• All IHC stains will include a positive control tissue

• NkI/C-3 reacts with melanoma, nevocellular nevi, carcinoids, and medullary thyroid carcinoma
• NkI/C-3 reacts with some normal tissues, including mast cells, histiocytes, salivary glands, bronchial glands, pancreatic and prostatic epithelium
• NkI/C-3 has been identified in other tumors including prostate, breast, ovarian and lung carcinomas
• Staining in non-melanoma tumors is usually only focal or atypical in contrast to diffuse or peripheral staining of melanocytic lesions
• Due to its lack of specificity, NkI/C-3 should only be used in a panel with other melanoma markers (S100 and HMB45) and epithelial markers (CK or EMA)
• One report showed strong positive staining with NkI/C-3 in atypical fibroxanthomas and DFSPs1. It should be noted however that all of these tumors were negative for S100 and HMB45

Submit a formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded tissue block

Formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissue block

FFPE tissue section mounted on a charged, unstained slide

Ambient (preferred)

• Unlabeled/mislabeled block
• Insufficient tissue
• Slides broken beyond repair

Immunohistochemical staining and microscopic examination

If requested, an interpretive report will be provided

Specifications

• Melanoma-associated antigen that recognizes a glycoprotein located primarily in the inner side of cytoplasmic vesicles in melanoma cells

Staining pattern

• Cytoplasmic based staining
• Sometimes peripherally near the cell membrane

References

1. Chan et. al. Immunohistochemical Characterization of Atypical Fibroxanthoma and Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans; American Journal of Clinical Pathology; 97:478-483, 1992