A Comparison of 3 tumor markers (MIA, TA90IC, S100B) in stage III melanoma patients.
OBJECTIVE
There is no consensus regarding the optimal tumor markers for melanoma. We compared 3 tumor markers, TA90-immune complex (TA90IC), melanoma-inhibiting activity (MIA) protein, and S100B protein in Stage III melanoma patients undergoing adjuvant vaccine immunotherapy.


METHODS
The serum of 75 patients representing 3 prognostic cohorts was assayed for the tumor markers prior to initiating immunotherapy and at 6 follow-up time points. Upper limits of normal for TA90IC, MIA and S100B were set at OD 0.41, 8.5 ng/ml, and 2.5 microg/l, respectively.


RESULTS
At least 1 marker became elevated prior to 41 (80 percent) of 51 recurrences. TA90IC was the earliest elevated marker in 29 (57 percent), MIA in 11 (22 percent), and S100B in 4 (8 percent). Multivariate regression analysis revealed that TA90IC was an independent predictor of survival when elevation occurred between 2 weeks and 3 months, whereas MIA was an independent predictor at 4-6 months. In the poor prognostic cohort, mean values for MIA and S100B increased progressively, whereas TA90IC exhibited a parabolic curve.


CONCLUSIONS
In this patient population, TA90IC and MIA were complementary; elevation of the immune complex preceded elevation of the tumor antigen in patients who developed recurrence. Additional studies in populations not receiving vaccine will further clarify the clinical utility of these assays.
John Wayne Cancer Institute, Sant Monica, CA 90404, USA. fariesm@jwci.org.
Mark B
MB
Faries
Rishab K
RK
Gupta
Xing
X
Ye
Christopher
C
Lee
Reynold
R
Yee
Zacharias
Z
Leopoldo
Richard
R
Essner
Leland J
LJ
Foshag
David
D
Elashoff
Donald L
DL
Morton
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D019496:Cancer Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000032:analysis*; D011379:Prognosis; D012008:Recurrence; D064568:S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000032:analysis*
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019496:Cancer Vaccines; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; C090059:MIA protein, human; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D064568:S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit; D009418:S100 Proteins; C579160:S100B protein, human; C113885:TA90 immune complex