Quantitative detection of soluble adhesion molecules in sera of melanoma patients correlates with clinical stage

Background: Adhesion is crucial in the metastatic process of malignant tumours. Recently, the expression of certain selectins on intratumoral vessels has been shown to he associated with the clinical outcome of melanoma patients. Objectives and Methods: For the first time, this study examines the serum concentrations of circulating soluble vascular cellular adhesion molecule 1 (CD106), endothelial leucocyte adhesion molecule (CD62E), sP-selectin (CD62P) and sCD44v5 in comparison to soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (sICAM-1, CD54) in a series of 34 melanoma patients at different clinical stages and 11 normal donors using ELISA. Results: sICAM-1 and sP-selectin levels were statistically elevated in all subgroups of melanoma patients compared to controls (p < 0.01). Circulating ICAM-1 as well as sP-selectin might be valuable additional serological tumour markers which correspond to tumour load and correlate with progression of malignant melanoma. Conclusion: Measurement of sICAM-1 and sP-selectin serum levels might therefore provide a sensitive tool for monitoring the clinical course of melanoma.