Seropositivity for MIA and S100 in patients with gastrointestinal carcinomas

Serum levels of melanoma inhibiting activity (MIA) and S100, both markers i n malignant melanoma, are increased only in few patients with non-melanocyt ic tumors. We examined a series of serum samples from patients with colorec tal (CRC) (N=56), gastric (GC) (N=43), pancreatic (PC) (N=29), hepatocellul ar (HCC) (N=30), cholangiocellular and gallbladder carcinoma (CCC) (N=18). MIA and S100 were measured by commercially available assays. Positive serum levels for MIA and S100 were found in 16.1% and 5.4% of the patients with CRC, 11.6% and 9.3% with GC, 34.5% and 13.8% with PC, 0% and 30% with HCC a nd 16.7% with CCC, respectively. All patients with sera positive for either MIA or S100 suffered from advanced tumors and received palliative treatmen t. Elevated serum levels of MIA and S100 are frequent in patients with gast rointestinal cancer. Further investigation is warranted to define the role of MIA or S100 seropositivity in gastrointestinal cancer with regard to fol low-up.