Abstract:

Ran Liwei, Liu Hongmei, Lan Dong Department of Dermatology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital Jingxi Campus, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100043, China （Ran LW, Lan D）; Huangsi Clinic, Headquarters of General Armament Department of PLA, Beijing 100120, China （Liu HM） Corresponding author: Ran Liwei, Email: wlbrlw@163.com 【Abstract】 Objective To investigate s of STAT3 and phosphorylated STAT3 （p-STAT3） in cutaneous malignant melanoma （CMM） lesions, and to explore their significance. Methods The s of STAT3 and p-STAT3 were detected with an immunohistochemical method using polymer enzyme-labeled secondary antibodies in skin specimens from 22 CMM lesions and 23 pigmented nevus lesions. The effects of STAT3 and p-STAT3 s on lymph node metastasis of CMM were evaluated. Results The rate of STAT3 was significantly higher in CMM lesions than in pigmented nevus lesions （95.5% vs. 56.5%, χ2 = 9.23, P < 0.05）, so was that of p-STAT3 （90.9% vs. 43.5%, χ2 =11.38, P < 0.05）. STAT3 in CMM lesions had no obvious effects on lymph node metastasis of CMM （P > 0.05）, while the elevated of p-STAT3 in CMM lesions was a predictive factor for lymph node metastasis in CMM （OR = 1.88, 95% CI: 1.05 - 3.38, P < 0.05）. Conclusion Increased of STAT3 and p-STAT3 in CMM may play important roles in the pathogenesis of CMM, and elevated p-STAT3 may contribute to invasion and metastasis of CMM.