S100-beta, melanoma-inhibiting activity, and lactate dehydrogenase discriminate progressive from nonprogressive American Joint Committee on Cancer stage IV melanoma

purpose: Monitoring advanced malignant melanoma, serum levels of S100-beta (S100 beta) and melanoma-inhibiting activity (MIA) were assessed for the ability to discriminate progressive from nonprogressive disease. S100 beta and MIA were supposed to be superior to conventional variables, such as lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level. Patients and Methods: Seventy-one patients with stage IV malignant melanoma according to the criteria of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) were included in the study Results of restaging examinations were used as an independent reference standard for diagnosing progressive disease, and S100 beta, MIA, LDH level, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were determined in venous brood lust before restaging. Sensitivities and specificities of the parameters were calculated by logistic regression analysis. Discrimination ability was assessed by Somers' D-xy rank correlation and the area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (ROC-AUC), Results: All rested serum parameters were significantly elevated in patients with progressive disease, the highest sensitivities according to the established thresholds were found for S100 beta and MIA (91% and 88%, respectively). LDH had the highest specificity (92%). ESR was dropped from the analysis because of low specificity. in calculating Somers' D-xy and ROC-AUC values, S100 beta, MIA, and LDH showed high discrimination ability By multiple logistic regression, LDH was identified to be the only statistically significant marker for progressive disease. S100 beta and MIA did not provide additional significant information because of their high correlation with LDH with respect to clinical outcome. Conclusion: Elevated serum levels of S100 beta, MIA, and LDH indicate current disease progression in AJCC stage IV melanoma, LDH was the most relevant overall parameter, (C) 1999 by American Society of Clinical Oncology.