The correlation of angiogenesis with metastasis in primary cutaneous melanoma: a comparative analysis of microvessel density, expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and basic fibroblastic growth factor.
OBJECTIVE
To establish whether there is a correlation between angiogenesis and metastasis in primary cutaneous melanoma (PCMM).


METHODS
We studied the microvessel density and the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblastic growth factor (bFGF) in 22 cases of PCMM with metastasis at presentation (metastatic group) and 28 cases of PCMM without metastasis for 24 months or more (non-metastatic group). Microvessels were stained with CD31/PECAM-1 antibody and counted. We assessed the proportion of VEGF expression in tumour cells, lymphocytes infiltrating the tumour (TIL) and lymphocytes at the periphery of the tumour, as well as the proportion of bFGF expression in tumour cell cytoplasms, nuclei and intra- and peritumoral vessels.


RESULTS
An increased microvessel density was detected in the metastatic group (15-33 [24.09 +/- 5.55] versus 2-24 [12.96 +/- 6.02]). Moreover, enhanced expression of VEGF in tumour cells and peritumoral lymphocytes (Chi-square p = 0.038 and p = 0.018) and bFGF in peritumoral vessels (chi(2) p = 0.013) correlated with the simultaneous presence of melanoma metastasis in PCMM. Furthermore, microvessel density was correlated with the expression of bFGF in peritumoral vessels (rs = 0.53, p = 0.049) and VEGF in tumour cells (rs = 0.37, p = 0.019).


CONCLUSIONS
Microvessel density as well as the expression of both VEGF and bFGF might be informative concerning the progression of melanoma.
Department of Pathology, Cerrahpaşa Medical Faculty, University of Istanbul, Turkey. cdemirkesen@yahoo.com
Cuyan
C
Demirkesen
Nur
N
Büyükpinarbaşili
Rana
R
Ramazanoğlu
Oya
O
Oğuz
Nil Molinas
NM
Mandel
Gültekin
G
Kaner
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000098:blood supply*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2