title: Immunoreactivity of glycoprotein IIb is present in metastasized but not in non-metastasized primary malignant melanoma.
abstract: Glycoprotein IIb-IIIa (integrin alpha IIb beta3) is an adhesive receptor involved in platelet aggregation and adhesion to the extracellular matrix. Previous studies showed the presence of IIb-IIIa-like glycoproteins on cells of melanoma cell lines and on cells of lymph node metastases. This study evaluates the presence of glycoprotein IIb-IIIa subunits on cells of primary cutaneous malignant melanomas with (n = 4) and without (n = 9) metastases over a period of 6 years and on naevus cells (n = 4). Monoclonal antibodies directed against the subunits of the glycoprotein IIb-IIIa receptor were used on paraffin-embedded sections and evaluated by means of immunohistochemistry. The glycoprotein IIb subunit was exclusively present on cells of metastatic melanomas. It was not found on non-metastatic melanomas or benign melanocytes. These data favour the role of the integrin receptor glycoprotein IIb-IIIa in the metastatic behaviour of malignant melanomas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Technical University, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Puerschel
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gawaz
authors.forename: W I
authors.initials: WI
authors.lastname: Worret
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ring
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000556:secondary; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000556:secondary; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000556:secondary; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000276:immunology; D008545:Melanoma / Q000276:immunology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019039:Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex / Q000032:analysis*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000556:secondary*
chemical_list: D019039:Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex