title: Prognostic value of serum S-100B in malignant melanoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although there is no established tumor marker of proven value for patients with melanoma, high serum levels of S-100B protein have been found in patients with melanoma and distant metastases. This study was performed to assess the prognostic value of this marker.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum S-100B protein was measured by means of the LIA-mat System 300 (Sangtec S-100B LIA, AB Sangtec Medical, Bromma, Sweden) in 85 patients with melanoma.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean serum S-100B protein was 0.075 microg/L (range, 0.001-0.470) in 66 patients with non-metastatic melanoma (stage I-III) versus 0.441 microg/L (range, 0.001-16.840) in 19 patients with metastatic melanoma (stage IV) (P <0.001, Mann Whitney U test). The median follow-up time was 329 days. Serum levels above 0.150 microg/L were found in 10 of patients with non-metastatic melanoma (15.2%) and in 17 of 19 patients with metastatic disease (89.4%). Median survival was 256 days for the 27 patients with serum S-100B levels above 0.150 microg/L versus 561 days for the 58 patients with normal values (P <0.3973).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum S-100B is a useful tumor marker in melanoma.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Oncology, University Hospital, Zaragoza, Spain. andresraquel@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Andrés
authors.forename: José I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Mayordomo
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zaballos
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rodino
authors.forename: Dolores
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Isla
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Escudero
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Elosegui
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Filipovich
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saenz
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Polo
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tres
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D064568:S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D064568:S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit; D009418:S100 Proteins