IL-17, IL-23, and p73 expression in cutaneous melanoma: a pilot study

The incidence of cutaneous malignant melanoma is increasing worldwide, resulting in the demand for clinically useful prognostic biomarkers, especially for invasive and metastatic disease. We studied the immunohistochemical expression of interleukin-17 (IL-17), IL-23, and p73 in 35 malignant melanomas and compared them with benign melanocytic nevi and Spitz nevi, correlating them with clinical-pathological variables. A higher and statistically significant difference (P<0.05) in the intensity and percentage of stained cells of IL-17 and IL-23 was found in the melanoma group than in ordinary benign nevi that did not correlate with Breslow thickness nor Clark level. Moreover, p73 staining and percentage of stained cells was significantly higher (P<0.05) in all the melanomas studied, with a peculiar cytoplasmatic distribution. Our findings could suggest a possible IL-17, IL-23, and p73 involvement in cutaneous melanomas with a hypothetical impact on melanoma invasiveness.