[Melanoma inhibitory activity (MIA). Evaluation of a new tumor-associated antigen as a serum marker for uveal melanomas].
BACKGROUND
Currently no serological marker for the monitoring of uveal melanoma and its metastases is available. The novel tumor associated antigen Melanoma inhibitory activity (MIA) is expressed in the uveal melanoma and it's metastatic lesions.


METHODS
We report about the serum samples of 38 patients with uveal melanomas. 4 of these patients had overt metastatic disease. A nonradioactive one step ELISA was used to quantify the MIA serum levels.


RESULTS
In the 34 patients without overt metastatic disease the serum concentration of MIA was mean (+/- 1 SD) 3.6 +/- 1.0 ng/ml. In the 4 patients with overt metastatic disease the serum concentration of MIA was mean (+/- 1 SD) 27.7 +/- 3.0 ng/ml. The difference was statistically highly significant (student t test: p = 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
MIA is expressed in primary and metastatic lesions of uveal melanomas. The elevation of MIA serum levels in patients with metastatic disease from melanomas suggests a promising role as a serum marker for monitoring patients with uveal melanoma.
Augenklinik der Universität, Klinikum Innenstadt, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, München.
U C
UC
Schaller
A J
AJ
Mueller
A K
AK
Bosserhoff
S
S
Haraida
U
U
Löhrs
R
R
Buettner
A
A
Kampik
D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000556:secondary; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D014604:Uveal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; C090059:MIA protein, human; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins