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

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.