Polo-like kinase-1 immunoreactivity is associated with metastases in cutaneous melanoma.

BACKGROUND

Polo-like kinase-1 (PLK-1) is one of the key regulators of cell cycle progression. Increased expression of PLK-1 was observed in several tumor types.

METHODS

We immunohistochemically assessed PLK-1 expression in neoplastic and stromal compartments of 96 cutaneous melanomas, and analyzed associations between PLK-1 expression and clinicopathological characteristics.

RESULTS

PLK-1 expression in cancer cells was not associated with basic clinical (eg, age, gender and tumor location) or histopathological (eg, Breslow thickness, mitotic rate and ulceration) parameters. However, increased PLK-1 was more frequent in tumors with concurrent regional nodal metastases and positive sentinel lymph node biopsy status. All primary tumors associated with co-existing distant metastases exhibited high PLK-1 expression in melanoma cells. Conversely, PLK-1 expression in stromal cells was more frequent in tumors without nodal metastases. PLK-1 expression in both compartments was not associated with survival.

CONCLUSION

PLK-1 expression is associated with metastatic potential in cutaneous melanoma.