title: Expression of milk fat globule epidermal growth factor-VIII may be an indicator of poor prognosis in malignant melanoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Milk fat globule epidermal growth factor-VIII (MFG-E8) is a secreted protein that binds phosphatidylserine and promotes apoptotic cell ingestion by phagocytes, mediating the immune tolerance and maintenance of homeostasis. A recent study has shown that MFG-E8 expression in human melanoma is increased with tumour progression; however, the effect of its expression on patient survival has not yet been clarified.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyse MFG-E8 expression in melanoma, and to determine whether it can serve as a marker for diagnosis, tumour progression and/or prognosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  MFG-E8 expression was examined by immunohistochemistry in 60 primary melanomas, 22 metastatic lesions and 30 benign naevi. The following clinicopathological variables were evaluated: age, gender, histological type, tumour site, Breslow thickness, Clark's level, the presence or absence of ulceration and tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes, and survival periods. Statistical analyses were performed to assess associations and melanoma-specific survival.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MFG-E8 expression was significantly higher in primary and metastatic melanoma than in naevus. Furthermore, it increased according to tumour progression and metastasis. Patients with MFG-E8 expression in primary tumours had significantly shorter survival periods than those without MFG-E8 expression. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that MFG-E8 expression was a statistically significant and independent prognostic factor.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MFG-E8 expression may serve as a tumour progression marker and can predict an unfavourable prognosis in patients with melanoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan. junoka71@dermatol.med.kyushu-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oba
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Moroi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakahara
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hagihara
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Furue
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008894:Milk Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality*; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D000954:Antigens, Surface; C098942:MFGE8 protein, human; D008894:Milk Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins