Immunohistochemical determination of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) overexpression in malignant melanoma.
BACKGROUND
Molecular changes associated with the transition of melanoma cells from radial to vertical growth phase are not defined. To evaluate the role of VEGF in melanogenesis and determine its possible diagnostic and prognostic implications, we analyzed overexpression of VEGF in 202 cases of melanoma.


METHODS
Overexpression of VEGF was evaluated in 202 archival paraffin-embedded tissue specimens using an avidin-biotin immunohistochemical (IHC) assay.


RESULTS
Of the 202 melanoma specimens, 42 (20.8%) showed evidence of VEGF overexpression on IHC testing. Multivariate analysis performed using Cox proportional hazards method did not show a statistically significant survival difference between the VEGF-positive and negative groups (p = 0.25).


CONCLUSIONS
Although of no significant prognostic value, VEGF may have critical therapeutic implications as a molecular target since it is expressed in about 20% of melanomas. The role of target-specific therapies against VEGF in malignant melanoma warrants further investigations.
Potti
Anil
A
Department of Medicine, Division of Oncology, University of North Dakota School of Medicine, Fargo, ND 58102, USA. apotti@medicine.nodak.edu
Moazzam
Nauman
N
Tendulkar
Ketki
K
Javed
Nazia Ali
NA
Koch
Michael
M
Kargas
Steve
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A