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Neuropilin-2 as a useful marker in the differentiation between Spitzoid malignant melanoma and Spitz nevus
Jade Wititsuwannakul1, Ashley R Mason, Vincent R Klump
1Department of Dermatology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA.
Background:
Spitzoid malignant melanoma (SMM) shares many histopathologic features with Spitz nevus (SN). The distinction between SMM and SN remains one of the most difficult diagnostic problems in dermatopathology. Neuropilin-2 (NRP2) is a cytoplasmic/cell surface protein that is a mediator of melanoma-endothelial cell interaction.
Objective:
The aim of this study was to evaluate NRP2 expression in SMM and SN and to determine whether it can reliably differentiate between the 2 groups.
Methods:
We studied the expression of NRP2 in 19 cases of SMM and 19 cases of SN from Yale Spitzoid Neoplasm Repository, New Haven, Conn.
Results:
All 19 cases of SMM (100%) expressed NRP2. Most SMM showed moderate- and high-intensity staining in the majority of the melanoma cells. Most of the SN (14/19, 74%) were negative for the marker. NRP2 labeled only 5 of 19 SN (26%) and all of them demonstrated mild staining intensity. NRP2(+) staining was statistically significant in differentiating SMM from SN (P < .05).
Limitations:
Small study size is a limitation.
Conclusions:
NRP2 expression in SMM and SN may be a useful adjunct marker, in addition to histopathologic evaluation, in the differentiation between these 2 entities.
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