Abstract

Purpose: Conjunctival (CM) and uveal melanoma (UM) show a different metastatic behavior. While CM spreads mainly via the lymphogen routes to the draining lymph nodes, UM spreads primarily via the hematogen routes into the liver. In this study, we investigated the role of chemokine receptor 7 (CCR7) in relation to the metastatic behavior of UM and CM.

Methods: Different human cell lines of uveal (Mel202, Mel270, OM431 and Mel290) and conjunctival melanoma (CRMM1, CRMM2 and CM2005) were investigated for their expression levels of CCR7 by using real time PCR and immunocytochemistry.

Results: CM cell lines clearly expressed CCR7 histologically in all cell lines. The highest signal was detectable in CRMM2. UM cell lines expressed CCR7 very weakly. In some UM cell lines, nearly no signal was detectable.<br /> Real time PCR showed the highest CCR7 expression in CM2005 (p<0.01 compared to Mel270 and p<0.05 compared to CRMM2). From the tested UM cell lines OM431 showed the highest CCR7 expression level.

Conclusions: Metastatic behavior of CM cells to the draining lymph nodes might be influenced by CCR7 expression, whereas the tested UM cells express very little CCR7.