Table 3.
VM and EMT variables in study patients.
| Pathways | Variable | Control group | Melanoma patients | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nevi (n = 10)&& | Primary (n = 13) | Metastasis (n = 18) | ||
| VM | VM n (%)& | |||
| Positive | 7 (60) | 11 (53.8)⁎⁎ | 16 (33.4)⁎⁎,## | |
| Negative | 3 (40) | 2 (46.2) | 2 (66.6) | |
| MVD | 1.80 ± 0.79 | 6.38 ± 1.14⁎⁎ | 9.5 ± 2.3⁎⁎,# | |
| VMD | 16.90 ± 5.74 | 19.62 ± 4.23 | 29.67 ± 5.48⁎⁎,## | |
| EMT | ZEB1 | 5.10 ± 0.23 | 1.00 ± 0.42⁎⁎ | 1.85 ± 0.43⁎⁎,## |
| NOTCH1 | 0.21 ± 0.06 | 0.65 ± 0.37* | 2.69 ± 0.52⁎⁎,## | |
| SLUG | 0.78 ± 0.47 | 1.73 ± 0.44* | 2.98 ± 0.45⁎⁎,# | |
Data are presented as mean ± SD for all others.
& The VM positive assays were performed according to standard CD31-PAS dual staining protocols.
&& Nevi refers to patients if they diagnosed with any abnormal, congenital formation or mark on the skin or neighboring mucosa that does not show neoplastic growth.
Abbreviation: VM, vasculogenic mimicry; EMT, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition; MVD, microvessel density; VMD, vasculogenic mimicry density; ZEB1, zinc-finger E-box-binding-1; NOTCH1, Notch homolog 1, translocation-associated (Drosophila); SLUG, zinc finger protein SNAI2.
⁎
: p < 0.05 and.
⁎⁎
: p < 0.001 vs the Nevi group.
#
: p < 0.05 and.
##
: p < 0.001 vs the primary group.