Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor-C in primary cutaneous melanoma predicts sentinel lymph node positivity.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C), a lymphatic vessel growth factor, has been involved in the formation of lymph nodal metastases in different tumor types. Early evidences indicate that VEGF-C expression in human primary melanoma could be predictive of lymph nodal metastases, whereas the role of lymphangiogenesis is still controversial.

METHODS:

By immunohistochemical analysis, we investigated VEGF-C or CC chemokine receptor 7 expression, together with the lymphatic and blood vessel network, in 36 patients with primary skin melanomas and metastases at the sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLN-positive), and 26 melanoma patients with negative SLN biopsy (SLN-negative).

RESULTS:

We found that VEGF-C expression in primary melanoma specimens was significantly associated with SLN-positive (p < 0.001), particularly in thin melanomas. An association between augmented peritumoral lymphatic vessel area and SLN-positive (p < 0.02) was also seen. Conversely, no association between either expression of the CC chemokine receptor 7 in the primary tumor, or intratumoral lymphatic vessel or peritumoral and intratumoral blood vessel area, and SLN-positive was found.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our results, taking into account the expression of either VEGF-C or related histopathological markers, indicated the possibility to use VEGF-C immunohistochemistry as a marker of metastatic progression, especially in thin cutaneous melanomas.

• Authors: Francesca Cianfarani, Simona Mastroeni, Teresa Odorisio, Francesca Passarelli, Caterina Cattani, Thomas J Mannooranparampil, Cristina Fortes, Cristina M Failla
• Journal: Journal of cutaneous pathology (J Cutan Pathol) Vol. 39 Issue 9 Pg. 826-34 (Sep 2012) ISSN: 1600-0560 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 22804631 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

Chemical References

• Biomarkers, Tumor
• CCR7 protein, human
• Receptors, CCR7
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Biomarkers, Tumor (biosynthesis)
• Female
• Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
• Humans
• Lymphatic Metastasis
• Male
• Melanoma (metabolism, pathology)
• Middle Aged
• Receptors, CCR7 (biosynthesis)
• Retrospective Studies
• Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy
• Skin Neoplasms (metabolism, pathology)
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C (biosynthesis)