The 37kDa/67kDa laminin receptor (LRP/LR) is a non-integrin laminin receptor 
which is overexpressed in tumorigenic cells and supports progression of cancer 
via promoting metastasis, angiogenesis and telomerase activity and impediment of 
apoptosis. The present study investigates the role of LRP/LR on the metastatic 
potential of early (A375) and late (A375SM) stage malignant melanoma cells. Flow 
cytometry revealed that both early and late stage malignant melanoma cells 
display high levels of LRP/LR on their cell surface. Flow cytometry and western 
blot analysis showed that late stage malignant melanoma cells display 
significantly higher total and cell surface LRP/LR levels in comparison to early 
stage malignant melanoma cells and the poorly invasive breast cancer (MCF-7) 
control cell line. Targeting LRP/LR using the LRP/LR specific antibody IgG1-iS18 
resulted in a significant reduction of the adhesive potential to laminin-1 and 
the invasive potential through the 'ECM-simulating' Matrigel™ of both early and 
late stage malignant melanoma cells. Furthermore, Pearson's correlation 
coefficient confirmed that increased LRP levels correlate with the increased 
invasive and adhesive potential in early and late stage melanoma cells. Thus, 
blocking LRP/LR using the IgG1-iS18 antibody may therefore be a promising 
therapeutic strategy for early and late stage malignant melanoma treatment.