MOC-31/Ep-CAM immunoreactivity in Merkel cells and Merkel cell carcinomas
- 27 October 2003
- journal article
- Published by Wiley in Histopathology
- Vol. 43 (5), 480-484
- https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2559.2003.01727.x
Abstract
Aims: To evaluate the monoclonal antibody MOC‐31 in Merkel cell carcinomas and normal Merkel cells. Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare and aggressive tumour that occurs mainly in elderly individuals. The histological diagnosis of Merkel cell carcinoma can be difficult because it looks similar to other small blue cell tumours, particularly skin metastases of small‐cell lung carcinomas. This antibody recognizes the epithelial cell adhesion molecule (Ep‐CAM), that has been assigned to the small cell lung cancer cluster 2 of antibodies. To the best of our knowledge, immunostaining for MOC‐31/Ep‐CAM has not been previously described in Merkel cells or Merkel cell carcinomas. Methods and results: Thirty‐one cases of Merkel cell carcinoma and three samples of normal human fingertip were selected to analyse the expression of MOC‐31/Ep‐CAM by immunohistochemistry. A high number of Merkel cell carcinomas (21/31, 67.7%) showed intense and readily interpretable positivity. Immunostaining was diffuse or focal and always localized to the plasma membrane. Normal Merkel cells of human fingertip also showed plasma membrane immunoreactivity for MOC‐31/Ep‐CAM. Conclusion: The demonstration of positivity for MOC‐31/Ep‐CAM in Merkel cell carcinomas precludes the use of this immunohistochemical marker to distinguish between tumours and skin metastases of small‐cell lung carcinoma.Keywords
This publication has 30 references indexed in Scilit:
- Anti‐Hu antibodies in Merkel cell carcinomaAnnals of Neurology, 2002
- A Meta-analysis of the Prognostic Significance of Sentinel Lymph Node Status in Merkel Cell CarcinomaDermatologic Surgery, 2002
- Merkel Cell CarcinomaJournal of Clinical Oncology, 2002
- Immunohistochemical Analysis of Hepatocellular and Adenocarcinoma in the Liver: MOC31 Compares Favorably with Other Putative MarkersLaboratory Investigation, 2000
- OV 632 and MOC 31 in the diagnosis of mesothelioma and adenocarcinoma: an assessment of their use in formalin fixed and paraffin wax embedded material.Journal of Clinical Pathology, 1995
- Merkel cell carcinomaJournal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1993
- Antigens of Lung Cancer: Results of the Second International Workshop on Lung Cancer AntigensJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 1991
- Merkel Cell Carcinoma: The Clinical CourseAnnals of Plastic Surgery, 1990
- Primary Cutaneous Neuroendocrine Carcinoma (Merkel Cell Tumor)The American Journal of Dermatopathology, 1990
- Malignant Merkel-cell tumor is a more accurate description than trabecular carcinomaThe American Journal of Dermatopathology, 1982