title: Emergence of alpha 5 beta 1 fibronectin- and alpha v beta 3 vitronectin-receptor expression in melanocytic tumour progression.
abstract: Cell adhesion is crucial in the process of tumour progression. As integrins are important receptor molecules involved in cell adhesion, we studied the distribution of the alpha 1-6, alpha v, alpha IIb, beta 1, beta 3, and beta 4 integrin subunits in tissue sections of common naevocellular naevi (n = 22), dysplastic naevi (16), thin (24) and thick primary cutaneous melanomas (28), and melanoma metastases (25). We found correlated expression of alpha 1/alpha 2, of alpha 4/alpha 5/beta 3, and of alpha 6/beta 4. Decrease of alpha 6 and beta 4, and increase of alpha 4 and alpha v were found to be correlated with melanoma progression. Furthermore, expression of alpha 5 and beta 3 was detected only in primary melanoma and melanoma metastasis. Our findings indicate that during melanoma progression alterations in integrin expression occur, the most striking being emergence of alpha 5 beta 1 fibronectin and alpha v beta 3 vitonectin receptor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University Hospital Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: E H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Danen
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Ten Berge
authors.forename: G N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Van Muijen
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Van 't Hof-Grootenboer
authors.forename: E B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Bröcker
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Ruiter
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016023:Integrins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008545:Melanoma / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000556:secondary; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000503:physiopathology; D009506:Nevus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D016024:Receptors, Cytoadhesin / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D017469:Receptors, Fibronectin; D019030:Receptors, Vitronectin; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D016023:Integrins; D016024:Receptors, Cytoadhesin; D017469:Receptors, Fibronectin; D019030:Receptors, Vitronectin