Breast Carcinoma with Positive Results for Melanoma Marker (HMB-45): HMB-45 Immunoreactivity in Normal and Neoplastic Breast

Abstract

A MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY (HMB-45) has been described recently that recognizes (including on paraffin sections) a so-far undefined molecule(s) apparently restricted to melanocytes.5 ' 6In a previous work we have analyzed the distribution of HMB-45 in a large panel of melanocyte and nonmelanocytic tumors, confirming the specificity of this antibody for junctional melanocytes, melanomas, and histogenetically related tumors, such as melanocytic neuroectodermal tumor of infancy and, rarely, peripheral nerve sheath tumors. 4 Other workers have reported the positive reaction with HMB-45 of one of five neuroblastomas. 16 However, testing HMB-45 on numerous normal tissues, we have found an unexpected positive reaction in the epithelium of secretory terminal tract of sweat glands. 4 The possibility of a positive reaction of HMB-45 in epithelial tumors has thus been considered, despite the extremely high specificity for melanocytes so far reported for this antibody.We report here the presence of HMB-45 immunoreactivity in normal and neoplastic breast epithelium.

Melanoma-associated antigens in tumours of the nervous system: an immunohistochemical study with the monoclonal antibody HMB-45

“…Kornstein and Franco (1990) encountered positive immunostaining of a metastatic adenocarcinoma from the inguinal region (the primary tumour was not mentioned), resulting in the initially false diagnosis of malignant melanoma. Breast carcinomas (Bonetti et al 1989), liver carcinomas (Wang et al 1991), clear cell tumours of the lung (Gaffey et al 1991), plasmacytomas (Leong and Milios 1989), a non-Hodgkin lymphoma (Friedman and Tatun 1991) and olfactory neuroblastomas (Wick et al 1988) also yielded false positive results.…”

“…In these cases immunohistochemical analysis appears indicated, for example, with HMB-45, a paraffin-compatible monoclonal antibody directed against melanoma antigen. A very Offprint requests to: C. Zimmer, Abteilung Neuroradiologie, Klinikum der Justus-Liebig-Universit/it GieBen, Am Steg 22, W-6300 Giegen, Federal Republic of Germany high specificity for melanotic tumours has been ascribed to this antibody, although reports of occasional positive HMB-45 labelling of non-melanotic tumours, for example liver (Wang et al 1991), breast (Bonetti et al 1989), lung carcinoma (Ordonez et al 1988) and clear cell tumours of the lung (Gaffey et al 1991 ;Pea et al 1991), suggest caution in interpreting HMB-45 positivity.…”

Blue Nevus of the Prostate: Report of Two New Cases with Immunohistochemical and Electron-Microscopic Studies

“…Sun et al [24] and others [25][26][27] have published that HMB-45, although nonspecific [28], is highly sensitive for the nonpigmented and immature nevus cells and melanocytes, and, as they mature and acquire pigment, the positivity for HMB-45 fades away. At the mature stage of the melanocyte, as in our cases, mainly loaded with stage-IV and doubtful stage-III mela nosomes, blue nevi lack immunoreactivity for HMB-45.…”

Pigmented Neuroectodermal Tumor of Infancy in the Epididymis

“…1 In our case, the melanocytelike cells were positive for HMB-45, which is a marker for melanocytes. 2 These cells partially showed a positive reaction for vimentin but were negative for NSE and S-100. Conversely, the…”