Tyrosinase gene expression in clear cell sarcoma indicates a melanocytic origin: insight from the first reported canine case

Cangul İ. T., Van Garderen E., Van der Poel H., Weijer K., Misdorp W.

APMIS, vol.107, no.11, pp.982-988, 1999 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 107 Issue: 11
  • Publication Date: 1999
  • Doi Number: 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1999.tb01500.x
  • Journal Name: APMIS
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.982-988
  • Keywords: clear cell sarcoma, tyrosinase, canine, POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION, MALIGNANT-MELANOMA, REVERSE-TRANSCRIPTASE, PERIPHERAL-BLOOD, MOUSE, DIFFERENTIATION, PROTEIN, TUMORS, RNA
  • Bursa Uludag University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

The aim of this study was to characterize a metastasizing soft tissue tumor in a dog, which clinically, grossly and histologically showed a close resemblance to human clear cell sarcoma, a soft tissue variant of malignant melanoma. Ultrastructurally, melanosomes were found, indicating a melanocytic origin of the tumor. Using reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction, expression of the gene encoding tyrosinase was determined in tumor cells. With this first case of canine clear cell sarcoma, as well as the earlier report from our laboratory on amelanotic melanomas in the cat, we demonstrate that expression of the tyrosinase gene may occur in a broader range of less differentiated melanocytic tumors in different species, including man.