Comparison of the effects of C-KIT, MMP-2, Ki- 7, Bcl-2 and metallothionein expression on prognostic factors in skin and non-skin malignant melanomas

We aimed at the relationship between selected prognostic factors of multiple myeloma (MM), 1) C-KIT (CD117), which is related to MM pathogenesis. In this study, 30 skin and 15 non-skin MMM cases diagnosed between January 01, 2000 and June 01, 2011 in SCU-TF Medical Pathology Department were examined. C-Kit, MMP-2, Ki-67, Bcl-2 and MT markers were applied to these cases. When comparing the skin and non-skin groups, the difference between Ki-67 and MMP-2 expressions was found to be statistically significant, but no significant difference was found in staining with c-Kit, MT and bcl-2. It was thought that high MMP-2, C-KIT, bcl-2 expressions and high Ki-67 index as well as loss of MT expression might be associated with poor prognosis. Despite the high level of KIT immunostaining in melanomas, this parameter does not appear to be a good predictor of the presence of molecular mutations. Mutations that activate KIT should be considered a rare event in this tumor.

Keywords: bcl-2, c-KIT, kellgren-lawrence staging system (KLSS), Ki-67, malignant melanoma, metallothionein, MMP-2, prognostic factors