Loss of E-cadherin as Part of a Migratory Phenotype in Melanoma Is Associated With Ulceration

Abstract: It has been suggested that embryogenic properties of migratory cells are reactivated during wound healing and metastasis in adults. This might explain the association between wound-induced inflammation and poor survival in patients with ulcerated melanoma. Linking inflammation with a migratory phenotype, we characterize the infiltration of innate inflammatory cells, loss of cell-to-cell adhesion (E-cadherin), factors associated with extracellular matrix degradation [matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), and neutrophil elastase (NE)], and spindle-shaped cell morphology, between ulcerated (n = 179) and nonulcerated (n = 206) melanoma. In addition, the presence of "extravascular migratory metastasis" (angiotropism) and tumor-vessel density were evaluated as important factors for tumor cell dispersal in ulcerated melanoma. We showed a correlation between expression of the granulocyte marker cd66b+ and the expression of NE and MMP-9, reflecting activated neutrophils. Ulcerated melanoma correlated with a low global E-cadherin score (P = 0.041) and weak-spot score (P = 0.0004). Thus, 28% of the nonulcerated, 42% of the minimally/moderately ulcerated melanoma, and 53% of the excessively ulcerated melanoma presented low scores as opposed to a high E-cadherin score. In addition, the presence of ulceration was correlated with angiotropism (P

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