Table 4 Studies of lymphangiogenesis and prognosis in primary malignant melanoma
From: Inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in melanoma: implications in lymphangiogenesis
Series | Cases | Antibodies | Computer-assisted morphometric analysis | Main findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Dadras36 | 37 | LYVE-1, CD31, VEGF-C | Yes | Increased intratumoral LV associated with metastatic melanoma and correlates with poor DFS. High-relative LV area was associated with poor DFS and OS. |
Straume37 | 220 | LYVE-1, Podoplanin, Ki-67 | No | Decreased LV density was present in thicker and more proliferative melanomas. Increased LV density was significantly associated with improved patient survival in multivariate analysis. |
Giorgadze38 | 29 | D2-40, CD31 | No | Intratumoral LV density higher in invasive melanomas compared to acquired or dysplastic nevi. |
Shields39 | 21 | LYVE-1, CD31, VEGFR-3, VEGF-C, VEGF-D | No | Increased LV density associated with metastases. No comment on survival. |
Valencak40 | 120 | Podoplanin, CD31 | No | Increased LV density was significantly associated with poor OS and poor DFS (univariate). Increased CD31 was significantly associated with poor DFS and OS in multivariate analysis. |
Dadras31 | 45 | CD31, LYVE-1, D2-40, VEGF-C, VEGF-D | Yes | Increased LV density and area in SLN+ cases. LV area was the most sensitive prognostic marker for SLN metastasis. Higher VEGF-C expression in SLN+ melanomas. |
Sahni41 | 36 | LYVE-1 | No | No significant difference in LV density between SLN+ and SLN− cases. Higher peritumoral LV density in ulcerated melanomas. |
Massi42 | 45 | D2-40, VEGF-C | Yes | Number and area of LV was significantly higher in melanomas associated with SLN metastasis. By logistic regression analysis, intratumoral LV area resulted the most significant predictor of SLN metastasis (P=0.04). By multivariate analysis, peritumoral LV density resulted an independent variable affecting OS. |
