Loss of heterozygosity at 12p13 and loss of p27KIP1 protein expression contribute to melanoma progression

Little is known about the mechanisms causing p27KIP1 decrease in melanomas. Therefore, we performed loss of heterozygosity (LOH) analysis with polymerase chain reaction at seven different loci surrounding the p27KIP1/CDKN1B gene at 12p13 and direct DNA sequencing analysis of all exons. Furthermore, the immunohistochemical expression of p27KIP1 and Ki-67 was investigated. Only two mutations in the sequence of p27KIP1/CDKN1B were detected, but the number of tumours showing LOH at 12p13 increased significantly with the parameters of tumour progression (pT level, P=0.018; Breslow index, P=0.01; Clark level, P<0.001), with a more aggressive tumour growth (radial versus vertical growth, P=0.018) and tumour subtype (superficial spreading melanomas versus nodular melanomas versus metastases, P<0.001). p27KIP1 protein expression decreased with the Clark level (P=0.026) and the pT level (P=0.045). No correlation between LOH affecting 12p13 and p27KIP1 protein decrease in melanomas was stated. This does not exclude the participation of p27KIP1/CDKN1B in p27KIP1 protein decrease, since protein expression is regulated at various cellular levels; but it could also suggest that other tumour suppressors are situated in the same region as p27KIP1/CDKN1B. Taken together, our data shows that loss of p27KIP1 protein expression and LOH at 12p13 contribute to tumour progression in melanoma.Part of this work was presented at the XXIVth International Congress of the International Academy of Pathology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, October 2002 and published in abstract form (Histopathology 2002 41[Suppl 1]:144–145). This work is part of S.H.s doctoral thesis