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  • Title: Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor-C in primary cutaneous melanoma predicts sentinel lymph node positivity.
    Author: Cianfarani F, Mastroeni S, Odorisio T, Passarelli F, Cattani C, Mannooranparampil TJ, Fortes C, Failla CM.
    Journal: J Cutan Pathol; 2012 Sep; 39(9):826-34. PubMed ID: 22804631.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND: Vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C), a lymphatic vessel growth factor, has been involved in the formation of lymph nodal metastases in different tumor types. Early evidences indicate that VEGF-C expression in human primary melanoma could be predictive of lymph nodal metastases, whereas the role of lymphangiogenesis is still controversial. METHODS: By immunohistochemical analysis, we investigated VEGF-C or CC chemokine receptor 7 expression, together with the lymphatic and blood vessel network, in 36 patients with primary skin melanomas and metastases at the sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLN-positive), and 26 melanoma patients with negative SLN biopsy (SLN-negative). RESULTS: We found that VEGF-C expression in primary melanoma specimens was significantly associated with SLN-positive (p < 0.001), particularly in thin melanomas. An association between augmented peritumoral lymphatic vessel area and SLN-positive (p < 0.02) was also seen. Conversely, no association between either expression of the CC chemokine receptor 7 in the primary tumor, or intratumoral lymphatic vessel or peritumoral and intratumoral blood vessel area, and SLN-positive was found. CONCLUSIONS: Our results, taking into account the expression of either VEGF-C or related histopathological markers, indicated the possibility to use VEGF-C immunohistochemistry as a marker of metastatic progression, especially in thin cutaneous melanomas.
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