Immunohistochemistry is a vital tool in the classification of melanocytic skin lesions. Here, Karolina Wojcik and colleagues assess PRAME expression as a new marker in recognising and distinguishing the malignant melanomas from atypical naevi.
According to Cancer Research UK statistics,1 malignant melanoma is the fifth most common cancer in the UK, and each year around 16,000 people are diagnosed with this deadly skin cancer. Cutaneous melanocytic lesions can be divided into benign and atypical melanocytic naevi, and the most aggressive type of skin malignancy, malignant melanoma (MM).
This study aims to evaluate the staining pattern of PRAME (PReferentially expressed Antigen in MElanoma) expression in melanocytic tumours, and highlights PRAME expression in primary and metastatic melanomas as well as other melanocytic lesions. This research looks at the potential to explore PRAME expression in melanocytic naevi, which could prove an invaluable input to distinguish the benign/atypical naevi from melanomas.
PRAME is a melanoma-associated antigen first identified through analysis of the specificity of T-cell clones in a patient with metastatic melanoma. Using PRAME antibody in a diagnostic laboratory can prove to be an invaluable addition in the clinical setting, distinguishing benign and malignant melanocytic lesions.
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