cysteinyldopa and Lung-Neoplasms

Malignant melanoma originating outside the skin is very rare, whereas primary malignant melanoma of the lung is extremely rare. 5-S-Cysteinyldopa (5-S-CD), a melanin metabolite, has been reported to be a prognostic marker for cutaneous malignant melanoma. This is the first report in the English language literature dealing with primary malignant melanoma of the lung using serum 5-S-Cysteinyldopa levels to monitor the effects of surgery and chemotherapy.

Topics: Aged; Biomarkers; Cysteinyldopa; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Melanoma; Pneumonectomy

One of the principal applications of tumour markers is the early detection of recurrent disease in the follow-up of patients. In the study described here, we compared the usefulness of two serum markers for melanoma, 5-S-cysteinyldopa (5-S-CD) and melanoma inhibitory activity (MIA), in the monitoring of postsurgical melanoma patients. A total of 154 serum samples taken from 45 melanoma patients, who underwent surgery of the primary tumour and were under periodical follow-up for 13 to 180 months, were analysed. Serum MIA measurements were performed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and 5-S-CD levels were determined using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). In 72 serum samples taken from a group of 31 non-progressive patients with a median follow-up of 48.5 months, false positive rates of both markers were equally low, being 6.9% (five out of 72) for 5-S-CD and 8.3% (six out of 72) for MIA. In contrast, the sensitivity of MIA at the time point of the first clinical relapse in 14 progressive patients was significantly greater than that of 5-S-CD (0.64 [nine out of 14] versus 0.21 [three out of 14]; P < 0.05). Furthermore, seven patients showed abnormal serum MIA values 4-53 months prior to the clinical detection of metastasis, and the elevated levels were often noted on multiple occasions. These results show that MIA was superior to 5-S-CD in monitoring melanoma patients under periodical follow-up after the primary surgery. Repeated elevation of serum MIA levels may predict the presence of clinically undetectable occult metastases, which warrants further prospective investigations to assess the prognostic significance of serum MIA levels in postsurgical melanoma patients.

Topics: Aged; Biomarkers, Tumor; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Cysteinyldopa; Disease Progression; Disease-Free Survival; Extracellular Matrix Proteins; False Positive Reactions; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Lymphatic Metastasis; Male; Melanoma; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Proteins; Postoperative Period; Prognosis; Recurrence

5-S-cysteinyldopa (5-S-DC) is a precursor of melanin. Its serum and urinary level can reflect melanoma progression. In this study we examined the concentration changes of 5-S-CD in melanomas of different clinical stages and in patients with different symptoms of melanoma, during and after treatment.. Serum samples were taken from 252 melanoma patients on 765 occasions, from June 1996 to July 1998. Levels of 5-S-CD were determined by HPLC.. The value of 5-S-CD in patients with primary melanoma and in patients without symptoms ranged around the normal level. There was a significant difference between the values of patients with or without symptoms. There was also a significant difference between the 5-S-CD values at clinical Stage I and Stage III, as well as at clinical Stage II and Stage III, respectively. Analysing the values of patients with symptoms we found a significant difference between the mean values of primary tumour and stage III, between values in lymph node metastasis and stage III, between values in lung metastasis and stage III. The tumour burden was found to correlate with a rising marker level. In 7% of the symptomatic patients that had a marker level under the upper limit, amelanotic primary tumour was detected.. According to the high marker level in lung and liver metastases, the marker might be useful in monitoring both patients with disease free ocular melanomas, to detect liver metastasis and high-risk patients after surgical removal of the primary tumour to reveal lung metastases.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biomarkers; Biomarkers, Tumor; Cysteinyldopa; Humans; Liver Neoplasms; Lung Neoplasms; Melanoma; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Staging; Skin Neoplasms

Serum S-100 protein is widely used as a marker of melanoma and since 5-S-cysteinyldopa (5-S-CD) is a precursor of melanin its serum and urinary levels can reflect melanoma progression. In this study we examined the concentration changes of serum S-100 protein and 5-S-CD in 252 melanoma patients of different clinical stages. Serum samples were taken from 252 melanoma patients at 860 times, from June 1996 to July 1998. The serum S-100 protein was measured by the immunoluminometric assay, levels of 5-S-CD was determined by HPLC. The value of S-100 protein in patients with primary melanoma (0.11m mg/l) and in patients without symptoms (0.15 m mg/l) ranged around the normal level (0.01 0.12 m mg/l). There was a significant difference between the values of patients with or without symptoms. There was a similarly significant difference between the S-100 values of clinical Stage I (0.11 mg/l) and Stage III (2.91 mg/l) as well as between those of clinical Stage II (0.47 mg/l) and Stage III (2.91 mg/l), respectively. Analyzing the values of patients with symptoms we observed significant difference between the S-100 protein values of patients with primary tumor and those with solitary or multiple distant metastases. In case of 5-S-CD significant difference was found between clinical Stage I and III as well as clinical Stage II and III. Furthermore, there was a significant difference between the mean marker values of patients with primary tumor, lymph node, lung metastasis and clinical stage III.

Topics: Biomarkers, Tumor; Cysteinyldopa; Disease Progression; Disease-Free Survival; Humans; Liver Neoplasms; Lung Neoplasms; Lymph Nodes; Melanins; Melanoma; Models, Biological; Neoplasm Metastasis; S100 Proteins; Skin Neoplasms