title: Investigation of oestrogen receptors, sex steroids and soluble adhesion molecules in the progression of malignant melanoma.
abstract: The question of whether melanoma tumours have classical oestrogen receptors (ERs) is unresolved, but epidemiological data clearly show a survival benefit for female patients with metastatic melanoma. The aims of this study were to examine to what extent the presence of ER in melanoma tumours might relate to disease progression and whether disease progression relates to patients' sex steroid status. Additionally, levels of two soluble adhesion molecules [circulating intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and circulating vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1)] were examined as independent, possibly prognostic indicators of disease progression. ER immunocytochemical assay identified only two lesions (out of 69 investigated) which had any evidence of the receptors, and staining in these lesions was very modest. No significant changes in oestrone or androstenedione levels were noted for male or female patients with disease progression. As expected, oestradiol levels reflected the menopausal status of the female patients but, for all post-menopausal female patients and male patients, there was no significant relationship to tumour stage. However, a significant decrease in sex hormone-binding globulin occurred with disease progression in male but not female patients, and sex differences in the levels of soluble adhesion molecules were also seen in advanced metastatic disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Burns Surgery, Northern General Hospital, Sheffield, UK.
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gee
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Price
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Garbe
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mac Neil
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000097:blood*; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D018450:Disease Progression; D004970:Estrone / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D004970:Estrone; D000735:Androstenedione