Runx3 and Smad4 Protein Expression in Melanoma Tissues and Clinical Significance

LIU Roujia; ZHOU Jun; SUN Huan

doi:10.14033/j.cnki.cfmr.2025.10.016

Abstract：Objective:To analyze the correlation between Runx3 and Smad4 protein expression and invasion ability and prognosis of melanoma.Method:The expression of Runx3 and Smad4 proteins in 72 malignant melanoma tissues(hereinafter referred to as"tumor tissues")that were surgically removed and pathologically confirmed and 40 normal skin tissues in the Affiliated Hospital of Putian University from January 2021 to April 2023 were determined by immunohistochemical method.Spearman correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between Runx3 and Smad4 proteins in melanoma.The relationship between them and pathological features and prognosis of malignant melanoma were analyzed.Result:The positive expression rates of Runx3 and Smad4 proteins in tumor tissues(30.56％and 37.50％)were significantly lower than those in normal skin tissues(90.00％and 95.00％),and the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05).Runx3 protein expression was positively correlated with Smad4 protein expression in melanoma tissues(P<0.05).The positive expression rates of Runx3 and Smad4 proteins in patients with Clark grades Ⅰ-Ⅲ,melanoma in situ and no lymph node metastasis were significantly higher than those in patients with grades Clark grades Ⅳ and grade Ⅴ,invasive melanoma and lymph node metastasis,and the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05).The 1-year poor prognosis rates in patients with positive expression of Runx3 and Smad4 were lower than those in patients with negative expression,and the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05).Conclusion:The expression of Runx3 and Smad4 proteins is low in melanoma tissues.They participate in invasion and metastasis of melanoma.Patients with negative expression have a higher probability of poor prognosis.