Abstract
Purpose: :
In uveal melanoma, many different predictors of poor prognosis have been identified separately. These include HLA Class I and II expression, a high macrophage and microvascular density, specific extravascular matrix patterns, as well as monosomy 3. We investigated whether these factors are interrelated.
Methods: :
Material was obtained from 53 patients with uveal melanoma treated between 1999 and 2004. After enucleation, a tumor specimen was sent in for karyotyping and fluorescence in situ hybridization in order to determine the presence of chromosome changes. Each tumor was further processed for conventional histopathological examination and immunohistochemistry.
Results: :
An increased expression of HLA Class I (mAbs HC10 and HCA2) correlated with an increased macrophage density (P=.02, P=.05), increased microvascular density (P=.05 and P= .04) and an epitheloid cell type (P=.007 and P=0.1). Expression of HLA Class II (mAb TA1.1B5) was similarly associated. Monosomy 3 was also related to the number of infiltrating macrophages (P=.05) and the presence of epitheloid cells (P= .02). Both HLA Class I as well as HLA Class II expression were positively related to the presence of monosomy 3. Neither HLA expression nor monosomy 3 were related to the presence of specific extravascular matrix patterns.
Conclusions: :
An increased expression of HLA Class I and II was associated with the presence of monosomy 3 and all three were related to an epitheloid cell type and an increased presence of macrophages. This suggests that these five markers are part of one phenotype that characterizes highly malignant uveal melanomas.
Keywords: melanoma • pathobiology • uvea