Heavily Pigmented Epithelioid Melanoma With Loss of Protein Kinase A Regulatory Subunit-α Expression

The American Journal of Dermatopathology
Jarish N CohenTimothy H McCalmont

Abstract

Heavily pigmented melanocytic neoplasms are genotypically and phenotypically diverse. Recently, a subset of this histopathologic spectrum was shown to harbor recurrent genetic alterations in the gene-encoding protein kinase A regulatory subunit-α (PRKAR1A). To date, no histopathologic descriptions of melanomas arising from this pathway have been described. We present a case of a darkly pigmented papule arising on the posterior neck of a 28-year-old man. Microscopically, the heavily pigmented compound melanocytic proliferation was centered in the dermis with permeation into the superficial subcutis. Tumor cells were arranged in large confluent nests and fascicles and lacked maturation with descent. The epithelioid melanocytes were characterized by enlarged vesicular nuclei with prominent nucleoli, nuclear pleomorphism, and plentiful gray-brown granular cytoplasm. Mitotic figures were readily identified. By immunohistochemistry, melanocytes were positive for mutant BRAF V600E and showed loss of Prkar1α and p16 expression. A multiplex MART-1/tyrosinase/phosophohistone-H3 immunostain demonstrated an increased mitotic index in melanocytes. The combination of highly atypical cytomorphology and architecture, increased mitoses, and p16...Continue Reading

References

Jul 14, 2004·The American Journal of Dermatopathology·Dmitry V KazakovMichal Michal
Apr 24, 2007·Journal of Cutaneous Pathology·Darin S EpsteinLoren E Golitz
Sep 24, 2009·The American Journal of Surgical Pathology·Rajni V MandalArtur Zembowicz
Jul 24, 2012·Cell·Eran HodisLynda Chin
Jul 31, 2012·Nature Genetics·Michael KrauthammerRuth Halaban
Jan 28, 2014·Annual Review of Pathology·Boris C Bastian
Apr 5, 2014·The American Journal of Surgical Pathology·Klaus J BusamThomas Wiesner
Jun 20, 2015·Cell·UNKNOWN Cancer Genome Atlas Network
Nov 13, 2015·The New England Journal of Medicine·A Hunter ShainBoris C Bastian
Apr 15, 2017·Modern Pathology : an Official Journal of the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology, Inc·Klaus G GriewankDirk Schadendorf
Aug 11, 2017·The American Journal of Surgical Pathology·Jarish N CohenPhilip E LeBoit
Sep 25, 2017·Nature Communications·Iwei YehArnaud de la Fouchardière

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Jul 4, 2019·The American Journal of Dermatopathology·Jarish N CohenPhilip E LeBoit
Jul 20, 2020·Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology·Erik A WilliamsJulie Y Tse
May 6, 2021·The American Journal of Surgical Pathology·Andrea Saggini
May 24, 2021·Surgical Pathology Clinics·Sarah BentonPedram Gerami

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.