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S100 protein serum levels in cutaneous malignant melanoma
E Seregni1, S Massaron, A Martinetti
1Division of Nuclear Medicine, Istituto Nazionale per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori, Milan, Italy.
Insights
Serum S100 protein levels are not a significant prognostic indicator for cutaneous melanoma survival. However, elevated S100 protein levels correlate with advanced disease extent in previously treated patients, suggesting its utility in monitoring metastatic melanoma.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Cutaneous melanoma is a significant public health concern.
- Biomarkers are crucial for melanoma diagnosis and prognosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic utility of serum S100 protein in cutaneous melanoma patients.
- To assess the correlation between S100 protein levels and disease stage, extent, and survival.
Main Methods:
- Serum S100 protein levels were measured using immunoradiometric assay in 438 patients with cutaneous melanoma.
- A cut-off value was established using 134 healthy blood donors.
- Statistical analyses were performed to correlate S100 levels with disease stage, recurrence, metastasis, and survival.
Main Results:
- S100 protein sensitivity increased with melanoma stage but was not statistically significant.
- No significant correlation was found between basal S100 levels and patient survival.
- In previously treated patients, elevated S100 levels were significantly associated with local recurrence, lymph node/in-transit metastases, and distant metastases.
- Specificity for non-evidence of disease (NED) was high (96.8%).
Conclusions:
- Serum S100 protein is not a reliable prognostic marker for melanoma survival at diagnosis.
- Elevated S100 protein levels are indicative of metastatic malignant melanoma.
- Serial S100 measurements may be valuable for managing patients with metastatic melanoma.
Abstract:
We investigated the utility of serum S100 determined by means of immunoradiometric assay in a cohort of 438 patients affected by cutaneous melanoma (126 untreated and 312 previously treated). Using 0.2 microg/l cut-off value, determined in 134 healthy blood donors, the sensitivity was 4.2% in stage I patients (4/94), 5.3% in stage II patients (1/19), and 38.5% in stage III patients (5/13). Even though the sensitivity increased progressively from stage I to stage II and III, these differences were not statistically significant. The prognostic significance of S100 evaluation at diagnosis was investigated in terms of survival but no statistical correlation between S100 basal levels and survival was found. In the 312 previously treated patients serum S100 levels were correlated to disease extent, high levels of the marker were observed in 42.8% (9/21) of patients with local recurrence, in 32% (16/50) of patients with lymph node and/or in-transit metastases, in 77.3% (17/22) of patients with distant metastases, and in patients with NED, the specificity of the marker was 96.8% (212/219). The difference between these groups were statistically significant. In conclusion, S100 protein was abnormally high in patients with metastatic malignant melanoma. Serial S100 measurements in a follow-up study are necessary to test the importance of the protein in the management of patients with metastatic malignant melanoma.