Serological landscape of cytokines in cutaneous melanoma

To date, serological markers to monitor melanoma progression and response to therapy are lacking. In this context cytokines appear to be promising biomarkers of the disease.

To compare cytokine and chemokine levels in melanoma patients and in healthy controls and to assess possible variations according to melanoma stage.

Serum chemokine and cytokine levels were determined by ELISA in 34 patients diagnosed histologically of malignant melanoma. Seven healthy volunteers were used as controls.

We found a subset of cytokines (CCL3, CCL4, IFN-γ and IL-10) to be significantly higher in melanoma patients than in control group, thus confirming the importance of the inflammation in cancer. While CCL3 increased with tumor progression, IFN-γ and IL-10 showed higher levels in stage I patients. Moreover, we noticed a direct correlation between CCL3 level and the presence of ulceration in the primary tumor; on the contrary, CCL4, IL-10 and IFN-γ were lowered down in patients with ulcerated melanoma.

These results expand and confirm observations made in other studies focusing on a more limited number of molecules. This extended panel of cytokines examines the potential roles of type2 cytokines (such as IL-4) and many chemokines (mainly CCL3) as biomarkers in melanoma progression.