title: Bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP7) expression is a potential novel prognostic marker for recurrence in patients with primary melanoma.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether protein expression of bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP7) is associated with clinico-pathologic characteristics in benign and malignant melanocytic skin tumors. Tissue microarrays (TMAs) were used to analyze BMP7 expression and the Ki-67 labeling index immunohistochemically. Expression was scored semi quantitatively (0-2+). BMP7 protein expression of any intensity (1+-2+) was detected in 50.2% (153/305) of informative cases. In general, BMP7 expression was significantly induced in malignant melanomas (P< 0.001) and melanoma metastases (P< 0.001), compared to benign nevi. Additionally, expression of BMP7 in primary melanomas was associated with Ki-67 labeling index > 5% suggesting that induction of BMP7 expression is associated with proliferation (P=0.028). None of the other clinical and histological factors analyzed was significantly related to BMP7 expression. Interestingly, lymph node metastases demonstrated a significantly higher BMP7 expression compared to skin metastases (P<0.01). Strong BMP7 expression (score 2+) was significantly associated with shorter tumor recurrence (P< 0.05). In summary, induction of BMP7 expression is frequent in melanomas and may serve as a novel prognostic marker of progression in melanoma patients.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Tanja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rothhammer
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Wild
authors.forename: Stefanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: Frauke
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bataille
authors.forename: Armin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pauer
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Klinkhammer-Schalke
authors.forename: Rüdiger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hein
authors.forename: Ferdinand
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hofstaedter
authors.forename: Anja K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Bosserhoff
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D055419:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011379:Prognosis; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D046888:Tissue Array Analysis; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: C525819:BMP7 protein, human; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D055419:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta