title: Serum VEGF-C is associated with metastatic site in patients with malignant melanoma.
abstract: Vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) is involved in lymphatic metastatic spread. Metastatic site is a prognostic factor in melanoma. We assessed whether serum levels of VEGF-C are associated with metastatic sites or prognosis in patients treated for stage IV melanoma. The study included 64 patients, who received dacarbazine or four-drug chemotherapy (dacarbazine, vincristine, bleomycin and lomustine; BOLD) both combined with interferon-alfa. Serum samples for VEGF-C were analyzed by ELISA. The patients (n =22) with only skin and subcutaneous metastases had significantly lower mean VEGF-C levels (1 643 pg/ml) then the patients (n =42) with other distant metastases (2 584 pg/ml, Mann-Whitney, p =0.033). VEGF-C levels above the median (1 590 pg/ml) were significantly related to deep lymph node involvement (OR 3.763; 95% CI 1.038 - 13.646, p =0.034). There were no other significant associations between VEGF-C levels and tumour burden, nor were the levels significantly related to the response to therapy or survival. Those eight patients, who had received previous adjuvant IFN-alfa therapy had lower mean VEGF-C levels (1 738 pg/ml) as compared to those 56 patients without previous IFN-alfa therapy (2 335 pg/ml, ANOVA, p =0.026). This is the first study exploring serum VEGF-C in melanoma. VEGF-C might be involved in the deep lymphatic dissemination and progression of melanoma metastasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland. pia.vihinen@tyks.fi
authors.forename: Pia P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Vihinen
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hilli
authors.forename: Meri-Sisko
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Vuoristo
authors.forename: Kari J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Syrjänen
authors.forename: Veli-Matti
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Kähäri
authors.forename: Seppo O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Pyrhönen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C