MORPHOMETRIC, DNA, AND PROLIFERATING CELL NUCLEAR ANTIGEN MEASUREMENTS IN BENIGN MELANOCYTIC LESIONS AND CUTANEOUS MALIGNANT-MELANOMA

Morphometric, DNA, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) measu rements were taken of benign melanocytic tumors and malignant melanoma s. Significant differences between lesion groups according to Krushell -Wallis analysis were found in terms of mean nuclear area, coefficient of variation (cv) of nuclear area, cv of nuclear shape nuclear contou r index (NCI), mean and cv of nucleolar area, DNA 2.5 c and 5 c exceed ing rates, and PCNA positivity. A logistic regression analysis with re spect to banal nevi versus primary malignant melanoma showed that the cv of nuclear area and the DNA 2.5 c exceeding rate were significant i ndependent predictors. Nuclear polymorphism, i.e., the cv of nuclear s hape NCI, was larger in metastasizing primary melanomas than in thin n onmetastasizing primary melanomas. PCNA positivity was occasionally in creased in keratinocytes adjacent to nevi or melanomas. Larger values for nuclear area, DNA aneuploidy, and PCNA positivity were found in th ick malignant melanomas and melanoma metastases than in benign melanoc ytic lesions and thin malignant melanomas. Morphometry, DNA content, a nd PCNA positivity thus seem to reflect different stages in tumor prog ression of malignant melanoma.