Expression of Er� and Bcl-2 in Skin Melanoma

Introduction: Skin melanoma has been one of the most researched malignant melanoma of today. Its "popularity" among the researchers and clinicians arises from variety of forms and biological behaviour, it's characteristic appearance, genetic and immunologic certainty and its prognostic uncertainty. Patients and methods: We analyzed 62 patients with a primary skin melanoma diagnosed in the period from January 2001, to June 2010 (patients were divided in two groups; Group A: patients with melanoma development based on pre-existed nevi and Group B: de novo melanomas). The clinicopathological parameters determined for each tumour were histological type, Breslow thickness, Clark level, and pathological disease stage. The results were correlated with expression of estrogen receptor beta (Ers) and Bcl2. Results: Comparing individual groups according to the intensity of positivity in relation to the stage of Clark, we recognize differences in the distribution of patients with pre-existent nevi (group A), but not in de novo melanoma (group B). Significant differences between individual groups for Ers and Bcl2 expression in terms of intensity of positivity in relation to Clark level (III/IV) showed differences in distribution in patients with pre-existing nevi (Group A). After adjusting for age and sex, we found that Ers and Bcl2 expression was significantly higher in patient with pre-existing nevi in higher melanoma tissue compared with thin melanoma tissue. Conclusion: Expression of ER in Clark level III and IV is higher in melanoma arising from pre-existing nevi, giving better chance of survival to our patients in comparison to de novo melanoma.