title: Immunohistochemical expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and C-KIT in cutaneous melanocytic lesions.
abstract: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and C-KIT are involved in tumor progression in several human neoplasms. The aim of the present study has been to investigate their immunohistochemical expression in melanocytic lesions. We examined 11 compound nevi, 12 dysplastic nevi, and 18 melanomas. Immunostaining for VEGF was observed only in melanomas; c-kit expression was detected in melanomas (higher in radial than in vertical growth phase) and in nevi (predominantly in the junctional component). Our data indicate that assessment of VEGF expression might aid in the differential diagnosis between dysplastic nevi and melanomas. Moreover, VEGF might be a candidate for targeted therapy. The loss of c-kit expression might contribute to melanoma progression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Ioannina, Medical School, 451 10, Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stefanou
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Batistatou
authors.forename: Aikaterini
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zioga
authors.forename: Evdokia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Arkoumani
authors.forename: Dionysios J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Papachristou
authors.forename: Niki J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Agnantis
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D002452:Cell Count; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004416:Dysplastic Nevus Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008545:Melanoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000378:metabolism*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit