EXPRESSION OF C-MYC ONCOPROTEIN REPRESENTS A NEW PROGNOSTIC MARKER INCUTANEOUS MELANOMA

Background Overexpression of the c-myc oncoprotein has been observed t o be of prognostic significance in several human cancers. This study w as undertaken to establish whether c-myc has any prognostic signifrcan ce in melanoma. Methods Expression of c-myc oncoprotein was studied in a prospective series of primary and secondary malignant melanomas. Et hanol-fixed tissue was digested into nuclei and stained for flow cytom etric analysis using a pan-myc antibody.Results Overexpression of the c-myc oncoprotein was prevalent in both disease stages. In primary dis ease, overexpression was associated with tumour thickness and with the presence of ulceration, age and reduced disease-free interval. Of mos t importance, high expression of c-myc predicted poor outcome in both primary and metastatic disease, In addition, c-myc was able to discrim inate prognosis in melanomas uniformly stratified as thick (greater th an 3 mm) lesions. Conclusion These results indicate an important role for c-myc in melanoma which may lead to better prognostic information and identification of new therapeutic strategies.