Study on iNOS as prognostic factor in stage III melanoma survival

Data has been obtained on the BRAF/NRAS mutation status and expression of COX-2 and iNOS comparing their prognostic value for overall survival in stage III malignant melanoma.

New prognostic markers for malignant melanoma are urgently needed. Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase type 2 (COX-2) have been described to correlate with progression of melanoma. Moreover, activating mutations in BRAF/NRAS oncogenes are often detected in melanoma. We have examined the BRAF/NRAS mutation status and expression of COX-2 and iNOS to compare their prognostic value for overall survival in stage III malignant melanoma.

Real time and immunohistochemistry analysis showed that both iNOS and COX-2 alone significantly predicted OS. The BRAF/NRAS mutation status did not significantly differ between patient groups, although iNOS significantly correlated with BRAF mutation frequency. Furthermore, iNOS and COX-2 were significantly linked to a number of metastatic lymph nodes. However, iNOS maintained its statistical significance together with a number of lymph nodes in the multivariate analysis and predicted OS, whereas COX-2 did.

We will now move on to study iNOS and COX-2 expression in fresh melanoma tumors. Here we aim to determine the exact phenotype of the iNOS and COX-2 expressing cells. We are especially interested to study expression of these enzymes by tumor infiltrating myeloid cells. Expression of iNOS is a known suppressive mechanism employed by myeloid derived suppressor cells. We will study the presence and function of such suppressive myeloid cells within the tumor.

created over 14 years ago (26 February 2010)    last modified over 11 years ago (3 June 2013)   [ RDF ]   [ RelFinder ]