Serum markers in skin melanoma--preliminary study

Skin melanoma presents the strongest metastatic capacity and the highest mortality rate of all types of skin cancer, being one of the most aggressive forms of human cancer. Although melanoma represents only 4% of skin cancers, it accounts for 80% of skin cancer deaths. The aim of this study was the investigation of two specific serum markers for melanoma: S100B and melanoma inhibitory activity in relation to disease development. The longitudinal study was performed on 51 patients diagnosed with skin melanoma and 72 healthy volunteers. For serum S100B and MIA measurement standard ELISA was used. The serum concentration of S100B was found significantly different from normal values only in patients in stage IV, in contrast to MIA, where significant differences occurred as early as stage II. The dynamics of the studied serum markers was in accordance with the skin melanoma evolution, especially for serum MIA. Only both increased S100B and MIA serum levels can indicate the disease evolution towards advanced stages and appearance of the metastatic processes.