Vojnosanitetski pregled 2016 Volume 73, Issue 5, Pages: 449-457
https://doi.org/10.2298/VSP140804027G
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Association of vascular endothelial growth factor expression with patohistological parameters of cutaneous melanoma
Gačević Milomir (University of Defence, Faculty of Medicine of the Military Medical Academy, Belgrade)
Jović Milena (Military Medical Academy, Institute of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, Belgrade)
Zolotarevski Lidija (University of Defence, Faculty of Medicine of the Military Medical Academy, Belgrade + Military Medical Academy, Institute of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, Belgrade)
Stanojević Ivan (University of Defence, Faculty of Medicine of the Military Medical Academy, Belgrade + Military Medical Academy, Institute for Medical Research, Belgrade)
Novaković Marijan (University of Defence, Faculty of Medicine of the Military Medical Academy, Belgrade)
Miller Karolina (Dorset County Hospital Foundation Trust, Dorchester, UK)
Šuljagić Vesna (University of Defence, Faculty of Medicine of the Military Medical Academy, Belgrade + Military Medical Academy, Department of Hospital Infection Control, Belgrade)
Mijušković Željko (University of Defence, Faculty of Medicine of the Military Medical Academy, Belgrade + Military Medical Academy, Clinic for Dermatovenerology, Belgrade)
Vojvodić Danilo (University of Defence, Faculty of Medicine of the Military Medical Academy, Belgrade + Military Medical Academy, Institute for Medical Research, Belgrade)
Background/Aim. Melanoma is the most aggresive malignant tumor of the skin.
Contradictory data was published on vascular endothelial growth factor
(VGEF) in tumor samples and its role in skin melanoma progression and
prognosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the significance of VEGF
expression as a prognostic parameter in melanoma. Methods. The experimental
group included 81 patients with primary skin melanomas treated from 2009 to
2013 at the Military Medical Academy, Belgrade. The control group included
20 patients with dysplastic and 20 with benign naevi. Stratification was
done according to gender, age, clinical and patological stage, localization,
histologic type, Clark’s, Breslow, mitotic count, regression and ulceration,
tumor infiltrating lymphocytes and metastatic spread. Immunohistochemical
staining was performed on skin biopsies using DAKO anti-VEGF antibodies
(Ab), LSABTM +HRP, Dand microvawe antigen (Ag) retrieval in DAKO pH 9.0
solution. For statistical data analysis was done with ANOVA, Bonferroni,
Mann Whitney and Wilcoxon test. Results. The mean intensity of VEGF staining
was statistically significantly higher in melanomas than in benign or
dysplastic naevi. Furthermore, the highest recorded values were in Ia and IV
clinical stages. The majority of melanomas with high intensity of VEGF
staining were in pT1a pathological stage. Melanomas with the highest mitotic
count (> 6) had a significantly higher intensity of VEGF staining than those
with < 2 mitoses. The higest intensity of staining was in melanomas without
significant lymphocytic infiltrate and the lowest was in those with brisk
lymphocytic infiltrate, thus a statistical difference was siginifant. The
mean intensity of VEGF staining was highest in melanomas with lymphovascular
invasion. There was no statistically significant difference between VEGF and
any other parameter. Conclusion. VEGF in primary skin melanomas plays an
important role in tumor progression and is linked to the absence if tumor
infiltrating lymphocytes and the presence of lymphovascular invasion. More
detailed studies have to be done on VEGF prognostic value in melanoma on a
larger number of patients.
Keywords: melanoma, skin, vascular endothelial growth factors, histology, immunohistochemistry, sensitivity and specificity