucosal Melanoma".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2015/432479.].

Intratumoral Heterogeneity of MAGE-C1/CT7 and MAGE-C2/CT10 Expression in Mucosal Melanoma.

Mucosal melanoma is a rare disease, which differs from its cutaneous counterpart genetically and for its clinical behaviour. Moreover this is a heterogeneous disease based on the tissue of origin. As CT7 and CT10 are highly expressed in cutaneous melanoma and are immunogenic in this disease, we analysed their expression throughout the different subtypes of mucosal melanoma and tumor development. We detected a frequent expression of CT7 in primaries and corresponding metastases (55%) as well as for CT10 (30%). This expression resulted to be heterogeneous in the same tumor specimen and moreover influenced by the tissue of origin. Our results support the role of these antigens in immunotherapy for mucosal melanoma.

Tumour heterogeneity of mucosal melanomas during treatment with imatinib.

A comparison of in vitro and in vivo characteristics of tumour cells derived from patients with mucosal melanoma treated with imatinib was performed with respect to KIT mutations. Three patients with mucosal melanoma were treated with imatinib. Patient-derived tumour material was used to establish melanoma cell cultures ex vivo. We evaluated tumour material and cell cultures for KIT protein expression and KIT mutation status. In addition, proliferation assays with melanoma cell cultures were performed with imatinib. Expression of KIT protein and KIT mutation was shown in two patients who responded to imatinib in vivo. Cells derived from a third patient who did not respond to imatinib did not express KIT and lacked a KIT mutation. Patient-derived melanoma cells did not show any KIT mutations, nor did they respond to imatinib in vitro. Our study underlines that melanoma consists of a heterogeneous cell population, making it imperative to use the mapping of involved activating tumour growth-driving pathways in order to improve response to therapy with kinase inhibitors.

Cutaneous angiosarcoma: own experience over 13 years. Clinical features, disease course and immunohistochemical profile.

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous angiosarcoma (AS) is a rare malignant tumour of endothelial origin with very poor prognosis, frequent recurrences and high metastatic potential. Clinical suspicion is often raised too late, but histological findings and immunohistochemical assays have proved to be very helpful in the diagnostic process. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Over the last 13 years, nine patients with AS were found in our archives. Clinical features, evolution, treatment and outcome were analysed and all biopsy specimens were reviewed by a trained dermatopathologist, with subsequent immunohistochemical assessment. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Cutaneous AS was clinically diagnosed in 4 of 9 patients, while systemic lupus erythematosus was the most common misdiagnosis. Radiotherapy was the most prescribed treatment, but many different combinations of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy were observed. Mean disease-free and overall survival (15.4 and 23.7 respectively) were consistent with previous series, with local recurrence rate (2/9) lower than previously reported data. CD31 was positive in all patients. Vimentin, D2-40 and VEGFR-3 were expressed by the vast majority, Factor VIII by 3/7 and CD34 by about 1/3 of patients. Cytokeratin was negative in all patients. The patients with the most unfavourable course showed a strong expression of Ki-67, while those with the best outcome only had a slight positive Ki-67 staining. Larger studies regarding tumour cell expression of Ki-67 and other markers such as D2-40 will be helpful to evaluate a potential prognostic value of these stainings.