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. 2017 Apr 17:6:39.
doi: 10.4103/2277-9175.204592. eCollection 2017.

Intratumoral and Peritumoral Mast Cells in Malignant Melanoma: An Immunohistochemical Study

Parvin Rajabi  1 , Azam Bagheri  1 , Mohssen Hani  1
Affiliations

Intratumoral and Peritumoral Mast Cells in Malignant Melanoma: An Immunohistochemical Study

Parvin Rajabi et al. Adv Biomed Res. .

Abstract

Background: The aim of the current study was to determine mast cell infiltration in malignant melanoma by immunohistochemistry method and its relationship with some of the cancer prognostic factors, including age, sex, and depth of the tumor.

Materials and methods: In this retrospective analytic cross-sectional study, paraffin-embedded tissue blocks of patients with cutaneous malignant melanoma who had undergone excisional biopsy were studied. Mast cells count in studied cases in different stages of the tumor depth was evaluated by mast cell tryptase immunohistochemistry method. Mast cells infiltration was evaluated both inside the tumor and peritumoral area. Tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) was also determined. Distribution of intratumoral and peritumoral mast cells and TILs was compared in different stages tof tumor depth.

Results: In this study, 51 cases with melanoma were studied. Mean ± standard deviation (SD) of intratumoral mast cells in stages 1, 2, and 3 was 9.4 ± 4.2, 10.8 ± 5.1, and 2.1 ± 2.3, respectively (P = 0.000). Mean ± SD of peritumoral mast cells in stages 1, 2 and 3 was 13.4 ± 2.4, 16.6 ± 2.4 and 8.2 ± 4.6, respectively (P = 0.000). There was a significant direct relationship between depth of the tumor and TIL (P = 0.000) and distribution of intratumoral (P = 0.000) and peritumoral mast cells (P = 0.000).

Conclusion: Lower distribution of intratumoral and peritumoral mast cells and TILs in higher stages of tumor depth in malignant melanoma suggests a possible inhibitory effect of infiltrating mast cells and lymphocytes on the progression of this tumor.

Keywords: Immunohistochemistry; mast cell; melanoma.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Immunohistochemical staining (tryptase) of mast cells in malignant melanoma
Figure 2
Figure 2
Distribution of intratumoral and peritumoral mast cells according to the depth of the tumor in studied age groups
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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