The value of serum S-100 beta and interleukins as tumour markers in advanced melanoma

Recently serum S-100 beta has shown promise as a tumour marker in melanoma; however, its use as a prognostic marker in the advanced stage needs to be confirmed. Interleukins (ILs) may mediate regression or progression of canc er. In order to study their relation to the metastatic profile and survival , we evaluated the association between pretreatment serum levels of S-100 b eta, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-12 and metastatic site and survival in 50 patients with advanced melanoma who were to receive chemoimmunotherapy. Patients wit h liver and/or bone metastases had significantly higher median concentratio ns of S-100 beta, IL-6 and IL-10 than those with only skin, nodal and/or lu ng involvement. The differences in IL-12 levels were unremarkable. Using un ivariate analysis, the S-100 beta level and metastatic profile were found t o be statistically significant prognostic factors for survival. Using multi variate analysis the S-100 beta level was the most powerful prognostic indi cator, while the metastatic profile was found to be significant after exclu sion of S-100 beta. The findings suggest that elevated serum levels of S-10 0 beta, IL-6 and IL-10 reflect concurrent liver or bone metastases in melan oma. S-100 beta is also an independent prognostic marker. Pretreatment IL l evels were not associated with outcome. (C) 2000 Lippincott Williams & Wilk ins.