Abstract: SUN Lan*，WANG Cui-yan，LI Yan-qiu，ZHANG Ling-yun，AN Xiang-jie，WANG Ming， ZHAO Yun，Shuva kant SHARMA GAUTAM，CHEN Si-yuan，TU Ya-ting, Furue Masutaka, HUANG Chang-zheng, GUO Neng-qiang. *Department of Dermatology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China Corresponding author: GUO Neng-qiang，Email: guonengqiang@yahoo.com.cn 【Abstract】 Objective To compare the protein expressions of collagen triple helix repeat containing-1（CTHRC1）, β-catenin and Wnt5a in lesions of nevus versus melanoma in different stages, and to assess their possible roles and relationship in the initiation and progression of melanoma. Methods Totally, 76 tissue specimens were studied in this study, including 23 cases of nevus, 14 cases of melanoma in situ, 21 cases of invasive melanoma and 18 cases of metastatic melanoma. Immunohistochemical SP method was used to detect the protein expressions of CTHRC1, β-catenin and Wnt5a in these tissue specimens. The clinical and pathological implications of these protein expressions were assessed. Results The expression rate in nevus and melanoma lesions was 34.8% and 62.3% respectively for CTHRC1（P < 0.05）, 21.7% and 62.3% respectively for β-catenin（P < 0.05）, 34.8% and 69.8% respectively for Wnt5a（P < 0.05）. The expressions of CTHRC1 and β-catenin were associated with the invasion depth and lymph node metastasis of melanoma（both P < 0.05）, and the expression of Wnt5a was only related to the lymph node metastasis of melanoma（P < 0.05）. There was a positive correlation between the protein expression of CTHRC1 and β-catenin as well as between that of CTHRC1 and Wnt5a（r = 0.798, 0.623, respectively, both P < 0.01）. Conclusions CTHRC1, β-catenin and Wnt5a appear to play a certain role in the development of melanoma, and CTHRC1 may serve as a cofactor of the Wnt signaling pathway in promoting the initiation and progression of melanoma. 【Key words】 Melanoma; Nevus; CTHRC1; β-catenin; Wnt5a

Key words: Malignant melanoma, CTHRC1, β-catenin, Wnt5a