Use of endogenous pigment analytes to assess the invasive potential of superficial skin melanomas

Cutaneous melanoma, which accounts for 72-80% of all diagnosed tumors developing from melanin-producing tissue, is an example of a malignancy whose initiation and development, with rare exceptions, are associated with the realization of endogenous pigmentations in the morphological substrate of the tumor. However, the existing diagnostic paradigm for superficial cutaneous melanomas does not take into account the significance of endogenous pigmentations in assessing the tumor's invasive capacity. This article examines the relationship between changes in the biochemical composition of superficial cutaneous melanomas and their invasive capacity, as well as the possibility of using this relationship in melanoma diagnostics. A comparative pathomorphological, ultrastructural, and spectroscopic study of 128 samples of superficial spreading melanoma removed during radical surgical excision was conducted. A higher frequency and diversity of endogenous pigment analytes were detected during the horizontal phase of tumor growth compared to the vertical phase. Diagnostically significant analytes included carotenoid pigments (p=0.02257), porphyrin (p=0.09080), and melanin precursors tyrosine (p=0.01554) and phenylalanine (p=0.01753). The use of a comprehensive pathomorphological and spectroscopic study and multiplex analysis of the obtained results made it possible to simultaneously identify a significant number of statistically confirmed endogenous pigment analytes in superficial melanoma skin samples. These analytes have diagnostic value in assessing the invasive capacity of superficial melanomas.

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