The role of VEGF-C staining in predicting regional metastasis in melanoma.
Sentinel lymph node status is the most important prognostic factor in primary melanoma. The number of melanoma-associated lymphatic vessels has been associated with sentinel lymph node status and survival. Vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) is found to promote tumour-associated lymphatic vessel growth. In many human neoplasms, VEGF-C expression in neoplastic cells or tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs) has been linked to lymphatic dissemination of tumour cells. Recent studies have suggested a correlation between VEGF-C expression in primary melanoma and the presence of lymph node metastasis. We performed VEGF-C immunohistochemical staining on melanoma tissues of 113 patients with known sentinel lymph node status. We showed that both high VEGF-C expression in melanoma cells and TAMs are positively associated with the presence of a positive sentinel lymph node. No correlation with Breslow thickness, Clark invasion level or ulceration could be detected. VEGF-C expression in melanoma cells was predictive of a shorter overall and disease-free survival, without being an independent predictor of survival. Our results confirm that VEGF-C expression in primary cutaneous melanoma plays a role in the lymphatic spread of the tumour.
Boone
Barbara
B
Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Ghent, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium. barbara.boone@ugent.be
Blokx
Willeke
W
De Bacquer
Dirk
D
Lambert
Jo
J
Ruiter
Dirk
D
Brochez
Lieve
L
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012306:Risk; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / Q000032:analysis*
D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C