Immunocytochemical detection of MART-1 in fresh and paraffin-embedded malignant melanomas

MART-1 is a transmembrane protein that appears to be melanocyte specific. This study evaluated the use of a new monoclonal antibody, directed against MART-1, in fresh and paraffin-embedded specimens. Twenty-three paraffin-embedded tumors were evaluated for MART-1 immunoreactivity both before and after microwave-based antigen retrieval. After this comparison, 53 fine-needle aspirates from 43 patients with malignant melanoma were assessed for MART-1 immunoreactivity. Immunocytochemistry was performed on both cytospins and paraffin-embedded tissues that were pretreated with antigen retrieval. Seventeen (74%) of 23 tumors evaluated for immunoreactivity before and after antigen retrieval showed a significant increase in both staining intensity and the number of cells stained. When cytospins and antigen-retrieved cell blacks from 53 fine-needle aspirates were compared, 38 (72%) showed good correlation. In 13 (25%) of 53 tumors, MART-1 immunoreactivity was more intense in the cytospins, although the differences were marked in only two cases. Microwave-based antigen retrieval renders paraffin-embedded tissues nearly as sensitive as fresh material for use in the immunocytochemical detection of MART-1. This technique will allow the evaluation of MART-1 immunoreactivity in archival malignant melanomas.