Abstract:

Song Hao, Wang Baihe, Shao Xuebao, Cheng Wei, Xiong Jingshu, Wang Xiaopo, Wang Jian, Zeng Xuesi, Xu Xiulian, Sun Jianfang Department of Pathology, Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Nanjing 210042, China Corresponding authors: Xu Xiulian, Email: xxlqjl@sina.com; Sun Jianfang, Email: fangmin5758@aliyun.com 【Abstract】 Objective To measure the of CC chemokine ligand 18 （CCL18） in cutaneous malignant melanoma （CMM） tissues, and to explore its clinical significance, as well as relationship with vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF） and Ki67 antigen s. Methods Immunohistochemistry was performed to measure CCL18, VEGF and Ki67 s in 58 paraffin-embedded CMM tissue specimens, as well as CCL18 in 20 paraffin-embedded pigmented nevus specimens, and immunofluorescence assay to confirm the of CCL18 in fresh CMM tissue specimens. Correlations of CCL18 with CMM clinicopathologic features, VEGF and Ki67 s were analyzed. Results CCL18 was detected in 49 （84.48%） of 58 paraffin-embedded CMM specimens, but in none of the 20 paraffin-embedded pigmented nevus specimens, with a significant difference in the positive rate of CCL18 between the CMM group and pigmented nevus group （χ2 = 45.46, P < 0.01）. The of CCL18 in paraffin-embedded CMM tissues was positively correlated with Clark′s level and Breslow thickness of CMM （rs = 0.609, 0.644 respectively, both P < 0.01）, and was significantly different between ulcerated and non-ulcerated CMM （P < 0.05）, as well as between patients with and without lymphatic metastasis （P < 0.05）. However, there were no significant differences in the of CCL18 among patients of different age, gender, or between acral and non-acral CMM （all P > 0.05）. In addition, the of CCL18 in CMM tissues was positively correlated with that of VEGF （rs = 0.727, P < 0.05）, but unrelated to that of Ki67 （P > 0.05）. Immunofluorescence assay showed CCL18 in the cytoplasm of tumor cells in CMM tissues. Conclusion CCL18 is highly expressed in CMM tissues, and may be involved in tumor invasion and metastasis.