Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) co-expression in cutaneous malignant melanoma lesions

The expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and granulocyt e-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) was investigated in 25 mela noma patients by evaluating 34 fresh biopsy specimens. ICAM-1 in situ hybri dization and immunochemistry for ICAM-1 and GMCSF were performed. Most of t he metastatic melanoma samples (12 out of 18) and a few of the primary mela noma lesions (three out of 16) showed ICAM-1 expression. The expression of ICAM-1 was significantly (P<0.01) higher in metastatic lesions than in prim ary tumours. GM-CSF mRNA and protein were detected in 10 of the 18 metastat ic samples and in two of the 15 primary lesions. A significantly high degre e (P<0.0002) of concordance between ICAM-1 and GM-CSF expression was observ ed: the samples that were negative or positive for ICAM-1 expression were c orrespondingly negative or positive for GM-CSF. Correlation with clinical a nd histological parameters was examined. The expression of both molecules i n metastatic samples was found to be significantly (P<0.001) associated wit h a shorter recurrence-free period. These findings, if confirmed by a wider number of patients, could suggest the prognostic value of the simultaneous , and probably co ordinated, expression of ICAM-1 and GM-CSF. They also hig hlight the importance of preventive molecular and biochemical characterizat ion of neoplastic cell cytokine receptors, specifically focusing on the par ticular cytokine to be used as anticancer therapy and/or as adjunct to chem otherapy. (C) 1999 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.