Fascin-1 expression in canine cutaneous and oral melanocytic tumours.

Fascin-1 expression was examined in 9 cutaneous melanocytomas and 47 oral melanomas. The cases were scored on the basis of extent and intensity of staining, and combined scores were calculated. Fascin-1 expression was observed in 5/9 (56%) melanocytomas and 46/47 (98%) melanomas. The combined score for fascin-1 was significantly greater in stage III/IV melanomas than in stage I/II melanomas (P < 0.05). In addition, strong fascin-1 staining was associated with a significantly shortened survival time (P < 0.05). The results of this study suggest that fascin-1 overexpression correlates with the malignancy of canine melanoma and has the potential to be a new immunohistochemical marker to predict the clinical course of canine melanoma. In addition, targeted therapy for fascin-1 may represent a new strategy for the treatment of canine melanoma.