Alpha-v-beta3 integrin expression in melanocytic nevi and cutaneous melanoma.
BACKGROUND
Alpha-v-beta3 integrin (alphavbeta3) is a vitronectin ligand and plays an important role in melanoma progression.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the study was to evaluate the expression of alphavbeta3 in superficial spreading cutaneous melanoma, in both conventional and tissue microarray (TMA) paraffin-embedded-tissue specimens, and correlate with histopathological variables and patient survival.


METHODS
A total of 159 tissue samples from compound nevi (n = 19), in situ melanoma (n = 5), thin melanoma (n = 34), thick melanoma (n = 72) and metastatic melanoma (n = 29) were studied.


RESULTS
Compound nevus epithelioid cells had a mild expression of alphavbeta3. In situ melanoma cells had the highest expression among all specimens, when compared to nevi (p = 0.0000) and to invasive melanoma (p = 0.0003). Expression of alphavbeta3 did not differ according to depth of invasion or did it increase in metastatic cells.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggested that alphavbeta3 integrin might have no impact on melanoma behavior. However, high levels of alphavbeta3-integrin expression for in situ melanoma may be related to pre-invasive phenotype with marked potential to invade.
Neto
Dante Simionato
DS
Centro de Tratamento e Pesquisa Hospital do Cancer A. C. Camargo, Rua Professor Antonio Prudente, 211, São Paulo, São Paulo 01509-900, Brazil.
Pantaleão
Luciana
L
de Sá
Bianca Costa Soares
BC
Landman
Gilles
G
D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D039302:Integrin alphaVbeta3 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008545:Melanoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009508:Nevus, Pigmented / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D046888:Tissue Array Analysis
D039302:Integrin alphaVbeta3