Abstract
The cellular DNA ploidy of 30 cases of malignant melanoma was measured by 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole-DNA (DAPI-DNA) microfluorimetry. DNA histograms and DNA index values were compared among melanomas of different cell morphology. Epithelioid cell melanomas often showed greater DNA aneuploidy than spindle cell melanomas in terms of histographic pattern. DNA index values of the former (mean ± standard error, 1.84 ± 0.31) were significantly higher than those of the latter (1.55 ± 0.24; P<0.05). The DNA index values of mixed-type melanomas were intermediate. These results indicate that the epithelioid cell melanomas have greater DNA ploidy abnormalities which are usually correlated with a grater malignant potential in pigmentary neoplasms. Thus our results confirm clinical evidence that melanoma patients with the epithelioid type of cells have a poorer prognosis than those with the spindle type of cells.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bohm N, Sandritter W (1975) DNA in human tumors: a cytophotometric study. Curr Top Pathol 60: 151–218
Breslow A (1970) Thickness, cross-sectional areas and depth of invasion in the prognosis of cutaneous melanoma. Ann Surg 172: 902–906
Buchner Th, Hiddeman W, Wormann B, Kleinemeier B, Schumann J, Gohde W, Ritter J, Muller K-M, Bassewitz DR von, Roessner A, Grundmann E (1985) Differential pattern of DNA-aneuploidy in human malignancies. Path Res Pract 179: 310–317
Chi H-I, Otsuka F, Ishibashi Y (1989) Topographical differences in cellular DNA content between the radial and vertical growth phase of superficial spreading melanoma. Jpn J Dermatol 99: 493–497
Chi H-I, Ishibashi Y, Shima A, Otsuka F (1990) Use of DAPI cytofluorometric analysis of celluar DNA content to differentiate Spitz nevus from malignant melanoma. J Invest Dermatol 95: 154–157
Clark WH, From L, Bernardino EA, Mihm MC (1969) The histogenesis and biologic behavior of primary human malignant melanoma of the skin. Cancer Res 29: 705–726
Ewers SB, Langstrom E, Baldetorp B, Killander D (1984) Flow-cytometric DNA analysis in primary breast carcinomas and clinicopathological correlations. Cytometry 5: 408–419
Heenan PJ, English DR, Holman CDJ, Armstrong BK (1991) Survival among patients with clinical stage I cutaneous malignant melanomas diagnosed in Western Australia in 1975/1976 and 1980/1981. Cancer 68: 2079–2087
Hirano T (1986) Immunohistochemical study of malignant melanoma. Acta Pathol Jpn 36: 733–743
Kheir SM, Bines SD, Von Roenn JH, Soong S-J, Urist MM, Coon JS (1988) Prognostic significance of DNA aneuploidy in stage I cutaneous melanoma. Ann Surg 207: 455–461
Larsen TE, Grude TH (1979) A retrospective histological study of 669 cases of primary cutaneous malignant melanoma in clinical stage I. The relation of cross-sectional profile, level of invasion, ulceration and vascular invasion to tumor type and prognosis. Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand [A] 87: 131–138
McGovern VJ, Cochran AJ, Van Der Esch EP, Little JH, McLennan R (1986) The classification of malignant melanoma, its histological reporting and registration: A revision of the 1972 Sydney classification. Pathology 18: 12–21
Otsuka F, Shima A, Ishibashi Y (1989) Porokeratosis as a premalignant condition of the skin. Cancer 63: 891–896
Otsuka F, Huang J, Sawara K, Asahina A, Ishibashi Y (1990) Disseminated porokeratosis accompanying multicentric Bowen's disease — characterization of porokeratosis skin lesions progressing to Bowen's disease. J Am Acad Dermatol 23: 355–359
Sondergaard K, Lausen JK, Moller U, Christensen IBJ, Hou-Jenses K (1983) DNA ploidy-characteristics of human malignant melanoma analysed by flow cytometry and compared with histology and clinical course. Virchows Arch [B] 42: 43–52
Sugimachi K, Ide H, Okamura T, Matsuura H, Endo M, Inokuchi K (1984) Cytophotometric DNA analysis of mucosal and submucosal carcinoma of the esophagus. Cancer 53: 2683–2687
Ueda Y, Chi H-I, Otsuka F (1989) DNA ploidy abnormality as a prognostic factor of human malignant melanomas. Jpn J Dermatol 99: 1396–1397
Volm M, Bruggemann A, Gunther M, Kleine W, Pfleiderer A, Vogt-Schaden M (1985) Prognostic relevance of ploidy, proliferation, and resistance — predictive tests in ovarin carcinoma. Cancer Res 45: 5180–5185
Von Roenn JM, Kheir SM, Wolter JM, Coon JS (1986) Significance of DNA abnormalities in primary malignant melanoma and nevi, a retrospective flow cytometric study. Cancer Res 46: 3192–3195
Williams WJ, Davies K, Jones WM, Roberts MM (1968) Malignant melanoma of the skin: Prognostic value of histology in 89 cases. Br J Cancer 22: 452–460
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Chi, H.I., Uyeda, Y., Umebayashi, Y. et al. Epithelioid cell melanomas have greater DNA ploidy abnormalities than spindle cell melanomas: cytological evidence for a higher malignant potential of the former. Arch Dermatol Res 285, 410–414 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00372134
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00372134