Structural Basis of Skin Melanoma Metastasis

Melanoma is an extremely malignant disease and the incidence of cutaneous malignant melanoma is rising. The proliferative rate of tumor cells and lymphatic and blood vessels density are considered as potential biomarkers of melanoma progression. The aim of this study was to conduct a comparative analysis of the proliferative activity of the tumor and the development of the vasculature in the primary tumor under conditions of early blood and lymphatic metastasis. IHC staining was performed using blocks embedded in paraffin according to the standard method. Monoclonal antibodies to the lymphatic endothelium Podoplanin (MONOSAN), to the blood endothelium CD34 (NOVOCASTRA), the marker of proliferation Ki67 (NOVOCASTRA), and the tumor marker S100 (ABCAM) were used. It was shown that tumor proliferative activity and tumor blood vessels volume density are increased in the primary tumor under conditions of early blood metastasis. It was noted that tumor proliferative activity and tumor lymphatic vessels volume density are increased in the primary tumor under conditions of early lymphatic metastasis. These data indicate that the proliferative rate of tumor cells and lymphatic and blood vessels density may be involved in cutaneous melanoma progression and may be prognostic marker for early blood and lymphatic metastasis.