APPLIED IMMUNOHISTOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR MORPHOLOGY, cilt.15, sa.2, ss.160-164, 2007 (SCI-Expanded)
Familial acquired dysplastic nevi carry a risk for the development of melanoma. However, the results in various studies regarding the significance of sporadic dysplastic nevi as a precursor of malignant melanoma (MM), are controversial. The aim of this study is to investigate cyclin DI expression and Ki67 proliferative index in a group of melanocytic lesions to address the biologic significance of sporadic dysplastic nevi in the progression of melanocytic lesions. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded material from 21 common melanocytic nevi, 42 dysplastic nevi, and 17 primary cutaneous MMs were examined. Standard streptavidin-biotin immunoperoxidase method was used for immunostaining with cyclin DI and Ki-67 antibody. Nuclear cyclin DI immunostaining was scored and Ki-67 proliferative index was calculated. Cyclin DI expression was significantly higher in melanoma than those in other lesions. However, there was no significant difference between dysplastic nevi and common melanocytic nevi in terms of cyclin DI expression. Ki-67 index was significantly higher in dysplastic nevi compared with common melanocytic nevi and to melanoma compared with dysplastic nevi. There was a significant positive correlation between cyclin DI expression and Ki-67 proliferative index for each group. The present study indicates significant differences in cyclin DI expressions and Ki-67 indices among rnelanocytie lesions. We think that dysplastic nevi are biologically separate from common melanocytic nevi in terms of proliferative activity. Additionally, our results suggest that cyclin DI expression may be related to malignant phenotype and is associated with high proliferation rate in MM.