Increased levels of circulating platelet-derived microparticles are associated with metastatic cutaneous melanoma.

We investigated the plasma levels of PMPs in patients with 45 stage III and 45 stage IV melanoma. PMPs were characterised by flow cytometry and their thrombogenic activity. We also investigated the link between PMPs circulating levels and tumor burden. The circulating levels of PMPs were significantly higher in stage IV (8500 µL-1 ) than in patients with stage III (2041 µL-1 ) melanoma (P=.0001). We calculated a highly specific (93.3%) and predictive (91.7%) cut-off value (5311 µL-1 ) allowing the distinction between high-risk stage III and metastatic stage IV melanoma. The thrombogenic activity of PMPs was significantly higher in patients with stage IV melanoma (clotting time: 40.7 second vs 65 second, P=.0001). There was no significant association between the radiological tumoral syndrome and the plasma level of PMPs. Our data suggest the role of PMPs in metastatic progression of melanoma.

Kaposi's sarcoma: a population-based cancer registry descriptive study of 57 consecutive cases diagnosed between 1977 and 2009.

BACKGROUND: There are few epidemiological data available on rare skin cancer, including Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), which is a multifocal illness affecting the skin, mucosa, and viscera. Four different types of KS have been described: classic, AIDS-associated, iatrogenic, and African. The purpose of this study was to describe the epidemiology and evolution of the different types of KS in the Doubs region of France. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective population-based study was conducted, including 57 patients with KS from the Doubs region between 1977 and 2009. These patients were identified by the tumor registry of the Doubs region. RESULTS: A larger proportion of AIDS-associated KS (61%) was observed compared to classic KS (30%) and iatrogenic KS (9%). No cases of African KS were observed. Most new cases were observed between 1987 and 1996 due to the AIDS explosion. The patients were predominantly male, with a male/female ratio at 10 : 4 (34 for AIDS-associated KS). The mean age of patients was 50.2 (higher in classic and iatrogenic KS and lower in AIDS-associated KS). Mucosal and visceral forms were more common in AIDS-associated KS, explaining the higher rate of mortality due to KS (21%). CONCLUSION: KS, which used to be a rare illness, as it existed only in the classic form, has become more common since the appearance of HIV and, to a lesser extent, of immunosuppressive treatment.

Increased levels of circulating microparticles are associated with increased procoagulant activity in patients with cutaneous malignant melanoma.

Microparticles (MPs) are known to be increased in various malignancies and are involved in tumor invasion, angiogenesis, coagulation, and metastasis. We investigated the plasma levels of annexin-V MPs (AV(+)MPs), platelet-derived MPs (PMPs), and endothelial-derived MPs (EMPs) in patients with melanoma (n=129) and in healthy controls (n=49). A functional coagulation test STA Procoag-PPL measuring the clotting time was performed on samples containing MPs to evaluate their procoagulant potential. The plasma levels of PMPs, EMPs, and AV(+)MPs were significantly higher, and the clotting time-PPL was significantly lower in melanoma patients than in healthy controls. The plasma levels of PMPs, EMPs, and AV(+)MPs were higher in stage IV than in the other stages of melanoma, but with no significant difference. In addition, we observed an inverse correlation between PMPs, AV(+)MPs, and clotting times. Our data suggest that MPs are involved in the progression of melanoma and may be associated to melanoma-associated thrombogenesis.