title: Possible implications of MCAM expression in metastasis and non-metastatic of primary uveal melanoma patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the expression of melanoma cell adhesion molecule (MCAM) as prognostic factor in uveal melanoma patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Paraffin sections from 35 primary uveal melanomas were analyzed immunhistochemically for the expression of MCAM. Further known prognostic factors such as cell type, ciliary body invasion, tumor stage, and local extension were evaluated. In 16 cases, patients had developed metastatic disease. The patients without metastasis (n = 19) had a mean follow-up of 10.6 (9-13) years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All tumors were positive for MCAM (mean: 57.05%). In the group without metastasis, an average MCAM expression of 35.37% (SD 19.66%) compared to 82.78% (SD 11.73%) in the metastasis group was found. The Cox regression analysis showed a significant association of an enhanced MCAM expression and death due to metastasis (HR: 365.48, 95% CI: 18.51, 7217.85).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MCAM expression of primary uveal melanomas can serve as a possible prognostic parameter for metastasis. If further experiments approve the cellular adhesion molecules to account for early micrometastasis of tumor cells, a possible target might be available for future treatment.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.
authors: Julia
authors: J
authors: Beutel
authors: Jürgen
authors: J
authors: Wegner
authors: Rayime
authors: R
authors: Wegner
authors: Focke
authors: F
authors: Ziemssen
authors: Khaled
authors: K
authors: Nassar
authors: Jens Martin
authors: JM
authors: Rohrbach
authors: Ralf-Dieter
authors: RD
authors: Hilgers
authors: Matthias
authors: M
authors: Lüke
authors: Salvatore
authors: S
authors: Grisanti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D051929:CD146 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000556:secondary; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000556:secondary; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D016612:Paraffin Embedding; D011379:Prognosis; D014604:Uveal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D051929:CD146 Antigen; C497902:MCAM protein, human