Immunohistochemistry Assay for Malignant Melanoma

Clara Olivia Jasmine¹, Willy Sandhika^2*

Abstract

Malignant melanoma has been a concern due to its high morbidity and mortality rate throughout the years due to the fast metastatic rate of the cancer cell itself. However, its diagnosis was found hard due to similar findings with other skin cancers in both morphological and clinical characteristics. Until now, skin biopsy evaluation with immunohistological staining still has been the gold standard for the definitive diagnosis of malignant melanoma. With immunohistochemistry examination, it was found to help identify malignant melanoma from other cutaneous tumors that have similar findings. Malignant melanoma itself has a complex pathogenesis that involves specific biomarkers that are shown in certain immunohistological staining. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the immunohistochemistry examination in malignant melanoma diagnosis that includes specific antibodies such as; S100, HMB45, Melan-A, SOX-10, Ki-67, MITF, tyrosinase, gp100, Neuropilin-2, CD-99, p16, p53, PHH3, and MPM-2. S100, HMB-45, and gp100 were found most helpful in diagnosing malignant melanoma itself due to the specific capabilities it displays in detecting the cancer cell. Melan-A and MITF were found specifically in many amelanotic melanoma cases as their vital role in melanogenesis made their expression to be high in nonpigmented cases. Ki-67 and SOX-10 itself were found helpful due to being the marker of the proliferative index in the cancer cell. p16 and p53 were found helpful in differentiating melanoma from non-melanoma cancer as their properties were specific in many non-melanoma cases. Antibodies such as gp100, PHH3, and MPM-2 were found suitable for therapeutic options due to their specific characteristics. Other antibodies like tyrosinase, CD-99, and Neuropilin-2 while still helpful for the diagnosis of malignant melanoma, it is sadly found to be unspecific in differentiating melanoma from other cutaneous tumors that have similar findings.

Keywords

skin cancer; malignant melanoma; S100; HMB-45; Ki-67; gp100; Melan-A; SOX-10; PHH3; MPM2.

Cite This Article

Jasmine, C. O., Sandhika, W. (2024). Immunohistochemistry Assay for Malignant Melanoma. International Journal of Scientific Advances (IJSCIA), Volume 5| Issue 6: Nov-Dec 2024, Pages 1484-1494, URL: https://www.ijscia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Volume5-Issue6-Nov-Dec-No.757-1484-1494.pdf

Volume 5 | Issue 6: Nov – Dec 2024