EXPRESSION OF AUTOCRINE MOTILITY FACTOR-RECEPTOR IN CUTANEOUS MALIGNANT-MELANOMA

Background: The autocrine motility factor receptor (AMFR), a specific receptor for AME is considered to be related to the metastatic potenti al of tumor cells, Objective: We investigated whether AMFR is expresse d on cutaneous malignant melanoma cells and has any relationship to cl inical stage and metastatic ability. Methods: We performed an immunohi stochemical study on 20 cases of cutaneous malignant melanoma using an ti-AMFR antibody. Results: AMFR was expressed in 9 cases (45%), and it s expression had a tendency to correlate with the clinical stage and t he presence of lymph node metastasis. Conclusions: The expression of A MFR may have a possible association with the metastatic potential of m alignant melanoma.