title: The role of VEGF in melanoma progression.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Melanoma is the most serious skin cancer. There is an established correlation between thickness and aggressiveness of the tumor. Nevertheless, the potential value of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in correlation with tumor progression remains unresolved.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty seven paraffin blocks of cutaneous melanoma were obtained from Pathology department of Al-zahra hospital between 2005 and 2010. The sections were stained with monoclonal mouse antibodies (mAbs) against vascular endothelial growth factor A and evaluated by distribution of expression of VEGF in tumor cells as 0, 0%; 1, 1%--25%; 2, 25%--50%; 3, >50% and the staining intensity from 0 (negative) to 3 (strong). The sum of intensity score and distribution score was then calculated as the VEGF index. The relationship between VEGF expression (distribution, intensity, and index) and tumor progression (vertical and radial growth, Clark's level, and Breslow's depth) was studied. SPSS software was used to analyze the data by ANOVA, and chi-square tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  51.4% of the patients showed vertical growth pattern. Mean Breslow's depth was 1.84 ± 1.79 mm. There was a significant association between growth pattern and VEGF distribution, intensity and index (P = 0.006, P = 0.005, and P = 0.001 respectively). VEGF distribution, intensity, and index all had correlation with Breslow's depth as well (ANOVA test: P = 0.003, P < 0.001, and P < 0.001 respectively) VEGF index had also correlation with Clark's level, but this was not seen for VEGF distribution and intensity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VEGF expression (both VEGF distribution and intensity) is associated with progression of malignant melanoma. VEGF index can explain this association better.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Iran.
authors.forename: Parvin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rajabi
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Neshat
authors.forename: Mozhgan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mokhtari
authors.forename: Mohammad A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rajabi
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eftekhari
authors.forename: Payam
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tavakoli
keywords: Breslow's depth; Melanoma; vascular endothelial growth factor