Abstract
Background:
It has been suggested that nm23 may exert metastasis suppressor function in human tumors.
Objective:
We have analyzed expression of nm23 polypeptide in acquired melanocytic nevi (n = 19), dysplastic nevi (n = 19), malignant melanomas (n = 22) and metastases of malignant melanomas (n = 47) in situ.
Methods:
Nm23 protein was detected immunohistochemically on paraffin sections using the highly sensitive labeled avidin-biotin technique.
Results:
We found that (1) nm23 polypeptide is predominantly expressed in the cytoplasmic but also in nuclear and membrane compartments of melanocytic human cells, (2) expression of nm23 protein does not correlate with benign or malignant phenotype in melanocytic tumors of human skin.
Conclusion:
Our study challenges the hypothesis that nm23 may function in malignant melanomas as a tumor suppressor gene.
MeSH terms
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Antigens, Neoplasm / analysis*
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Antigens, Neoplasm / genetics
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Biomarkers, Tumor / analysis*
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Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics
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Cell Nucleus / ultrastructure
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Cytoplasm / ultrastructure
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Dysplastic Nevus Syndrome / genetics
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Dysplastic Nevus Syndrome / pathology
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Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
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Genes, Tumor Suppressor / genetics
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Humans
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Immunoenzyme Techniques
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Immunohistochemistry
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Intracellular Membranes / ultrastructure
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Melanocytes / pathology
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Melanoma / genetics
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Melanoma / pathology*
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Melanoma / secondary
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Monomeric GTP-Binding Proteins*
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NM23 Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinases
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Nevus, Pigmented / genetics
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Nevus, Pigmented / pathology*
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Nucleoside-Diphosphate Kinase / analysis*
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Nucleoside-Diphosphate Kinase / genetics
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Paraffin Embedding
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Phenotype
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Skin Neoplasms / genetics
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Skin Neoplasms / pathology*
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Transcription Factors / analysis*
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Transcription Factors / genetics
Substances
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Antigens, Neoplasm
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Biomarkers, Tumor
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NM23 Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinases
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Transcription Factors
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NME1 protein, human
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Nucleoside-Diphosphate Kinase
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Monomeric GTP-Binding Proteins