Comparison of S100 protein and MIA protein as serum marker for malignant melanoma.
BACKGROUND
Detection of S100 beta in serum has been shown to be a significant prognostic marker for malignant melanoma in earlier studies. Melanoma inhibiting activity (MIA) has recently been detected as a new serum marker for malignant melanoma.


METHODS
In the present study, serum levels of S100 beta protein and MIA were measured over a time period of up to 18 months in 271 serum samples from 65 melanoma patients at different stages of disease, during chemotherapy and/or immunotherapy. In addition, 46 sera of control patients were analysed. The aim of this study was to compare both potential markers. S100 beta was measured using the immunoluminometric assay LIA-mat Sangtec (Byk Sangtec Diagnostica) with a cut-off level of 0.12 microgram/l. MIA was determined by the MIA ELISA kit (Roche) using a cut-off level of 6.5 ng/ml.


RESULTS
In 53 patients a direct correlation of S-100 values and clinical course could be observed (81.5%), whereas in 48 patients MIA-values and clinical course (73.8%) showed an association. S100 beta levels were incorrectly elevated in 5 out of 25 sera, "false positive" (20%)) and were in 8 out of 40 sera not elevated despite the detection of metastases "false negative" (20%)). Assessing the MIA levels, 2 out of 25 probes were false positive (8%) and 13 out of 40 probes false negative(32.5%).


CONCLUSIONS
Our data strongly suggest that S100 and MIA represent serum tumor markers that are valuable both in therapy-monitoring and in detection of tumour progression.
Clinical Cooperation Unit for Dermatooncology, German Cancer Research Institute (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
D
D
Djukanovic
U
U
Hofmann
A
A
Sucker
W
W
Rittgen
D
D
Schadendorf
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003606:Dacarbazine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018450:Disease Progression; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014604:Uveal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D007376:Interleukin-2; C090059:MIA protein, human; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009418:S100 Proteins; D003606:Dacarbazine; D002945:Cisplatin