Trial Information

Immunohistochemical Analysis of Melanocytes in Sun-Exposed Skin

For each study participant we recorded their age, sex, state they lived in, tumor type,
tumor location, recent sun exposure (during the two weeks prior to the surgery), whether or
not a follicle was present on the slide, and if so the follicular extension (mm) from the
granular layer, presence of atypia, nesting, pagetoid spread. Two slides were obtained; one
stained with Mart-1; the other with H&E. For both, melanocyte counts per high power field
(400 X HPF magnification) were obtained in three locations of the slide. The mean of the 3
counts was used for analysis, though the individual counts were considered in some data
summaries (see below). Classification of photo-aging according to the Glogau scale was
noted by the surgeon as type1: "no wrinkles"; type II "wrinkles in motion"; type III
"wrinkles at rest" and type IV "only wrinkles." Confluence was categorized by the number of
adjacent melanocytes as none, mild (2 side-by-side), moderate (3-6), or severe (7 or more).