Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3 expression predicts sentinel node status in primary cutaneous melanoma

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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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Toberer, F., Haenssle, H. A., 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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