title: Serum tryptase levels in melanoma patients: case-control study and review of the literature.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Serum tryptase results from the constant release of the enzyme from mast cells and serum tryptase levels are commonly considered to be related to the total number of mast cells. They are increased in several malignancies, as pancreatic carcinoma, angiosarcoma, hepatic carcinoma and proliferative and/or non-proliferative hematological disorders. Contrariwise, it has been reported that the number of tryptase- and chymase-positive mast cells was lower in deeply invasive melanoma compared to in-situ melanoma and dysplastic nevi. Considering the underlying pathophysiological linkages between mast cells and melanocytes and that serum tryptase is related to angiogenesis, tissue-degrading proprieties and metastatization, we have decided to evaluate serum tryptase levels in melanoma patients and in a healthy control.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a case-control study evaluating serum tryptase in melanoma and in healthy group. Starting from an initial general analysis, we have performed a sub-analysis for each sample.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In general population serum tryptase was statistically higher in elderly patients. Generally, in melanoma patients, median serum tryptase was in lower normal range. We found a decreasing of serum tryptase levels from the healthy control to thin (≤1.00 mm Breslow thickness), reaching the lowest levels in thicker melanoma (≥1.01 mm Breslow thickness), in ulcerated and metastatic melanoma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tryptase may have a protective role in melanoma or in the early stage of the tumorigenesis. Serum tryptase is an easy and useful biomarker to better investigate melanoma biology.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Dermatology, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Paolino
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Dermatology, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Moliterni
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Dermatology and Allergology, Marburg University Hospital, Marburg, Germany - didona.dermatology@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Didona
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Dermatology, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cardone
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Dermatology, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lopez
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Dermatology, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Garelli
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Dermatology, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Richetta
authors.affiliation: Magna Græcia University, Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Ugo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Bottoni
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Dermatology, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cantisani
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Dermatology, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Dermatology, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Calvieri
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004416:Dysplastic Nevus Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000166:cytology; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000166:cytology; D008545:Melanoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D053802:Tryptases / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D053802:Tryptases