title: Lymphatic vessel density is significantly increased in melanoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Melanoma is well known for its ability to involve regional lymph nodes in the early stage. However, the presence of lymphangiogenesis in melanoma is still controversial due to lack of lymphatic-specific markers. The purpose of this study was to determine the intra- and peritumoral lymphatic vessel density (LVD) using a novel lymphatic vessel-specific marker D2-40 and compare it to general vessel density (GVD) as determined by CD31 immunostaining in a series of melanocytic lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  The intra- and peritumoral GVD and LVD were examined by immunohistochemistry using D2-40 and CD31 antibodies in a series of melanocytic lesions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found significantly higher intratumoral LVD in melanomas as compared to either common acquired or dysplastic nevi (p < 0.01). Although peritumoral LVD in melanoma and malignant melanoma in situ was higher compared to nevi, the difference did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.059). There was no significant difference in GVD among the various groups of melanocytic lesions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results show that intratumoral LVD is significantly increased in melanomas compared to benign nevi. The higher intratumoral lymphatic density in invasive melanomas suggests that melanoma cells might promote lymphangiogenesis. In addition, assessment of intratumoral LVD may be potentially useful in the differential diagnosis of melanocytic lesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Giorgadze
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pasha
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Coogan
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Acs
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Elder
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D042601:Lymphatic Vessels / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008545:Melanoma / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D009506:Nevus / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015415:Biomarkers; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1