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Adipophilin expression in cutaneous malignant melanoma
Masakazu Fujimoto1, Ibu Matsuzaki1, Yuki Yamamoto2
1Department of Diagnostic Pathology, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan.
Journal of Cutaneous Pathology
|November 26, 2016
Summary
Adipophilin (ADP) expression, a marker for lipid droplets, is significantly higher in malignant melanomas compared to benign nevi. This suggests ADP may be a valuable diagnostic marker for melanoma detection.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Dermatopathology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Lipogenesis is upregulated in cancer cells, including melanomas.
- The role of cellular lipids in melanocytic lesions requires further investigation.
- Adipophilin (ADP) is a protein that coats lipid droplets.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate intracytoplasmic lipid droplets in melanocytic nevi (MNs) and malignant melanomas.
- To assess the diagnostic potential of adipophilin (ADP) expression in melanocytic lesions.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemical analysis of adipophilin (ADP) in 100 primary cutaneous melanocytic lesions (33 MNs, 17 melanomas in situ, 50 invasive melanomas).
- Semiquantitative scoring of ADP staining intensity and proportion (0 to 3+).
Main Results:
- High ADP expression (2+ or 3+) was observed in 27 lesions, predominantly invasive melanomas (23/50).
- High ADP expression was significantly associated with malignancy (38.8% vs. 3.0%, p < 0.0001).
- Within invasive melanomas, high ADP expression correlated with advanced tumor stage (pT3/4 and Stage 3/4).
Conclusions:
- The majority of melanocytic lesions exhibiting high ADP expression were malignant melanomas.
- Adipophilin (ADP) expression may serve as a sensitive diagnostic marker for malignant melanoma.
- Further research is warranted to validate ADP as a clinical biomarker.
