title: [Research of factors related to invasion and metastasis in choroidal melanoma].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the expression of factors related to invasion and metastasis in choroidal melanoma and to determine their relationships with malignant features.
  
  
  METHODS
  The expression of Connexin43 (Cx43), epithelial cadherin (E-cadherin), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in choroidal melanoma and nevi were detected by immunohistochemistry, and the correlation between these factors and clinicopathological features were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Positive rates of Cx43, E-cadherin, PI3K and CTGF were 74.07% (20/27), 44.4% (12/27), 74.07% (20/27) and 66.67% (18/27) in choroidal melanoma tissues, respectively; and 33.33% (5/15), 86.67% (13/15), 33.33% (5/15) and 20.00% (3/15) in the nevi tissues, respectively. There were significant differences in the expression of these markers between the two groups (χ(2) = 5.060, P = 0.024; χ(2) = 5.490, P = 0.019; χ(2) = 5.060, P = 0.024; χ(2) = 6.637, P = 0.010). The expression rates of Cx43 protein were 40% (4/10), 88.89% (8/9) and 100% (8/8) in spindle, mixed and epithelioid cell type, respectively. The expression of these data was related to histological type (χ(2) = 9.874, P = 0.007). The expression rates of PI3K protein were 42.86% (3/7), 75% (9/12) and 100% (8/8), in small, medium and large tumors, respectively, and their expression were co-related to the tumor size (χ(2) = 6.357, P = 0.042). Positive rates of Cx43, E-cadherin, PI3K and CTGF were 50% (6/12), 83.33% (10/12), 50% (6/12) and 41.66% (5/12), respectively, in choroidal melanoma tissues without sclera invasion and were 93.33% (14/15), 40% (6/15), 93.33% (14/15) and 86.67% (13/15), respectively, in choroidal melanoma tissues with violation involved the sclera. There were significant differences of the expression of these markers between the two groups (χ(2) = 4.457, P = 0.016; χ(2) = 3.546, P = 0.028; χ(2) = 4.457, P = 0.016; χ(2) = 4.218, P = 0.019).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased expression of Cx43, PI3K and CTGF and decreased expression of E-cadherin are involved in the processes of invasion and metastasis of choroidal melanoma.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266003, China.
authors: Ying-ying
authors: YY
authors: Mou
authors: Gui-qiu
authors: GQ
authors: Zhao
authors: Jin-yong
authors: JY
authors: Lin
authors: Jie
authors: J
authors: Zhao
authors: Hong
authors: H
authors: Lin
authors: Li-ting
authors: LT
authors: Hu
authors: Qiang
authors: Q
authors: Xu
authors: Qing
authors: Q
authors: Wang
authors: Wei-rong
authors: WR
authors: Sun
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism; D002830:Choroid Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D018031:Connexin 43 / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C526317:CCN2 protein, human; D015820:Cadherins; D018031:Connexin 43; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases