The anti-MAGE antibody B57 as a diagnostic marker in melanocytic lesions

The differentiation of melanoma from certain benign melanocytic lesions on histologic grounds alone may sometimes be difficult. The anti-MAGE antibody 57B was suggested to be a useful adjunct in differentiating melanoma from nevi. Our aim was to study MAGE immunoreactivity with B57 in benign melanocytic lesions that have not been investigated to this end so far. One hundred six benign melanocytic lesions were stained with the monoclonal antibody 57B. They included deep-penetrating nevus (n = 6), desmoplastic nevus (n = 9), halo nevus (n = 10), persistent melanocytic nevus (n = 12), common blue nevus (n = 17), cellular blue nevus (n = 8), cellular blue nevus with microalveolar pattern (n = 3), desmoplastic cellular blue nevus (n = 6), epithelioid blue nevus (n = 2), sclerotic blue nevus (n = 3), and clonal nevus (n = 30). Fifty-two lesions (49%) demonstrated various patterns of MAGE immunoreactivity, with clonal nevi and deep-penetrating nevi showing the most consistent staining. In conclusion, MAGE immunoreactivity detected by the monoclonal antibody 57B in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue can be observed in benign melanocytic lesions, and therefore this antibody cannot be used in the differential diagnosis between melanoma and nevi.