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A study of adhesion molecules as markers of progression in malignant melanoma
Author(s) -
Denton Karin J.,
Stretch Jonathan R.,
Gatter Kevin C.,
Harris Adrian L.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
the journal of pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.964
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1096-9896
pISSN - 0022-3417
DOI - 10.1002/path.1711670205
Subject(s) - melanoma , neural cell adhesion molecule , cell adhesion molecule , adhesion , extracellular matrix , pathology , intercellular adhesion molecule 1 , lymph node , cell adhesion , antigen , medicine , biology , chemistry , cancer research , immunology , microbiology and biotechnology , organic chemistry
Adhesion molecules are substances which are involved in the interactions between cells, and between cells and the extracellular matrix in both benign and malignant tissues. Two members of this group—intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 (ICAM‐l) and MUC18—have previously been found to be expressed on melanoma; however, studies seeking a correlation between expression and metaslatic behaviour have yielded conflicting results. In this study we investigated the expression of these two antigens and that of a number of other adhesion molecules [VCAM‐1, ELAM, and the neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM)] on a range of benign and malignant melanocytic lesions. Both ICAM‐1 and MUC18 were found on a high percentage of all melanocytic lesions including benign naevi. VCAM‐1 was found to be expressed on 79 per cent of benign naevi, 62 per cent of primary melanomas less than 1‐5 mm in depth, and 6 per cent of thick primaries. The antigen was present on 14 per cent of lymph node metastases and on no extranodal deposits. This suggests that loss of melanoma cell adhesion mediated by VCAM‐1 may be important in the development of metastatic melanoma.