Prognostic value of serum S-100B in malignant melanoma.

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: Although there is no established tumor marker of proven value for patients with melanoma, high serum levels of S-100B protein have been found in patients with melanoma and distant metastases. This study was performed to assess the prognostic value of this marker. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: Serum S-100B protein was measured by means of the LIA-mat System 300 (Sangtec S-100B LIA, AB Sangtec Medical, Bromma, Sweden) in 85 patients with melanoma. RESULTS: Mean serum S-100B protein was 0.075 microg/L (range, 0.001-0.470) in 66 patients with non-metastatic melanoma (stage I-III) versus 0.441 microg/L (range, 0.001-16.840) in 19 patients with metastatic melanoma (stage IV) (P <0.001, Mann Whitney U test). The median follow-up time was 329 days. Serum levels above 0.150 microg/L were found in 10 of patients with non-metastatic melanoma (15.2%) and in 17 of 19 patients with metastatic disease (89.4%). Median survival was 256 days for the 27 patients with serum S-100B levels above 0.150 microg/L versus 561 days for the 58 patients with normal values (P <0.3973). CONCLUSION: Serum S-100B is a useful tumor marker in melanoma.

Prognostic significance and diagnostic value of protein S-100 and tyrosinase in patients with malignant melanoma.

OBJECTIVES: The utility of many molecules as tumor markers in melanoma has been investigated with different results. The aims of this study was to compare the value of tyrosinase mRNA by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in peripheral blood and of serum S-100 protein in patients with melanoma at different stages of disease. METHODS: We have studied 90 peripheral blood samples corresponding to 90 patients that had been diagnosed with melanoma. The clinical staging at the time of blood sampling was performed according to the American Join Committee on Cancer guidelines. S-100 protein in serum was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (normal range: 0-0.150 microg) and the presence of tyrosinase mRNA was assessed by RT-PCR. RESULTS: Median progression-free survival was 281 days for tyrosinase positive patients and it has not been reached for tyrosinase negative patients (P = 0.03). Median progression free survival was 213 days for patients with elevated serum S-100 and it has not been reached for patients with normal level of serum S-100 (P < 0.001). Median overall survival (OS) was 396 days for tyrosinase positive patients and it has not been reached for negative patients (P = 0.0096). Median OS was 282 days for patients with elevated serum S-100 and it has not been reached for patients with normal level of serum S-100 (P < 0.001). In a multivariate analysis, both markers have significant prognostic value for time to progression and for survival (chi(2) test). CONCLUSIONS: RT-PCR for tyrosinase mRNA and S-100 are significant prognostic factors for progression-free survival and OS in melanoma. S-100 has higher sensitivity and specificity than tyrosinase.