Vascular endothelial growth factor expression in malignant melanoma: Prognostic versus diagnostic usefulness

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), an endothelial cell mitogen, pla ys a role in angiogenesis and progression in malignant melanoma VEGF expres sion was examined in 62 biopsy specimens of melanocytic proliferations, inc luding 45 malignant melanomas, 3 cellular blue nevi, 12 atypical compound n evi, and 2 Spitz nevi. The cases of malignant melanoma included 11 irt situ melanomas, 18 Clark Level II, 9 Clark Level III, and 7 Clark Level IV tiss ue samples. All of the specimens were fixed in formalin and embedded in par affin. Cytoplasmic immunoreactivity for VEGF was demonstrated in 19 (42%) o f 45 melanoma samples, but there was no immunoreactivity for VEGF exhibited by any of the atypical compound melanocytic nevi, cellular blue nevi, or S pitz nevi (P < .009). Immunoreactivity for VEGF was found to be related to tumor thickness las evidenced by Clark level [P < .03] and to absence of re gression (P < .04). Although VEGF is not a useful prognostic indicator for malignant melanoma, it may be useful as a discriminating factor between mal ignant melanoma and benign melanocytic lesions, and it may offer some insig ht into tumor growth.