Osteopontin as a serologic marker for metastatic uveal melanoma: results of a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the protein osteopontin (OPN) as a potential new marker for screening and detection of metastatic uveal melanoma.


METHODS
Prospective, clinical study.


METHODS
Twenty-eight plasma samples of 27 patients with uveal melanoma were analyzed, and the OPN plasma levels were quantified. Eight of these patients showed liver metastasis. As a control, we measured OPN levels in eight healthy, age-matched individuals.


RESULTS
The median plasma concentration of OPN in patients with melanoma without metastasis was 46.78 ng/ml (range, 14.5 to 118.67 ng/ml). In contrast, increased median levels of OPN of 170.72 ng/ml (range, 87.37 to 375.54 ng/ml, P <.001) were seen in eight patients with proven metastatic disease. Healthy patients without uveal melanoma showed a median plasma concentration of OPN of 54.6 ng/ml (range, 38.23 to 71.21 ng/ml).


CONCLUSIONS
The protein OPN seems to be a promising tumor marker for detecting metastatic disease in patients with uveal melanoma.
Reiniger
Ingrid Wanke
IW
Department of Ophthalmology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany. Ingrid.Reiniger@med.uni-muenchen.de <Ingrid.Reiniger@med.uni-muenchen.de>
Wolf
Armin
A
Welge-Lüssen
Ulrich
U
Mueller
Arthur Josef
AJ
Kampik
Anselm
A
Schaller
Ulrich Christoph
UC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000556:secondary; D008875:Middle Aged; D053495:Osteopontin / Q000097:blood*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014604:Uveal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D053495:Osteopontin