title: Neuropeptide Y expression in primary cutaneous melanoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is involved in the carcinogenesis of different tumours, especially neural crest-derived tumours.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of our study is to investigate the expression of NPY on melanoma and its relation with prognostic histological parameters and survival.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective observational study of two independent series, with a total of 79 primary melanomas, diagnosed in two independent University Hospitals in Spain, from January 2000 to December 2004.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found a significant higher expression of NPY on superficial spreading melanoma and lentigo maligna (40%) (P = 0.030). Thinner tumours were associated with higher NPY expression (Clark level, P = 0.003; Breslow level, P = 0.012). Melanomas with low NPY expression were associated with intense cell proliferation (Ki-67, P = 0.034), high density of peritumoral mast cell infiltrates (P = 0.033) and low E-cadherin expression (P = 0.031). Melanomas with high NPY expression exhibited significant differences in terms of relapse time (median: 114 vs. 68 months, P = 0.008) and overall survival (114 vs. 74 months, P = 0.004).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High expression of NPY was associated with better prognostic histological parameters, low peritumoral mast cells density, presence of adhesion proteins and better outcome.
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Service, Mostoles University Hospital, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pérez Tato
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Autonomous University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Á
authors.initials: Á
authors.lastname: Juarranz
authors.affiliation: Pathology Service, Puerta de Hierro University Hospital, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nájera
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Department, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Mihm
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Service, Mostoles University Hospital, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Service, San Jorge Hospital, Huesca, Spain.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gilaberte
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, Alcalá University, Madrid, Spain.|Dermatology Service, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: González
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015820:Cadherins / Q000032:analysis; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018327:Hutchinson's Melanotic Freckle / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells; D008545:Melanoma / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000032:analysis*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D015996:Survival Rate; D047368:Tumor Burden
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D009478:Neuropeptide Y