Expression of apoptotic proteins in cutaneous melanoma

• Grant number: 07/08068-2
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: March 01, 2008
• End date: February 28, 2010
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Pathological Anatomy and Clinical Pathology
• Principal Investigator: Gilles Landman
• Grantee: Gilles Landman
• Host Institution: Hospital A C Camargo. Fundação Antonio Prudente (FAP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Apoptotic mechanisms may be involved in oncogenesis. Abnormal apoptosis proteins have been described in melanomas. Overexpression of Bcl-2 (anti- apoptotic protein) and under expression of Bak and Bax (pro-apoptotic proteins) have been related to unfavorable prognosis. Purpose: to evaluate the expression of apoptotic proteins (APAF-1, Bcl-2, Bak, Bax, Caspase 9, Caspase 3, Fas-L and Caspase 8) in cutaneous melanoma, and to correlate the results with demographic, clinical and survival data. Material and method: melanomas of 60 patients, with at least 2 years of follow-up, will be evaluated. The immunohistochemical expression of apoptotic proteins will be evaluated in paraffin embedded primary melanomas. Demographic, clinical and survival data will be obtained from the patient charts. The protein expression will be correlated to survival data through Kaplan-Meyer curves and the comparison of curves will be evaluated through log-rank test. (AU)