Affiliations: [a] Institute of Pathology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany | [b] Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland | [c] Department of Dermatology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany | [d] Central Tumor Registry, Regensburg, Germany | [e] Department of Dermatology, TU Munich, Munich, Germany
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Anja K. Bosserhoff, Institute of Pathology, University of Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, D-93053 Regensburg, Germany. Tel.: +49 941 944 6705; Fax: +49 941 944 6602; E-mail: anja.bosserhoff@klinik.uni-regensburg.de.
Note: [1] This researchwas supported by a grant of the Deutsche Krebshilfe to Anja K. Bosserhoff.
Note: [**] Tanja Rothhammer and Peter J. Wild contributed equally.
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether protein expression of bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP7) is associated with clinico-pathologic characteristics in benign and malignant melanocytic skin tumors. Tissue microarrays (TMAs) were used to analyze BMP7 expression and the Ki-67 labeling index immunohistochemically. Expression was scored semi quantitatively (0–2+). BMP7 protein expression of any intensity (1+–2+) was detected in 50.2% (153/305) of informative cases. In general, BMP7 expression was significantly induced in malignant melanomas (P< 0.001) and melanoma metastases (P< 0.001), compared to benign nevi. Additionally, expression of BMP7 in primary melanomas was associated with Ki-67 labeling index > 5% suggesting that induction of BMP7 expression is associated with proliferation (P=0.028). None of the other clinical and histological factors analyzed was significantly related to BMP7 expression. Interestingly, lymph node metastases demonstrated a significantly higher BMP7 expression compared to skin metastases (P<0.01). Strong BMP7 expression (score 2+) was significantly associated with shorter tumor recurrence (P< 0.05). In summary, induction of BMP7 expression is frequent in melanomas and may serve as a novel prognostic marker of progression in melanoma patients.
