Prognostic factors in malignant melanoma

Malignant melanoma is one of the most malignant types of skin cancer. Incidences are on the rise worldwide.Early detection and early surgical removal are associated with reduced mortality.The strong aggressiveness of this malignant disease is caused by its local invasive growth and tendency to metastasize early. Malignant melanoma is highly metabolically active tumor that releases a number of enzymes, cytokines, growth hormones and other molecules. The aim of this work was to determine the usability of preoperative and postoperative serum and plasma levels of biomarkers in primary diagnosis of tumor activity and in the postoperative follow-up care. We measured circulating levels of several biomarkers in a group of 77 patients with malignant melanoma and cohort of 34 patients without cancer as a control group. Using routine immunoassays and novel multiplex xMAP technology, we measured: thymidine kinase, tissue polypeptide specific antigen, protein S100A, osteoprotegerin, osteopontin , insulin-like growth factor binding proteins 1 and 3, epidermal growth factor, interleukin -2, -6, -8, -10, vascular endothelial growth factor.