THE PROGNOSTIC-SIGNIFICANCE OF BASIC FIBROBLAST GROWTH-FACTOR IN CUTANEOUS MALIGNANT-MELANOMA

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is a growth factor and an angiog enesis factor which may play a role in the evolution of cutaneous mali gnant melanoma (CMM). In this study, we evaluated the distribution of bFGF in CMM using immunochemical methods and correlated the pattern of bFGF expression with the clinical course. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-em bedded sections of 46 CMMs were immunostained with a high-affinity pur ified antibody raised against human bFGF. CMM were categorized into le sions that exhibited subsequent recurrence (local, regional and/or sys temic) or recurrence-free lesions. The minimum follow-up time was 5 ye ars. Expression of bFGF within the tumors and in peritumoral and intra tumoral blood vessels was similar in the two groups. Comparable result s were attained when 8 recurring vs 8 non-recurring CMM, selected from the above tumors, were matched for age, gender, anatomic site and tum or thickness. These results suggest that the biologic behavior of CMM may not be predicted by immunoreactivity to bFGF in CMM cells or in th e local tumor vasculature. (C) Munksgaard 1996.