A 1-cm margin of excision for melanoma with a poor prognosis (as defined by a tumor thickness of at least 2 mm) is associated with a significantly greater risk of regional recurrence than is a 3-cm margin, but with a similar overall survival rate.

In Scotland the incidence of melanoma in women has stabilised, while mortality associated with melanoma in women shows a downward trend.

Background beta-Catenin is a crucial member of the E-cadherin/catenin complex, which plays a major role in cell-cell adhesion. beta-Catenin is also known to be involved in signal transduction pathways. Many studies have demonstrated changes in the expression of beta-catenin in colorectal carcinomas, suggesting a role for beta-catenin in neoplastic development. Objectives Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is a locally invasive tumour. The various subtypes show differences in biological behaviour. This study aimed to investigate the presence of differences in the immunoprofile of beta-catenin among histological variants of BCC. Methods Eighty BCCs were studied (32 nodular, 7 micronodular, 24 superficial and 17 infiltrative and morphoeic). Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections were stained for beta-catenin using the avidin/biotin immunodetection technique. Results All the nodular BCCs showed membranous and weak cytoplasmic staining. Nuclear staining was seen in 15 of 32 (47%) cases, being stronger at the periphery of the nodules in 11 of 15 (73%) of these cases. In superficial BCCs the membranous staining was variable and cytoplasmic staining was increased. Nuclear staining was seen in 16 of 24 (67%) cases, being more notable at the periphery in 8 of 16 (50%) of these cases. All micronodular BCCs showed strong membranous staining, weak cytoplasmic and no nuclear staining. In the infiltrative and morphoeic BCCs membranous staining was completely lost at the advancing margins of the invading cell strands, with a marked increase in cytoplasmic staining; nuclear staining was observed in all these tumours. Conclusions The expression of beta-catenin varied between different types of BCC. Nuclear localization was most notable in the infiltrative and morphoeic variants, followed by the superficial variant, and seen least in nodular BCC. Its prominence at tumour margins suggests that this may be associated with more aggressive types of invasion.

One hundred seventy-five consecutive patients with soft tissue sarcoma of the limb and limb girdle were studied using univariate and multivariate analysis. The most important factor determining risk of local recurrence was the quality of treatment of the primary tumor, with wide or radical surgery plus radical radiotherapy obtaining the best local control. Tumor size, site, and histologic grade were not predictive of local recurrence. The important tumor variables predicting survival were tumor size at first presentation and histologic grade. Tumors with greater than 10 cm greatest diameter and high-grade tumors carried a poor prognosis. Local recurrence was significantly associated with reduced survival, but only when (correctly) considered as a time-dependent variable in multivariate analysis. Irradiation was also significantly associated with poor survival. Review of the literature indicates that local recurrence is believed to have little influence on survival. Since the relevant randomized controlled trials have been small, the evidence is inconclusive.

Ephrin-A1, formerly called B61, is a new melanoma growth factor; it is angiogenic and chemoattractant for endothelial cells. EPH-A2, or ECK (a receptor for ephrin-A1), is ectopically expressed in most melanoma cell lines; the pathology where this expression is first manifested and the possible role of the receptor in tumor progression are unknown. To determine these, we studied the expression of this ligand and receptor in biopsies of benign and malignant melanocytic lesions. EPH-A2 was not detected in normal melanocytes, benign compound nevi or advanced melanomas, though it was found in 2 of 9 biopsies of malignant melanoma in situ. Ephrin-A1 was present in occasional early lesions and in advanced primary melanomas (43%) and metastatic melanomas (67%). Expression of ephrin-A1 was induced in mela-