title: Expression of interleukin-8 detected by in situ hybridization correlates with worse prognosis in primary cutaneous melanoma.
abstract: Previous in vitro studies have demonstrated that endogenously produced human interleukin-8 (IL-8) can act as an important growth factor for human melanoma cells in vitro. The present study, has investigated whether IL-8 mRNA expression in primary melanomas may be of prognostic relevance with regard to melanoma progression and metastatic spread. In order to evaluate the clinical significance of IL-8 mRNA expression of melanoma cells in vivo, 59 melanocytic tissue specimens (37 primary melanomas and 22 melanocytic naevi) were studied using a semiquantitative in situ hybridization technique. Significant mRNA expression of IL-8 was found in 59 per cent (22/37) of melanomas. In 19 per cent (7/37) of the malignant melanomas, additional hybridization signals were noted within keratinocytes of the overlying epidermis. In contrast, paralesional normal-appearing epidermis and melanocytes in non-malignant lesions (melanocytic naevi) showed no IL-8 mRNA. Analysis of the relationship between IL-8 expression and clinico-histopathological features showed a significant association between IL-8 mRNA expression and the histological melanoma subtype (IL-8 mRNA: 14/19 in superficial spreading melanoma versus 4/12 in nodular melanoma, p< 0.05). Furthermore, IL-8 expression in primary tumours could be correlated with the patients' clinical course, with time to progression being significantly reduced in primary tumours expressing IL-8 in either the tumour cells or keratinocytes of the overlying epidermis. These results demonstrate for the first time that IL-8 expression, as detected by in situ hybridization in primary tumours, may serve as a significant prognostic factor for tumour progression in human malignant melanoma.
authors.affiliation: Hautkliniken der Charité, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Nürnberg
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tobias
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Otto
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Henz
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schadendorf
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D016209:Interleukin-8; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger