Biomarkers in melanoma: stage III and IV disease.
The prognosis associated with Stage III melanoma is variable (17-65% 5-year survival) and primarily influenced by the number of lymph nodes involved, the presence of ulceration in a primary lesion, and the tumor burden present in each lymph node. In patients with metastatic (Stage IV) melanoma, the prognosis remains dismal (6-18% 5-year survival) and is influenced primarily by the sites (and extent) of metastatic involvement. Serum lactate dehydrogenase is the only prognostic biomarker useful in metastatic melanoma and it has been incorporated into the 2002 American Joint Committee on Cancer tumor, node, metastasis staging system. In this review, the known prognostic factors in Stage III and IV melanoma are reviewed. Selected investigational therapies and associated biomarkers are also discussed.
Linette
Gerald P
GP
Washington University School of Medicine, Division of Oncology, Campus Box 8056, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA. glinette@im.wustl.edu
Carlson
J Andrew
JA
Slominski
Andrzej
A
Mihm
Martin C
MC
Ross
Jeffrey S
JS
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D011905:Genes, ras; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology
D015415:Biomarkers