"Melanoma inhibitory activity" (MIA): a promising serological tumour marker in metastatic uveal melanoma.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the role of "melanoma inhibitory activity" (MIA) as a potential serum marker for screening and detection of metastatic uveal melanoma.


METHODS
Prospective, clinical study.


METHODS
Serum samples of 305 patients with uveal melanoma were collected. Serum samples were analysed by a one-step enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to quantify the MIA serum levels. All patients underwent a standardized echography of the globe to evaluate maximum tumour height and were checked for systemic metastasis of the tumour by liver enzyme tests and ultrasonography of the liver.


RESULTS
Twenty patients (6.6%) had proven metastatic disease; eight of them developed it during follow-up. The mean serum concentration of MIA in the 285 patients without metastasis was 6.72 ng/ml, whereas the mean serum concentration of MIA in the 20 patients with metastasis was 13.03 ng/ml (P<0.001). The eight patients who developed metastatic disease during follow-up showed an MIA of 5.92 ng/ml before detection of metastasis and 12.21 ng/ml afterwards (P<0.001). MIA serum levels did neither correlate with the tumour height or to whether local therapy had been applied.


CONCLUSIONS
The elevation of MIA serum levels in patients with metastatic disease from melanoma supports its promising role as a serum marker for monitoring patients with uveal melanoma.
Reiniger
I W
IW
Department of Ophthalmology, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Mathildenstrasse 8, 80336 Munich, Germany. ingrid.reiniger@med.uni-muenchen.de
Schaller
U C
UC
Haritoglou
C
C
Hein
R
R
Bosserhoff
A K
AK
Kampik
A
A
Mueller
A J
AJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014604:Uveal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; C090059:MIA protein, human; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins