Malignant melanoma antigens

The active immunotherapeutic approach is specific and based on the premise that tumor antigens are immunogenic and the host is sufficientiy immunocompetent to mount an effective immune response to an autologous tumor. Theoretically, a weak or suppressed host immune system that had allowed the formation of a tumor may be overridden by active immunization or immunostimulation. In practice, vaccines composed of so-called autologous tumor extracts have been used to treat patients with malignant melanoma (73), and purified melanoma tumor-associated antigens have been used to ehcit antibody responses in melanoma patients (74). 

Fetsch PA, Marincola FM, Filie A, et al. Melanoma-associated antigen recognized by T-cells (MART-1) The advent of a preferred immunocytochemical antibody for the diagnosis of metastatic malignant melanoma with fine needle aspiration. Cancer. 1999 87 37-42. 

Selby WL, Nance KV, Park KH. Carcinoembryonic antigen— immunoreactivity in metastatic malignant melanoma. Mod Pathol. 1992 5 415-419. 

Carrel S, Schmidt-Kessen A, Mach JP, et al. Expression of common acute lymphoblastic leukemia antigen (CALLA) on human malignant melanoma cell lines. J Immunol. 1983 130 2456-2460. 

Ruiter DJ, Bhan AK, Harrist TJ, et al. Major histocompatibility antigens and mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate in benign nevomelanocytic proliferations and malignant melanoma. J Immunol. 1982 129 2808-2815. 

As known by most surgical pathologists, malignant melanomas may show significant variability in differentiation. Nearly all show immunostaining for S-100 protein and vimentin. Approximately 50% immuno-stain for human melanoma black-45 (HMB-45) antigen. Most stain for pan melanoma antibody. Rare melanomas immunostain for keratin, " which can cause diagnostic confusion. 

Lohmarm GM, Hwu WJ, Iversen K, et al. Primary malignant melanoma of the oesophagus a clinical and pathological study with emphasis on the immunophenotype of the tumours for melanocyte differentiation markers and cancer/testis antigens. Melanoma Res. 2003 13 595-601. 

Expression of cytokeratin, epithelial membrane antigen, CD99, and S-100 protein are potential diagnostic pitfalls in the distinction from metastatic or sarcomatoid carcinoma, EWS/PNET, synovial sarcoma, malignant melanoma, and other malignancies. 

Inunnnization of Malignant Melanoma Patients with Interleukin-2-Secreting Melanoma Cells Expressing Dehned Allogeneic Histocompatibility Antigens... 

Detection of Micrometastases and Circulating Tumor Cells of Malignant Melanoma by Amplification of mRNA of Melanoma-Associated Antigens Tyrosinase, P97, MUC-18, HMB45, Melan-A, MACE and CAGE Family Members... 

The GAGE gene family encodes another tumor-associated antigens expressed in many tumors such as malignant melanoma, neuroblastoma, and other carcinomas and sarcomas but not in normal tissue with the exception of testicular tissue. 

Houghton AN, Brooks H, Cote RJ, Taormina MC, Oettgen HF, Old LJ (1983) Detection of cell surface and intracellular antigens by human monoclonal antibodies. Hybrid cell lines derivedfrom lymphocytes of patients with malignant melanoma. J Exp Med 158 53-65... 

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