title: L1 adhesion molecule (CD 171) in development and progression of human malignant melanoma.
abstract: The L1 adhesion molecule (CD171) plays an important role in axon guidance and cell migration in the nervous system. In the human, L1 is expressed on tumors derived from neurocrest and on certain carcinomas. We have analyzed immunohistochemically L1 expression on paraffin embedded specimens of acquired melanocytic nevi, primary cutaneous melanomas, and cutaneous and lymph node metastases of malignant melanomas. We found an increase in L1 immunoreactivity in malignant melanomas and metastases of malignant melanomas as compared to acquired melanocytic nevi that was statistically significant (P<0.05). Additionally, a correlation of L1 immunoreactivity with histological data of prognostic value such as Clark level and the expression of alphav-integrins was found. We detected soluble L1 in the conditioned medium of cultivated melanoma cells but only in 1/40 serum samples from a panel of melanoma patients representing various stages of disease. Our findings suggest that the presence of L1 might contribute to tumor progression by promoting cell adhesion and migration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Kaplan Hospital, Rehovot, Israel.
authors.forename: Mina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fogel
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mechtersheimer
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Huszar
authors.forename: Asya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Smirnov
authors.forename: Adel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abu-Dahi
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tilgen
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reichrath
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Georg
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Altevogt
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gutwein
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007642:Keratosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008545:Melanoma / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology* / Q000556:secondary; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D039842:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule L1 / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D009508:Nevus, Pigmented / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D012995:Solubility; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D039842:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule L1