title: Loss of stromal caveolin-1 expression in malignant melanoma metastases predicts poor survival.
abstract: Caveolins are the principal protein component of caveolae, plasma membrane invaginations found in most cell types. Caveolin-1 (Cav-1) plays a major role in oncogenesis through its various functions in lipid transport, membrane trafficking, and signal transduction. Increased expression of Cav-1 in tumor cells has been associated with aggressiveness and poor survival. More recently, loss of stromal Cav-1 expression was linked to poor survival and increased metastatic potential in breast and prostate cancer. To date, there is no study addressing the clinical significance of Cav-1 expression in malignant melanoma (MM). Our study consisted of 44 cases of MM: 12 MM lymph node metastases from patients with short survival, 12 MM lymph node metastases from patients with long survival and 20 primary MM. All cases were stained with Cav-1 antibodies. Cav-1 expression in melanoma and stromal cells was quantified using a 3 point scale: 0 = no staining, 1 = diffuse weak staining or strong staining in < 30% of cells, and 2 = diffuse strong staining. A score of 0-1 represented low Cav-1 expression and a score of 2 represented high Cav-1 expression. In patients with MM lymph node metastases, a low stromal Cav-1 expression was associated with shorter survival when compared to the high stromal Cav-1 expression group (median survival 252 days versus 3,508 days, p value 0.0054). Conversely, high Cav-1 expression in melanoma cells was associated with a longer survival in primary MM (p < 0.0001). In conclusion, high expression of stromal Cav-1 correlates with longer survival in malignant melanoma metastases, and high expression of Cav-1 in melanoma cells correlates with longer survival in primary malignant melanoma.
authors: Department of Pathology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors: Karen N
authors: KN
authors: Wu
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Queenan
authors: Jonathan R
authors: JR
authors: Brody
authors: Magdalena
authors: M
authors: Potoczek
authors: Federica
authors: F
authors: Sotgia
authors: Michael P
authors: MP
authors: Lisanti
authors: Agnieszka K
authors: AK
authors: Witkiewicz
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D051242:Caveolin 1 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000556:secondary*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C495540:CAV1 protein, human; D051242:Caveolin 1