Soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor I (sTNFRI) as a prognostic factor in melanoma patients in Slovene population

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and its receptors (TNFRI and TNFRII ) which exist in soluble form as a product of cleavage of the extracellular domain of membrane integrated receptors, still rise debate about their imp ortance. It was reported that TNF-alpha has numerous actions in diseases su ch as inflammation, autoimmunity, infectious diseases, septic shock and man y types of cancer [1, 2]. Several authors have reported the significance of sTNFRI level in serum of cancer patients [3, 4]. This study was performed in collaboration with the Institute of Oncology of Slovenia. At least two different mouse monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against human sTN FRI have been prepared to obtain a sensitive and reliable sandwich ELISA. I t was compared with commercially available R&D and Endogen ELISAs for the d etermination of sTNFRI. Groups of patients with different stages of melanom a and epithelial ovarian carcinoma were tested and their clinical records w ere reexamined. Levels or sTNFRI were measured and compared with the normal serum levels of sTNFRI.