Cysteinyldopas and Dopa in the urine and tissues of Japanese melanoma patients were investigated quantitatively by means of high-performance liquid chromatography. Cysteinyldopa isomers were detected in the urine of eumelanic Japanese patients. The amount (X +/- SD%) of each isomer of cysteinyldopa in the urine was 80.26 +/- 4.66% in 5-S-cysteinyldopa, 9.39 +/- 1.64% in 2-S-cysteinyldopa, 7.07 +/- 3.33% in 2, 5-S, S-dicysteinyldopa, and 3.28 +/- 1.43% in 6-S-cysteinyldopa. The amount of cysteinyldopa in melanoma tissues was 26-314 times more than that of Dopa. The amount (X +/- SD%) of cysteinyldopa in the tissues was 80.34 +/- 1.75% in 5-S-cysteinyldopa, 11.06 +/- 1.91% in 2-S-cysteinyldopa, 6.27 +/- 1.43% in 2, 5-S, S-dicysteinyldopa, and 2.34 +/- 0.61% in 6-S-cysteinyldopa. The fact that the percentages of each isomer of cysteinyldopa in the urine and in the tissues were approximately constant suggests that the cysteinyldopas secreted from melanoma cells were excreted into the urine without being metabolized.

Histochemical findings of primary and metastatic amelanotic melanomas were shown by the formaldehyde-induced fluorescence method (Falck and Hillarp). All or some of the amelanotic melanoma cells were discovered to emit green specific fluorescence. Results of the determination of 5-S-cysteinyldopa and DOPA in amelanotic melanoma tissues indicated that the specific fluorescence emitted by these cells is primarily due to the presence of 5-S-cysteinyldopa. The values of 5-S-cysteinyldopa in these tissues were lower than those in melanotic melanoma, but were approximately the same as those in pigmented nevus. When unpigmented tumors were histopathologically revealed to be malignant, amelanotic melanoma could be definitely diagnosed by the fluorescence method of Falck and Hillarp and the biochemical analysis of 5-S-cysteinyldopa in the tissues.

Nine cases of primary melanotic melanoma, three cases of metastatic amelanotic melanoma, and 26 cases of pigmented and unpigmented tumors other than melanoma were examined with the touch-fluorescence method using preparations from the cut surface of the lesions. Fluorescent melanoma cells were easily detected with a fluorescence microscope in all the cases of malignant melanoma whether the melanoma was melanotic or amelanotic. The fluorescent melanoma cells could be divided into three types by configuration: round, spindle-shaped, and pleomorphic. The main cell type of superficial spreading melanoma was round and that of nodular melanoma and acral lentiginous melanoma was chiefly pleomorphic. Fluorescent tumor cells were not seen in pigmented and unpigmented tumors other than melanoma, except in pigmented basal cell epithelioma; this fact made it possible to apply this method routinely for quick diagnosis of malignant melanoma during operation.

Two cases of primary cutaneous melanoma with a granulomatous lesion were examined by the touch‐fluorescence method. This method makes it possible to demonstrate the melanogenic activity of melanoma cells within 30 minutes. The present study indicated that the touch‐fluorescence method using preparations from the outer surface of a lesion is helpful in preoperative diagnosis of malignant melanoma and that the same method using preparations from the cut surface is valuable in quick diagnosis of melanoma during surgery.