Immunoreactivity of glycoprotein IIb is present in metastasized but not in non-metastasized primary malignant melanoma

Glycoprotein IIb-IIIa (integrin alpha IIb beta3) is an adhesive receptor involved in platelet aggregation and adhesion to the extracellular matrix. Previous studies showed the presence of IIb-IIIa-like glycoproteins on cells of melanoma cell lines and on cells of lymph node metastases. This study evaluates the presence of glycoprotein IIb-IIIa subunits on cells of primary cutaneous malignant melanomas with (n = 4) and without (n = 9) metastases over a period of 6 years and on naevus cells (n = 4). Monoclonal antibodies directed against the subunits of the glycoprotein IIb-IIIa receptor were used on paraffin-embedded sections and evaluated by means of immunohistochemistry. The glycoprotein IIb subunit was exclusively present on cells of metastatic melanomas. It was not found on non-metastatic melanomas or benign melanocytes. These data favour the role of the integrin receptor glycoprotein IIb-IIIa in the metastatic behaviour of malignant melanomas.