Abstract
Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the immunohistochemical expression of Skp2 protein in 38 oral nevi and 11 primary oral melanomas. Study Design: Expression of this ubiquitin protein was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in 49 oral melanocytic lesions, including 38 intramucosal nevi and 11 primary oral melanomas. The labeling index (LI) was assessed considering the percentage of cells expressing nuclear positivity out of the total number of cells, counting 1000 cells per slide. Results: Skp2 protein was rarely expressed in intramucosal nevi, in contrast to oral melanomas, which showed high levels of this protein. Conclusion: These results indicate that Skp2 protein may play a role in the development and progression of oral melanomas, and it also could be useful as an immunohistochemical marker for differential diagnosis of oral benign and malignant melanocytic lesions. Key words:Oral melanoma, oral nevi, Skp2, cell cycle, immunohistochemistry.
Highlights
The transformation of melanocytes to melanoma cells involves abnormal cell proliferation associated with alterations in the cell cycle regulatory mechanisms [1]
These results indicate that Skp2 protein may play a role in the development and progression of oral melanomas, and it could be useful as an immunohistochemical marker for differential diagnosis of oral benign and malignant melanocytic lesions
Cell cycle progression is driven by an increase of Skp2, which is responsible for ubiquination of some cell cycle proteins such as cyclin E and p27 [4,5]
Summary
The transformation of melanocytes to melanoma cells involves abnormal cell proliferation associated with alterations in the cell cycle regulatory mechanisms [1]. Disruption of the mechanisms involved in protein synthesis and degradation can lead to abnormal cell proliferation and oncogenesis [3]. The ubiquitin ligase complex formed by Skp, Skp and cullin F-box (SCFSKP2) is required for direct ubiquination and proteolysis of p27 and other cell cycle regulatory proteins such as cyclin E and the transcription factor E2F-1, performing an S phase promoting function [4,5]. Recent studies have shown that Skp protein expression is implicated in cutaneous melanoma progression, and it may serve as a biomarker to detect pre-malignant and malignant lesions [3,9]. The immunohistochemical expression of Skp protein has not yet been studied in oral benign and malignant melanocytic lesions, and this is the objective of this study
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