{
  "abstract": "Malignant melanoma has a strong propensity for early metastatic dissemination, yet conventional clinicopathological predictors such as Breslow thickness do not fully capture individual metastatic risk. The endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR) exerts context-dependent functions across malignancies, but its clinical significance in melanoma remains unclear. We retrospectively analyzed primary tumor specimens from 62 patients with invasive melanoma; 61 with complete outcome data formed the analytic cohort for metastasis analyses. EPCR expression in melanoma cells was evaluated by immunohistochemistry using semi-quantitative intensity and extent scores (0–3). Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes were graded according to the Melanoma Institute Australia scoring system. Higher EPCR expression was associated with lower odds of documented lymph-node and distant metastatic involvement. In prespecified parsimonious multivariable logistic regression models adjusted for tumor thickness and ulceration, higher EPCR extent remained independently associated with reduced lymph-node involvement (adjusted odds ratio: 0.36, 95% confidence interval:, 0.17–0.70). EPCR expression showed a positive association with CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte scores. Higher EPCR expression in primary melanoma was independently associated with reduced lymph-node involvement and with a CD8+-inflamed tumor microenvironment, suggesting EPCR may complement conventional pathological predictors of metastatic risk.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Dermatology, Keio University School of Medicine",
    "Division of Dermatology, National Hospital Organization Tokyo Medical Center, Tokyo",
    "Laboratory for Skin Homeostasis, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Japan",
    "Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keio University School of Medicine",
    "Department of Dermatology, Toho University Omori Medical Center, Tokyo, Japan"
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 8,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Takayuki Fusumae"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Takeru Funakoshi"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Ikuko Hirai"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Yoshio Nakamura"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        2
      ],
      "name": "Keitaro Fukuda"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Takashi Iwata"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        2
      ],
      "name": "Masayuki Amagai"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        4
      ],
      "name": "Keiji Tanese"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/e5xpecf0bwrnz.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1097/cmr.0000000000001123",
  "fulltext_url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13718904/",
  "id": "e5xpecf0bwrnz",
  "issns": [
    "0960-8931",
    "1473-5636"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1097/cmr.0000000000001123",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-ND-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-ND 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "heading",
      "Translational Science"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2730|Cutaneous Melanoma Detection and Management"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7168162738",
  "pdf_url": null,
  "pmcid": "PMC13718904",
  "pmid": "42440262",
  "published": "2026-10-28",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/e5xpecf0bwrnz.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-02T12:22:50Z",
      "native_id": "PMC13718904",
      "source": "pmc",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1097/cmr.0000000000001123"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2730|Cutaneous Melanoma Detection and Management",
      "subfield": "oncology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Endothelial protein C receptor expression as a marker of reduced metastatic risk in primary melanoma",
  "title_text": "Endothelial protein C receptor expression as a marker of reduced metastatic risk in primary melanoma",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-02T12:22:50Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/e5xpecf0bwrnz",
  "venue": "Melanoma Research",
  "versions": []
}