MITF as a Prognostic Marker in Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma

• Background: Microphthalmia associated transcription factor (MITF) protein has a central role in the differentiation and survival of melanocytes. The aim of the study was to investigate whether MITF can be employed as a prognostic marker in patients operated on for cutaneous malignant melanoma. Methods: A cohort study design based on information collected from population-based registers. For included patients tissue microarrays and immunohistochemistry were employed to study the protein expression of MITF in the primary malignant melanoma tumors by estimating the fraction of positive tumor cells and the staining intensity. Results: The vast majority of tumors expressed MITF in >25% of the tumor cells with a strong staining intensity and looking at these factors individually these patients had a better prognosis. When cell fraction and intensity were combined a high-risk group dying of malignant melanoma was identified as those with 25% -75% of tumor cells staining with weak intensity and those with <25% of tumor cells staining with strong intensity. However, the majority of the deaths occurred in the lower risk groups. Conclusions: Although a high-risk group for death in malignant melanoma was identified we conclude that MITF is not useful as a prognostic marker because of the distribution of that particular expression in the population. Impact: Our results indicate a bi-phasic pattern of MITF expression and although not useful as a prognostic marker these results are in line with other experimental studies and are relevant to explore further.  

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Cell- och molekylärbiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Cell and Molecular Biology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

MITF

prognosis

survival

immunohistochemistry

tissue microarray

Molecular medicine

Molekylär medicin

Cancerepidemiologi

Cancer Epidemiology

Pathology

Patologi

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