Prof.Dr. SEEMA KASHYAP

Dr. NEELAM PUSHKER, Dr. SEEMA SEN

Abstract

The Hippo-YAP pathway is important for cancer cell proliferation and maintenance of cancer stem cell-like properties in many human cancers, but it is still unexplored in uveal melanoma (UM). Therefore, our aim of the study was to investigate the expression of YAP protein in the UM patients. Forty-five formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded UM samples were included to detect the expression of YAP protein by immunohistochemistry. Cox proportional hazard model and log-rank test were used to determine the prognostic potential. Nuclear expression of YAP protein was present in 40% cases. On statistical analysis, LBD>15mm, epithelioid cell type, and liver metastasis were significant with the YAP protein expression (p<0.05). Metastasis-free survival was reduced in UM cases which expressed YAP protein. Our findings suggest that increased nuclear expression of YAP protein might serve as a poor prognostic marker in the pathogenesis of uveal melanoma which may lead to increased risk of metastasis.