[The relationship between Fas/FasL and proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression and malignant degree in human melanoma].

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To study the expression of Fas, Fas-ligand (Fas/FasL), and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in malignant melanoma (MM), melanocytic nevus, and normal skin, and the relationship of Fas, Fas/FasL, and PCNA expressions to malignant degrees of MM. METHODS: Immunohistochemistry SP methods was used to detect the expressions of Fas, Fas-ligand (Fas/FasL), and PCNA in 35 samples of MM, 21 samples of melanocytic nevus, and 28 normal skin samples obtained by operation. RESULTS: The positive Fas rate of the MM group was 92.86% (26/28), significantly higher than those of the melanocytic nevus group (76.19%, 16/21) and normal skin group (45.71%, 16/35) (chi2 = 16.84, v =2, P < 0.01). The positive FasL rate of the MM group was 3.57% (1/28), significantly lower than those of the melanocytic nevus group (19.05%, 4/21) and normal skin group (62.86%, 22/35) (chi2 = 27.27, v = 2, P < 0. 01). The PCNA positive rate of the MM group was 100% (35/35), significantly higher than those of the melanocytic nevus group (33.33%, 7/21) and normal skin group (10.71%, 3/28) (chi2 = 54.4, v = 2, P < 0.01). The positive index (PI) of PCNA of the MM group was 55.0% +/- 14.8%, significantly higher than those of the melanocytic nevus group (6.2% +/- 3.0%, t = 19. 89, P < 0.01) and normal skin group (4.0% +/- 2.0%, t = 22.63, P < 0.01), however, there was no significant difference in the PCNA PI between the melanocytic nevus and normal skin groups (P > 0.05). The greater the infiltration depth of MM, the higher the PCNA PI. However, there was no direct dose-effect relationship between PI and pathological types. CONCLUSION: The expressions of Fas/FasL and PCNA reflect the malignant degree of human melanoma, and the more expression of PCNA, the more malignant degree of melanoma. The expressions of Fas/FasL and PCNA are closely associated with the development of MM.