Premium
G protein‐coupled receptor 40 expression in human melanoma – correlation with tumour thickness, AJCC stage and survival
Author(s) -
Kleemann J.,
Hrgovic I.,
Kleimann P.,
TerNedden J.,
Glaser M.,
Steinhorst K.,
Härle K.,
Müller J.,
Kaufmann R.,
Kippenberger S.,
Meissner M.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of the european academy of dermatology and venereology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.655
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1468-3083
pISSN - 0926-9959
DOI - 10.1111/jdv.15924
Subject(s) - melanoma , medicine , metastasis , immunohistochemistry , cancer research , receptor , stage (stratigraphy) , pathology , oncology , cancer , biology , paleontology
Background In melanoma, preclinical data suggest a possible role of polyunsaturated fatty acids inhibiting cell growth. A new target molecule for free fatty acids, the G protein‐coupled receptor GPR 40, was identified in melanoma cells. Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate GPR 40 expression in human melanocytic tissues and to evaluate its potential as a prognostic marker. Methods and Results A total of 114 tissue sections of naevi, primary melanoma and melanoma metastasis were immunohistochemically stained with anti‐ GPR 40. The staining was evaluated, using the immunoreactivity scoring system. Compared to naevi, primary melanoma and melanoma metastasis showed significantly higher levels of GPR 40 ( P < 0.05). In primary melanoma, GPR 40 expression positively correlated with tumour thickness ( P = 0.044) and AJCC level ( P = 0.017) and in melanoma metastasis with AJCC level ( P = 0.035). Primary melanoma patients with high levels of GPR 40 had a significantly poorer overall survival ( P = 0.004) and shorter disease‐free survival (0.040). Conclusion The present study identified GPR 40 as a novel target molecule in melanoma. First evidence for a potential role of the receptor in tumour progression and metastases was found, and it could be demonstrated that GPR 40 expression is negatively correlated with patient's survival.