TY - JOUR
T1 - Differential expression of vascular endothelial growth factor-A isoforms at different stages of melanoma progression
AU - Gorski, David H.
AU - Leal, Alejandro D.
AU - Goydos, James S.
N1 - Funding Information:
Supported by grants from the New Jersey Commission on Cancer Research (Supplement to 0139CCRS1), a Department of Defense Career Development Award (DAMD17-02-1-0511), and institutional funds.
PY - 2003/9
Y1 - 2003/9
N2 - Background Vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) is an important mediator of angiogenesis in normal and neoplastic tissues. Total VEGF-A levels have been associated with melanoma progression, but the relative contributions of each isoform is unknown. To determine whether differences in the production of any or all of the major VEGF-A isoforms are related to stage of progression, we compared message levels for the three major isoforms of VEGF in melanoma specimens from different stages of progression. Study design Primary melanomas (N = 18), primary recurrences (N = 5), regional dermal metastases (N = 11), nodal metastases (N = 12), normal lymph nodes (N = 18), and distant metastases (N = 9) were prospectively collected. Samples from the horizontal and vertical growth phases of primary tumors were also collected from five additional patients. Message levels for the three major VEGF-A isoforms were measured using real-time quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and normalized to β-actin mRNA levels. Results There was a marked increase in the expression of all three VEGF-A isoforms from the vertical growth phase tissue as compared with the horizontal growth phase tissue. Primary tumors, local recurrences, regional dermal metastases, nodal metastases, and distant metastases all produced more VEGF121 and VEGF165 than negative nodes. Nodal metastases produced the highest level of these two isoforms, higher even than distant metastases. There was no significant difference in VEGF189 message among the groups. Conclusions Melanomas in the vertical growth phase produce more VEGF-A (all isoforms) than in the horizontal growth phase. Nodal metastases produce the highest levels of VEGF121 and VEGF165, but not VEGF189 as compared with other stages of progression. These data suggest that the soluble forms of VEGF-A might be an important factor in melanoma metastasis to regional lymph nodes.
AB - Background Vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) is an important mediator of angiogenesis in normal and neoplastic tissues. Total VEGF-A levels have been associated with melanoma progression, but the relative contributions of each isoform is unknown. To determine whether differences in the production of any or all of the major VEGF-A isoforms are related to stage of progression, we compared message levels for the three major isoforms of VEGF in melanoma specimens from different stages of progression. Study design Primary melanomas (N = 18), primary recurrences (N = 5), regional dermal metastases (N = 11), nodal metastases (N = 12), normal lymph nodes (N = 18), and distant metastases (N = 9) were prospectively collected. Samples from the horizontal and vertical growth phases of primary tumors were also collected from five additional patients. Message levels for the three major VEGF-A isoforms were measured using real-time quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and normalized to β-actin mRNA levels. Results There was a marked increase in the expression of all three VEGF-A isoforms from the vertical growth phase tissue as compared with the horizontal growth phase tissue. Primary tumors, local recurrences, regional dermal metastases, nodal metastases, and distant metastases all produced more VEGF121 and VEGF165 than negative nodes. Nodal metastases produced the highest level of these two isoforms, higher even than distant metastases. There was no significant difference in VEGF189 message among the groups. Conclusions Melanomas in the vertical growth phase produce more VEGF-A (all isoforms) than in the horizontal growth phase. Nodal metastases produce the highest levels of VEGF121 and VEGF165, but not VEGF189 as compared with other stages of progression. These data suggest that the soluble forms of VEGF-A might be an important factor in melanoma metastasis to regional lymph nodes.
KW - MART-1
KW - Melanoma antigen recognized by T cells-1
KW - QRT-PCR
KW - Quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction
KW - RT-PCR
KW - Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction
KW - VEGF
KW - Vascular endothelial growth factor
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U2 - 10.1016/S1072-7515(03)00388-0
DO - 10.1016/S1072-7515(03)00388-0
M3 - Article
C2 - 12946796
AN - SCOPUS:0141721698
SN - 1072-7515
VL - 197
SP - 408
EP - 418
JO - Journal of the American College of Surgeons
JF - Journal of the American College of Surgeons
IS - 3
ER -