p16 + PRAME Multiplex IHC

p16 INK4a is a tumor suppressor protein involved in the pathogenesis of a variety of malignancies and is a 16.5 kDa protein expressed in the nucleoplasm of proliferating cells, functioning as an inhibitor of CDK4. Recent analyses of the p16INK4a gene revealed homozygous deletions, nonsense, missense, or frameshift mutations in several human cancers. p16 INK4a gene has been reported among melanomas, gliomas, esophageal, pancreatic, lung, and urinary bladder carcinomas (1,2). PRAME (preferentially expressed antigen in melanoma) is located on chromosome 22q11.22 and encodes a 509 amino acid protein. PRAME is an autosomal cancer-testis antigen (CTA) gene. PRAME is not only expressed in melanoma, but also various nonmelanocytic malignant neoplasms, including non-small cell lung cancer, breast carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma, ovarian carcinoma, leukemia, synovial sarcoma, and myxoid liposarcoma. Normal healthy tissues are not known to express PRAME except for testis, ovary, placenta, adrenals, and endometrium (3,4). An optimized antibody cocktail for p16 INK4a + PRAME may aid in the clear distinction between nodal nevi from nodal metastatic melanoma. p16 will be expressed in metastatic melanoma; while PRAME will be expressed in non-metastatic melanoma, and the two should not coexpress (5,6).

Specifications

1. LaPak KM, Burd CE. The molecular balancing act of p16(INK4a) in cancer and aging. Mol Cancer Res. 2014 Feb;12(2):167-83.
2. Ikenberg H, et al. Screening for cervical cancer precursors with p16/Ki-67 dual-stained cytology: results of the PALMS study. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2013;105 :1550–7.
3. Zhang W, et al. PRAME expression and promoter hypermethylation in epithelial ovarian cancer. Oncotarget. 2016 Jul; 7(29): 45352-45369.
4. Lezcano C, et al. PRAME expression in melanocytic tumors. Am J Surg Pathol. 2018 Nov; 42(11): 1456–1465.
5. See S, Finkelman B, Yeldandi A. Diagnostic Utility of p16 and PRAME in Differentiating Nodal Nevi from Nodal Metastatic Melanoma. Nature 2020; 33(2):499.
6. Serra S, Chetty R. p16. Journal of Clinical Pathology 2018;71: 853-858.
7. Center for Disease Control Manual. Guide: Safety Management, NO. CDC-22, Atlanta, GA. April 30, 1976 “Decontamination of Laboratory Sink Drains to Remove Azide Salts.”
8. Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). Protection of Laboratory Workers from Occupationally Acquired Infections; Approved Guideline-Fourth Edition CLSI document M29-A4 Wayne, PA 2014.