Using an immunoperoxidase technique, we have investigated natural killer (NK) cells in the host response to malignant melanomas and melanocytic nevi in frozen sections. Eight primary melanomas, 12 metastatic melanomas, and 31 dysplastic nevi were studied. NK cells were identified phenotypically using an antibody, B73.1, against an Fc receptor present only on NK cells and neutrophils. Rare NK ce...

OBJECTIVES To determine the frequency and the features of the dermoscopic island (DI) in melanocytic lesions and to assess its specificity for the diagnosis of melanoma. Dermoscopy improves the diagnostic accuracy of melanoma, but only a few dermoscopic descriptors specific for thin melanomas have been identified. We defined a new descriptor, the dermoscopic island, a well-circumscribed area sh...

PURPOSE Gain-of-function mutations in BRAF, NRAS, or KIT are associated with distinct melanoma subtypes with KIT mutations and/or copy number changes frequently observed among melanomas arising from sun-protected sites, such as acral skin (palms, soles, and nail bed) and mucous membranes. GAB2 has recently been implicated in melanoma pathogenesis, and increased copy numbers are found in a subse...

The incidence of melanoma in the North Staffordshire region has more than doubled over the last 10 years, and nearly tripled in the "thin" melanoma group (≤ 1 mm). A retrospective audit was performed to investigate the overall management of melanoma, with a focus on thin melanomas. A total of 507 patients was identified between 1999 and 2009. The incidence of melanoma is increasing in the older...

Because of the paucity of available tissue, little information has previously been available regarding the gene expression profiles of primary melanomas. To understand the molecular basis of melanoma progression, we compared the gene expression profiles of a series of nevi, primary melanomas, and melanoma metastases. We found that metastatic melanomas exhibit two dichotomous patterns of gene ex...

Human intraocular tumors and tumors derived from human tumor cell lines grown subcutaneously in the athymic nude mouse were scanned by diagnostic ultrasound. Radiofrequency scan data were converted to digital form and analyzed in the frequency domain. Characteristics of normalized power spectra were found to be significantly different among human spindle cell malignant melanomas, mixed/epitheli...

Primary meningeal rhabdomyosarcoma is a rare primary brain malignancy, with scant case reports. While most reports of primary intracranial rhabdomyosarcoma occur in pediatric patients, a handful of cases in adult patients have been reported in the medical literature. We report the case of a 44-year-old male who developed primary meningeal rhabdomyosarcoma. After developing episodes of right low...

BACKGROUND About 6 to 14% of melanoma cases occur in a familial setting. Germline mutations in CDKN2A are detected in 20 to 40% of melanoma families. OBJECTIVE To characterise the clinical and histopathological characteristics of familial melanoma thus providing more information to clinicians and contribute to the understanding of the genetic-environment interplay in the pathogenesis of melan...

PURPOSE Because lymphatic vessels are absent from the normal eye and because uveal melanomas are presumed to spread by a hematogenous route in the absence of tumor exposure to conjunctival lymphatics, this study was undertaken to investigate the presence of lymphatic vessels in primary uveal melanomas. METHODS The presence of lymphatics in 2 control eyes and in 33 primary uveal, 10 primary cu...

Recent technological advances in cancer genomics make it possible to dissect complicated genomic aberrations of melanomas. In particular, several specific genomic aberrations including 11q13 amplification and KIT aberrations have been identified in acral melanomas. We recently identified NUAK2 at 1q32 as a promising oncogene in acral melanomas and reported its significant roles in tumorigenesis...