An unexpected inverse correlation between soluble epidermal growth factor receptor and interleukin-6 in metastatic malignant melanoma patients.

The exact role of the soluble form of epidermal growth factor receptor (sEGF-R) in melanoma disease remains to be determined. We focused this study on the detection of circulating levels of sEGF-R in metastatic malignant melanoma patients and on the possible relationship between sEGF-R and clinicobiological parameters including circulating interleukin-6 (IL-6) and survival. sEGF-R and IL-6 levels were determined using a highly sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in serum from 75 metastatic malignant melanoma patients and 30 healthy controls.

Pretreatment serum interleukin-6 concentration as a prognostic factor of overall survival in metastatic malignant melanoma patients treated with biochemotherapy: a retrospective study.

Biological response parameters during biochemotherapy, including chemotherapy with immune modulating agents, have been studied extensively. Of these parameters, interleukin-6 (IL-6) has been implicated in advanced stage disease and tumour recurrence. However, there is limited information available about the significance of IL-6 in metastatic malignant melanoma (MMM).

Serum interleukin-6 concentrations as predictive factor of time to progression in metastatic malignant melanoma patients treated by biochemotherapy: a retrospective study.

This retrospective study sought to evaluate the impact of IL-6 concentration on time to progression in advanced melanoma. One hundred and thirty-five patients were included, serum IL-6 levels were determined before (Day 0), at the end of the treatment (Day 49) and at recurrence: the relationship between IL-6 concentration and time to progression (TTP) was also evaluated. The baseline median serum IL-6 level was 16.

Surgical margins in cutaneous melanoma (2 cm versus 5 cm for lesions measuring less than 2.1-mm thick).

Background: This study addressed the question of whether limited surgery for primary malignant melanoma with a 2-cm margin is as good as a 5-cm margin. An update of a 16-year follow-up is provided.

Methods: Nine European Centers, over a period of 5 years, prospectively randomized 337 patients with melanoma measuring less than 2.