Immunofluorescent detection of hormone receptors in cutaneous melanocytic tumours

Abstract

Summary.-Immunofluorescent assessment of hormone receptors in melanocytic tumours is quite feasible without loss of diagnostic material, in contrast to the impracticability of quantitative biochemical assays. Using this method, oestrogen receptors were demonstrated in 4/6, and progesterone receptors in 3/5 patients with metastatic melanoma. Receptors were not found in 3 patients with primary cutaneous melanomas of the superficial spreading type. Progesterone receptors were present in the junctional component of a naevus from one healthy person.

Thickness of Malignant Melanoma: Global Analysis of Related Factors

“…Estrogen receptors have been found on melanoma cells (Grill et al, 1982; Ellis et al, 1985a,b; Ellis and Wheeland, 1986; Thompson et al, 1981). The fact that female hormones may have a protective effect in patients with MM (Briele et al, 1983) possibly is a factor in why females have thinner lesions.…”

“…2 2 Brocker et al, 1984, 1985; Bumol and Reisfeld, 1982; Ellis et al, 1985b; Ellis and Wheeland, 1986; Halpern et al, 1985; Hearing, 1981; Herlyn et al, 1983; Hersey, 1985; Imai et al, 1981; Imam et al, 1986; Kantor et al, 1982; Knudsen et al, 1982; Kozlowski et al, 1984; Natali et al, 1983a,b, 1985; Nicolson, 1982; Real et al, 1985; Ruiter et al, 1985; Sherwin et al, 1979; Stefansson et al, 1982; Thompson et al, 1981; Tomita et al, 1985; Wakabayashi et al, 1984; Watanabe et al, 1982. …”

Estrogen and Progesterone Receptors in Primary Cutaneous Melanoma

“…We are currently investigating this possibility. Previous studies have shown an occasional positive “normal nevus, “ 4, 9, 14 but controls have not been well defined. One study by Chadhuri and colleagues 15 found that 41% of benign nevi from patients with melanoma were positive for estrogen receptors, stressing that control patient populations must be rigidly outlined.…”

“…This method allows visualization of the cells that bind the fluorescent hormones. One previous report used a similar assay, with negative fluorescence obtained on three primary superficial spreading melanomas 9 . We also did estrogen‐ and progesterone‐binding studies on nevi from a control male and female patient population.…”

“…Since the original report by Fisher and colleagues 1 several studies have described hormonal receptors in human malignant melanoma. Melanomas were previously found to have from 0 to 78% positive estrogen receptors and from 0 to 100% positive progesterone receptors 2–9 . Much of these data are difficult to evaluate since either small numbers of primary lesions were studied or the lesions were not classified as primary or metastatic.…”