Nestin is highly expressed in advanced-stage melanomas and neurotized nevi

Nestin, a class VI intermediate filament protein, was originally described as a neural stem cell/progenitor cell marker. Expression of nestin has been reported to be associated with the migration and metastasis of various types of tumor. In the present study, we examined the expression of nestin in malignant melanomas and nevi. Immunohistochemically, nestin was detected in all compound nevi, but not in the majority of junctional nevi. Nestin was expressed at particularly high levels in nevi with neurotization. In melanoma, nestin was expressed in all T3 and T4 cases, but only in half of the cases of T2 or less severe disease. These results indicate that the expression levels of nestin in melanoma are associated with advanced disease. In conclusion, nestin was expressed in advanced melanoma tissues and neurotized nevi. Nestin may be an important marker of melanocytic neoplasms. Further studies are required to elucidate the regulatory mechanisms of nestin expression and to examine the possibility of nestin-targeted therapy for malignant melanomas.