Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

Hypoxia is a key regulatory factor in tumour growth, activating angiogenesis, glycolysis and cell migration. It is readily recognized by the intracellular accumulation of hypoxia-inducible factor 1alpha (HIF1alpha) and HIF2alpha. Accumulation of HIF1alpha and HIF2alpha was detected immunohistochemically in a series of 46 nodular malignant melanomas of the skin (epithelioid cell variant), treated with wide local excision. The results were correlated with vascular density (VD) and expression of the angiogenesis-stimulating factors vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and thymidine phosphorylase (TP). Further associations were sought with patient prognosis and the important histopathological features of Breslow's thickness, Clark's level of invasion, mitotic rate, inflammatory cell infiltrates and tumour ulceration. HIF1alpha and HIF2alpha accumulation in malignant melanomas was directly correlated with VEGF expression. Tumours with high VEGF or HIF2alpha expression were associated with a poorer prognosis on both univariate and multivariate analyses. Tumours displaying high VD were also associated with a poor prognosis, but only on univariate analysis. Such vascularized malignant melanomas had only a limited inflammatory cell response. TP and VEGF were frequently co-expressed. The value of Breslow's thickness and Clark's level in prognosis was reaffirmed, although only on univariate analysis. Overexpression of the transcription factors HIF1alpha and HIF2alpha are linked to VEGF expression in nodular malignant melanomas. Loss of immune surveillance, as indicated by a limited inflammatory cell response, was also associated with high angiogenic activity. HIF2alpha, VEGF and, to a lesser extent, VD are important prognostic factors in these cutaneous tumours.

Original publication

DOI

10.1097/01.cmr.0000056268.56735.4c

Type

Journal article

Journal

Melanoma Res

Publication Date

10/2003

Volume

13

Pages

493 - 501

Keywords

Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors, Cell Nucleus, Cytoplasm, Female, Head and Neck Neoplasms, Humans, Hypoxia, Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit, Immunohistochemistry, Male, Melanoma, Middle Aged, Neoplasm Metastasis, Neovascularization, Pathologic, Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1, Prognosis, Skin Neoplasms, Thymidine Phosphorylase, Time Factors, Trans-Activators, Transcription Factors, Up-Regulation, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A