Faculty Collaboration Database

Lymphatic vessel density is significantly increased in melanoma. J Cutan Pathol 2004 Nov;31(10):672-7

Date

10/20/2004

Pubmed ID

15491327

DOI

10.1111/j.0303-6987.2004.00249.x

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-7444235486 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   46 Citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Melanoma is well known for its ability to involve regional lymph nodes in the early stage. However, the presence of lymphangiogenesis in melanoma is still controversial due to lack of lymphatic-specific markers. The purpose of this study was to determine the intra- and peritumoral lymphatic vessel density (LVD) using a novel lymphatic vessel-specific marker D2-40 and compare it to general vessel density (GVD) as determined by CD31 immunostaining in a series of melanocytic lesions.

METHODS: The intra- and peritumoral GVD and LVD were examined by immunohistochemistry using D2-40 and CD31 antibodies in a series of melanocytic lesions.

RESULTS: We found significantly higher intratumoral LVD in melanomas as compared to either common acquired or dysplastic nevi (p < 0.01). Although peritumoral LVD in melanoma and malignant melanoma in situ was higher compared to nevi, the difference did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.059). There was no significant difference in GVD among the various groups of melanocytic lesions.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that intratumoral LVD is significantly increased in melanomas compared to benign nevi. The higher intratumoral lymphatic density in invasive melanomas suggests that melanoma cells might promote lymphangiogenesis. In addition, assessment of intratumoral LVD may be potentially useful in the differential diagnosis of melanocytic lesions.

Author List

Giorgadze TA, Zhang PJ, Pasha T, Coogan PS, Acs G, Elder DE, Xu X

Author

Tamara Giorgadze MD Professor in the Pathology department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Antibodies, Monoclonal
Biomarkers
Humans
Immunoenzyme Techniques
Lymphatic Vessels
Melanoma
Neovascularization, Pathologic
Nevus
Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1
Precancerous Conditions
Skin Neoplasms