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Pigment epitheliumderived factor and vascular endothelial growth factor expression in paraffin-embeded choroidal melanoma tissues

Objective To investigate the expression of pigment epitheliumderived factor (PEDF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in choroidal melanoma. Methods The expression of VEGF and PEDF protein in fifty-eight cases of paraffinembeded choroidal melanoma samples was measured by immunohistochemistry, the expression of PEDF mRNA in thirtynine choroidal melanoma samples was assayed by in situ hybridization. Results PEDF protein was detected in 13/58 cases (22.4%) of choroidal melanoma, the positive rate in nonsclerainvasion group (12/38, 31.6%) was higher (Plt;0.05) than that in sclerainvasion group (1/20, 5%). VEGF protein was detected in 43/58 cases (64%) of choroidal melanoma, the positive rate in nonsclerainvasion group (25/38, 65.8%) was lower (Plt;0.05) than that in sclerainvasion group (18/20, 90%). The expression of PEDF mRNA was detected in 18/39(46.2) cases, the positive rate in nonsclerainvasion group was higher (Plt;0.05) than that in sclerainvasion group. Conclusions Imbalanced expression of VEGF and PEDF in choroidal melanoma may play a key role in the angiogenesis, tumor progression and metastasis. 