Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3 Expression Predicts Sentinel Node Status in Primary Cutaneous Melanoma

Authors

  • Ferdinand Toberer
  • Holger A. Haenssle
  • Martin Laimer
  • Monika Heinzel-Gutenbrunner
  • Alexander Enk
  • Wolfgang Hartschuh
  • Peter Helmbold
  • Heinz Kutzner

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2340/00015555-3588

Keywords:

melanoma, sentinel node biopsy, angiogenesis, VEGF, VEGFR-2, VEGFR-3

Abstract

This study analysed the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF), VEGFR-2, and VEGFR-3 in primary cutaneous melanomas with positive and negative sentinel node status (SLN) (a total of 58 specimens divided into 2 groups of 29 for each status). The specimens were collected from the pathological archive of the department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology of the University Medical Center Heidelberg. A quantification score was developed for protein expression, by considering the percentage of positive melanoma cells (0: 0%, 1: up to 1%, 2: 2?10%, 3: 11?50%, and 4: >?50%) in relation to the intensity of staining (0: negative, 1: low, 2: medium, 3: strong). Tumoural VEGFR-3 expression (mean???standard deviation) in SLN+ tumours (9.62???3.09) was significantly stronger than in SLN? tumours (6.13???3.87; p?<?0.001). A binary logistic regression model proved VEGFR-3 expression and tumour thickness to be significant independent predictors of SLN. These data provide evidence that VEGFR-3 expression may play a critical role in the pathogenesis of malignant melanoma and that its investigation may help to improve the selection of patients with primary cutaneous melanoma for sentinel node biopsy.

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Published

2020-08-17

How to Cite

Toberer, F., A. Haenssle, H., Laimer, M., Heinzel-Gutenbrunner, M., Enk, A., Hartschuh, W., … Kutzner, H. (2020). Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3 Expression Predicts Sentinel Node Status in Primary Cutaneous Melanoma. Acta Dermato-Venereologica, 100(15), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.2340/00015555-3588

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