title: Evaluation of IGF1 serum levels in malignant melanoma and healthy subjects.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There were two aims in the present study. The first was to evaluate the usefulness of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) for melanoma detection. The second was to correlate changes of serum levels of IGF1 with the Breslow score and sentinel node metastasis positivity.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined a group of 216 cases, 77 patients with melanomas and 139 healthy probands. We determined the serum IGF1 levels of each patient using an IRMA radioisotope IGF1 assay kit. Serum samples were collected prior to surgery or any other form of treatment. All melanoma diagnoses were histologically verified.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on the statistical evaluation between the melanoma group and group of healthy individuals, we observed statistically significant differences in IGF1 serum levels. The median IGF1 levels in the melanoma group was 154.1 ng/ml compared to 111.2 ng/ml in the group of healthy individuals (p=0.0036). The changes of the IGF1 levels related to the Breslow score categories were statistically significant (p=0.0027). Lastly, we compared the results between the positive and negative metastatic affection of the sentinel nodes. The median IGF1 levels in the negative group was 173.5 ng/ml compared to 205.8 ng/ml in the positive group. This difference was statistically significant (p=0.0407).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum levels of IGF1 were significantly higher in patients diagnosed with melanoma compared to the healthy control group. The changes of the IGF1 levels related to the Breslow score categories were statistically significant. Serum levels of IGF1 were significantly higher in the group with the positive metastatic affection of the sentinel nodes than in negative patients.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunoanalysis, Faculty Hospital in Pilsen, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University in Prague, Pilsen, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Radek
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kucera
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Faculty Hospital in Pilsen, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University in Prague, Pilsen, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Inka
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Treskova
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunoanalysis, Faculty Hospital in Pilsen, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University in Prague, Pilsen, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Jindra
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vrzalova
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunoanalysis, Faculty Hospital in Pilsen, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University in Prague, Pilsen, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Sarka
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Svobodova
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunoanalysis, Faculty Hospital in Pilsen, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University in Prague, Pilsen, Czech Republic topolcan@fnplzen.cz.
authors.forename: Ondrej
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Topolcan
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunoanalysis, Faculty Hospital in Pilsen, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University in Prague, Pilsen, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Radka
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fuchsova
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunoanalysis, Faculty Hospital in Pilsen, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University in Prague, Pilsen, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Milena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rousarova
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Faculty Hospital in Pilsen, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University in Prague, Pilsen, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Vladislav
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Treska
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Faculty Hospital in Pilsen, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University in Prague, Pilsen, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Tomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kydlicek
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008545:Melanoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I
keywords: Breslow score; IGF1; Melanoma; sentinel node metastasis