Introduction: Dendritic cells are crucial for cutaneous immune response. Their role in melanoma progression is however a matter of controversy.
Material and methods: The number of dendritic cells within epidermis and in peri- and intratumoral location was analyzed using CD207 immunostain in 17 cases of in situ and 25 case of invasive melanoma.
Results: Average peritumoral CD207+ cells count was 22.88 for all cases, 17.94 for in situ lesions and 26.24 for invasive cases. Average epidermal CD207+ cells count was 164.47 for all cases, 183.00 for in situ lesions and 150.78 - for invasive cases. In case of invasive melanomas, peritumoral CD207+ cells count was positively correlated with Breslow stage (R = 0.59) mitotic activity within the tumor (R = 0.62). Invasive cases with regression showed higher intratumoral and epidermal CD207+ cells count than the ones without (275.00 vs. 95.32 and 173.20 vs. 148.35) but lower peritumoral CD207+ cells count (17.60 vs. 27.26). Invasive cases with ulceration showed higher intratumoral and peritumoral CD207+ cells count than the ones without ulceration (220.08 vs. 55.67 and 44.17 vs. 9.69).
Conclusions: CD207+ cells play a role in both progression and regression of melanoma but their exact role needs further studies.
Keywords: dendritic cells; malignant melanoma.