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Published on: September 8, 2021
Alpha-v-beta3 integrin expression in melanocytic nevi and cutaneous melanoma
Dante Simionato Neto1, Luciana Pantaleão, Bianca Costa Soares de Sá
1Centro de Tratamento e Pesquisa Hospital do Cancer A. C. Camargo, Rua Professor Antonio Prudente, 211, São Paulo, São Paulo 01509-900, Brazil.
Background:
Alpha-v-beta3 integrin (alphavbeta3) is a vitronectin ligand and plays an important role in melanoma progression.
Objectives:
The purpose of the study was to evaluate the expression of alphavbeta3 in superficial spreading cutaneous melanoma, in both conventional and tissue microarray (TMA) paraffin-embedded-tissue specimens, and correlate with histopathological variables and patient survival.
Material And Methods:
A total of 159 tissue samples from compound nevi (n = 19), in situ melanoma (n = 5), thin melanoma (n = 34), thick melanoma (n = 72) and metastatic melanoma (n = 29) were studied.
Results:
Compound nevus epithelioid cells had a mild expression of alphavbeta3. In situ melanoma cells had the highest expression among all specimens, when compared to nevi (p = 0.0000) and to invasive melanoma (p = 0.0003). Expression of alphavbeta3 did not differ according to depth of invasion or did it increase in metastatic cells.
Conclusion:
Our results suggested that alphavbeta3 integrin might have no impact on melanoma behavior. However, high levels of alphavbeta3-integrin expression for in situ melanoma may be related to pre-invasive phenotype with marked potential to invade.
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