Prognostic value of serum S-100B in malignant melanoma.
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.
Andrés
Raquel
R
Division of Medical Oncology, University Hospital, Zaragoza, Spain. andresraquel@hotmail.com
Mayordomo
José I
JI
Zaballos
Pedro
P
Rodino
Javier
J
Isla
Dolores
D
Escudero
Pilar
P
Elosegui
Luis
L
Filipovich
Elena
E
Saenz
Alberto
A
Polo
Eduardo
E
Tres
Alejandro
A
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
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D064568:S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit; D009418:S100 Proteins