Clinical characteristics of 74 consecutively enrolled melanoma patients and comparison between groups of 100% VDR-positive cells (n=12) vs. <100% ( n=62); over the median (>20%) VDR-positive cell (n=36) vs. below or equal the median (≤20%) (n=38); and absence of VDR-positive cell (n=15) vs. remaining cases with detected VDR expression (n=59)
| Characteristics | All melanoma patients (n=74) | 100% VDR-positive cells (n=12) | <100% VDR-positive cells (n=62) | OR (CI)100% vs. < 100% VDR-positive | P=100% vs. < 100% VDR-positive | >20%a VDR-positive cells (n=36) | ≤20% VDR-positive cells (n=38) | OR (CI)>20%vs. ≤ 20% VDR-positive | P>20%vs. ≤ 20% VDR-positive | VDR absence (0% positive)(n=15) | VDR presence (>0% positive)(n=59) | OR (CI)VDR absence vs. presence | PVDR absence vs. presence |
| Age at melanoma diagnosis, years, mean ± SD | 52.1±12.7 | 49.8±13.0 | 52.7±12.9 | – | 0.519a | 51.7±13.9 | 52.8±12.0 | – | 0.770a | 51.5±14.5 | 52.5±12.6 | – | 0.767a |
| Age <50 years at melanoma diagnosis | 31 (41.9) | 6 (50.0) | 25 (40.3) | 1.48 (0.43–5.11) | 0.534 | 16 (44.4) | 15 (39.5) | 1.23 (0.49–3.09) | 0.665 | 7 (46.7) | 24 (40.7) | 1.28 (0.41–3.99) | 0.675 |
| BMI, kg/m2, mean ± SD | 25.8±4.0 | 25.0±4.6 | 25.9±3.9 | – | 0.412a | 26.0±4.3 | 25.6±3.8 | – | 0.804a | 25.7±2.6 | 25.8±4.3 | – | 0.762a |
| Male | 39 (52.7) | 6 (50.0) | 33 (53.2) | 0.88 (0.25–3.03) | 0.838 | 20 (55.6) | 19 (50.0) | 1.25 (0.50–3.12) | 0.632 | 9 (60.0) | 30 (50.8) | 1.45 (0.46–4.59) | 0.526 |
| Smoker | 11 (14.9) | 2 (16.7) | 9 (14.5) | 1.18 (0.22–6.28) | 1.000 | 4 (11.1) | 7 (18.4) | 0.55 (0.15–2.08) | 0.377 | 2 (13.3) | 9 (15.3) | 0.85 (0.16–4.45) | 1.000 |
| Stage I | 38 (51.4) | 6 (50.0) | 32 (51.6) | 0.94 (0.27–3.23) | 0.919 | 23 (63.9) | 15 (39.5) | 2.71 (1.06–6.95) | 0.036 | 6 (40.0) | 32 (54.2) | 0.56 (0.18–1.78) | 0.325 |
| Stage I A | 23 (31.1) | 4 (33.3) | 19 (30.6) | 1.13 (0.30–4.22) | 1.000 | 15 (41.7) | 8 (21.1) | 2.68 (0.96–7.45) | 0.055 | 3 (20.0) | 20 (33.9) | 0.49 (0.12–1.93) | 0.365 |
| Stage I B | 15 (20.3) | 2 (16.7) | 13 (21.0) | 0.75 (0.15–3.87) | 1.000 | 8 (22.2) | 7 (18.4) | 1.26 (0.41–3.94) | 0.684 | 3 (20.0) | 12 (20.3) | 0.98 (0.24–4.03) | 1.000 |
| Stage II | 16 (21.6) | 2 (16.7) | 14 (22.6) | 0.69 (0.13–3.50) | 1.000 | 4 (11.1) | 12 (31.6) | 0.27 (0.08–0.94) | 0.033 | 6 (40.0) | 10 (16.9) | 3.27 (0.95–11.3) | 0.077 |
| Stage II A | 7 (9.5) | 0 (–) | 7 (11.3) | –b | 0.590 | 0 (–) | 7 (18.4) | -b | 0.012 | 4 (26.7) | 3 (5.1) | 6.79 (1.33–34.7) | 0.028 |
| Stage II B | 9 (12.2) | 2 (16.7) | 7 (11.3) | 1.57 (0.28–8.69) | 0.633 | 4 (11.1) | 5 (13.2) | 0.82 (0.20–3.35) | 1.000 | 2 (13.3) | 7 (11.9) | 1.14 (0.21–6.16) | 1.000 |
| Stage II C | 0 (–) | 0 (–) | 0 (–) | –b | –b | 0 (–) | 0 (–) | –b | –b | 0 (–) | 0 (–) | –b | –b |
| Stage III | 10 (13.5) | 3 (25.0) | 7 (11.3) | 2.62 (0.57–12.0) | 0.351 | 6 (16.7) | 4 (10.5) | 1.70 (0.44–6.60) | 0.510 | 1 (6.7) | 9 (15.3) | 0.40 (0.05–3.40) | 0.676 |
| Stage III A | 4 (5.4) | 1 (8.3) | 3 (4.8) | 1.79 (0.17–18.8) | 0.515 | 3 (8.3) | 1 (2.6) | 3.36 (0.33–33.9) | 0.351 | 0 (–) | 4 (6.8) | –b | 0.576 |
| Stage III B | 3 (4.1) | 0 (–) | 3 (4.8) | –b | 1.000 | 0 (–) | 3 (7.9) | –b | 0.240 | 1 (6.7) | 2 (3.4) | 2.04 (0.17–24.1) | 0.499 |
| Stage III C | 3 (4.1) | 2 (16.7) | 1 (1.6) | 12.2 (1.01–147) | 0.067 | 3 (8.3) | 0 (–) | –b | 0.110 | 0 (–) | 3 (5.1) | –b | 1.000 |
| Stage IV | 10 (13.5) | 1 (8.3) | 9 (14.5) | 0.53 (0.06–4.67) | 1.000 | 3 (8.3) | 7 (18.4) | 0.40 (0.10–1.70) | 0.310 | 2 (13.3) | 8 (13.6) | 0.98 (0.19–5.18) | 1.000 |
| Metastatic melanoma (Stages III +IV) | 20 (27.0) | 4 (33.3) | 16 (25.8) | 1.44 (0.38–5.43) | 0.724 | 9 (25.0) | 11 (28.9) | 0.82 (0.29–2.29) | 0.702 | 3 (20.0) | 17 (28.8) | 0.62 (0.15–2.47) | 0.746 |
| Trunk | 47 (63.5) | 5 (41.7) | 42 (67.7) | 0.34 (0.10–1.20) | 0.108 | 24 (66.7) | 23 (60.5) | 1.30 (0.50–3.37) | 0.583 | 7 (46.7) | 40 (67.8) | 0.42 (0.13–1.31) | 0.129 |
| Upper limb | 6 (8.1) | 2 (16.7) | 4 (6.5) | 2.90 (0.47–18.0) | 0.249 | 2 (5.6) | 4 (10.5) | 0.50 (0.09–2.91) | 0.675 | 3 (20.0) | 3 (5.1) | 4.67 (0.84–26.0) | 0.093 |
| Lower limb | 14 (18.9) | 3 (25.0) | 11 (17.7) | 1.54 (0.36–6.65) | 0.687 | 7 (19.4) | 7 (18.4) | 1.07 (0.33–3.42) | 0.911 | 4 (26.7) | 10 (16.9) | 1.78 (0.47–6.74) | 0.463 |
| Hands/feet | 5 (6.8) | 2 (16.7) | 3 (4.8) | 3.93 (0.58–26.6) | 0.183 | 2 (5.6) | 3 (7.9) | 0.69 (0.11–4.37) | 1.000 | 0 (–) | 5 (8.5) | –b | 0.576 |
| Head/neck | 2 (2.7) | 0 (–) | 2 (3.2) | –b | 1.000 | 1 (2.8) | 1 (2.6) | 1.06 (0.06–17.6) | 1.000 | 1 (6.7) | 1 (1.7) | 4.14 (0.24–70.4) | 0.367 |
| Superficial spreading | 37 (50.0) | 7 (58.3) | 30 (48.4) | 1.49 (0.43–5.22) | 0.528 | 22 (61.1) | 15 (39.5) | 2.41 (0.95–6.13) | 0.063 | 6 (40.0) | 31 (52.5) | 0.60 (0.19–1.91) | 0.386 |
| Nodular | 31 (41.9) | 4 (33.3) | 27 (43.5) | 0.65 (0.18–2.38) | 0.512 | 12 (33.3) | 19 (50.0) | 0.50 (0.19–1.28) | 0.146 | 8 (53.3) | 23 (39.0) | 1.79 (0.57–5.60) | 0.314 |
| Acral lentiginous | 3 (4.1) | 1 (8.3) | 2 (3.2) | 2.73 (0.23–32.7) | 0.417 | 1 (2.8) | 2 (5.3) | 0.51 (0.04–5.93) | 1.000 | 0 (–) | 3 (5.1) | –b | 1.000 |
| Spitzoide | 2 (2.7) | 0 (–) | 2 (3.2) | –b | 1.000 | 1 (2.8) | 1 (2.6) | 1.06 (0.06–17.6) | 1.000 | 1 (6.7) | 1 (1.7) | 4.14 (0.24–70.4) | 0.367 |
| Others | 3 (4.1) | 0 (–) | 3 (4.8) | –b | 1.000 | 0 (–) | 3 (7.9) | –b | 0.240 | 0 (–) | 3 (5.1) | –b | 1.000 |
| Breslow thickness, mm, mean ± SD | 1.77±1.62 | 1.34±0.94 | 1.85±1.71 | – | 0.416a | 1.23±0.88 | 2.27±1.97 | – | 0.008a | 2.16±1.88 | 1.66±1.55 | – | 0.145a |
| Breslow thickness <1.00 mm | 28 (37.8) | 4 (33.3) | 24 (38.7) | 0.79 (0.21–2.92) | 1.000 | 18 (50.0) | 10 (26.3) | 2.80 (1.06–7.41) | 0.036 | 4 (26.7) | 24 (40.7) | 0.53 (0.15–1.86) | 0.318 |
| Breslow thickness ≥1.01 mm | 46 (62.2) | 8 (66.7) | 38 (61.3) | 1.26 (0.34–4.66) | 1.000 | 18 (50.0) | 28 (77.8) | 0.36 (0.13–0.95) | 0.036 | 11 (73.3) | 35 (59.3) | 1.89 (0.54–6.63) | 0.318 |
| Clark I | 0 (–) | 0 (–) | 0 (–) | –b | 0 (–) | 0 (–) | –b | –b | 0 (–) | 0 (–) | –b | –b | |
| Clark II | 20 (27.0) | 5 (41.7) | 15 (24.2) | 2.24 (0.62–8.10) | 0.287 | 14 (38.9) | 6 (15.8) | 3.39 (1.13–10.2) | 0.025 | 2 (13.3) | 18 (30.5) | 0.35 (0.07–1.72) | 0.328 |
| Clark III | 15 (20.3) | 1 (8.3) | 14 (22.6) | 0.31 (0.04–2.63) | 0.439 | 6 (16.7) | 9 (23.7) | 0.64 (0.20–2.04) | 0.453 | 4 (26.7) | 11 (18.6) | 1.59 (0.42–5.93) | 0.488 |
| Clark IV | 36 (48.6) | 6 (50.0) | 30 (48.4) | 1.07 (0.31–3.67) | 0.919 | 15 (41.7) | 21 (55.3) | 0.58 (0.23–1.45) | 0.242 | 8 (53.3) | 28 (47.5) | 1.26 (0.41–3.94) | 0.684 |
| Clark V | 2 (2.7) | 0 (–) | 2 (3.2) | –b | 1.000 | 0 (–) | 2 (5.3) | –b | 0.494 | 1 (6.7) | 1 (1.7) | 4.14 (0.24–70.4) | 0.367 |
| Ulceration | 25 (33.8) | 5 (41.7) | 20 (32.3) | 1.50 (0.42–5.31) | 0.525 | 11 (30.6) | 14 (36.8) | 0.75 (0.29–1.99) | 0.568 | 5 (33.3) | 20 (33.9) | 0.97 (0.29–3.24) | 0.967 |
| Mitosis >1 | 51 (68.9) | 8 (66.7) | 43 (69.4) | 0.88 (0.24–3.29) | 1.000 | 23 (63.9) | 28 (73.7) | 0.63 (0.23–1.70) | 0.363 | 12 (80.0) | 39 (66.1) | 2.05 (0.52–8.11) | 0.365 |
| Regression | 12 (16.2) | 1 (8.3) | 11 (17.7) | 0.42 (0.05–3.61) | 0.677 | 6 (16.7) | 6 (15.8) | 1.07 (0.31–3.67) | 0.919 | 4 (26.7) | 8 (13.6) | 2.32 (0.59–9.08) | 0.248 |
| Brisk positive TILsa | 25 (33.8) | 5 (41.7) | 20 (32.3) | 1.50 (0.42–5.31) | 0.525 | 15 (41.7) | 10 (26.3) | 2.00 (0.75–5.33) | 0.163 | 5 (33.3) | 20 (33.9) | 0.97 (0.29–3.24) | 0.967 |
| Non-brisk TILsa | 26 (35.1) | 3 (25.0) | 23 (37.1) | 0.56 (0.14–2.30) | 0.522 | 10 (27.8) | 16 (42.1) | 0.53 (0.20–1.40) | 0.197 | 7 (46.7) | 19 (32.2) | 1.84 (0.58–5.83) | 0.295 |
| TILs absencea | 23 (31.1) | 4 (33.3) | 19 (30.6) | 1.13 (0.30–4.22) | 1.000 | 11 (30.6) | 12 (31.6) | 0.95 (0.36–2.55) | 0.924 | 3 (20.0) | 20 (33.9) | 0.49 (0.12–1.93) | 0.365 |
| Emboli | 9 (12.2) | 2 (16.7) | 7 (11.3) | 1.57 (0.28–8.69) | 0.633 | 4 (11.1) | 5 (13.2) | 0.82 (0.20–3.35) | 1.000 | 2 (13.3) | 7 (11.9) | 1.14 (0.21–6.16) | 1.000 |
| Microsatellitosis | 2 (2.7) | 0 (–) | 2 (3.2) | –b | 1 (2.8) | 1 (2.6) | 1.06 (0.06–17.6) | 1.000 | 0 (–) | 2 (3.4) | –b | 1.000 | |
| Epithelioid variant | 11 (14.9) | 3 (25.0) | 8 (12.9) | 2.25 (0.50–10.1) | 0.371 | 6 (16.7) | 5 (13.2) | 1.32 (0.36–4.77) | 0.672 | 0 (–) | 11 (18.6) | –b | 0.106 |
| Fusate variant | 4 (5.4) | 0 (–) | 4 (6.5) | –b | 1.000 | 3 (8.3) | 1 (2.6) | 3.36 (0.33–33.9) | 0.351 | 0 (–) | 4 (6.8) | –b | 0.576 |
| Small-cell variant | 2 (2.7) | 0 (–) | 2 (3.2) | –b | 1.000 | 1 (2.8) | 1 (2.6) | 1.06 (0.06–17.6) | 1.000 | 1 (6.7) | 1 (1.7) | 4.14 (0.24–70.4) | 0.367 |
| >1 melanoma | 9 (12.2) | 1 (8.3) | 8 (12.9) | 0.61 (0.07–5.41) | 1.000 | 4 (11.1) | 5 (13.2) | 0.82 (0.20–3.35) | 1.000 | 2 (13.3) | 7 (11.9) | 1.14 (0.21–6.16) | 1.000 |
| Additional nonmelanoma skin cancer | 11 (14.9) | 2 (16.7) | 9 (14.5) | 1.18 (0.22–6.28) | 1.000 | 6 (16.7) | 5 (13.2) | 0.32 (0.36–4.77) | 0.672 | 3 (20.0) | 8 (13.6) | 1.59 (0.37–6.92) | 0.684 |
| Additional non-skin cancer | 14 (18.9) | 3 (25.0) | 11 (17.7) | 1.54 (0.36–6.65) | 0.687 | 9 (25.0) | 5 (13.2) | 2.20 (0.66–7.35) | 0.194 | 3 (20.0) | 11 (18.6) | 1.09 (0.26–4.53) | 1.000 |
| Melanoma familiarity | 13 (17.6) | 3 (25.0) | 10 (16.1) | 1.73 (0.40–7.55) | 0.432 | 8 (22.2) | 5 (13.2) | 1.89 (0.55–6.42) | 0.306 | 1 (6.7) | 12 (20.3) | 0.28 (0.03–2.34) | 0.282 |
a Two-tailed Mann–Whitney U test. b OR uncountable because one or two of compared groups included zero subject. c TILs, tumor infiltrating lymphocytes.