THE ROLE OF IL-6 in METASTATIC MALIGNANT MELANOMA

We evaluated the association between pretreatment serum levels of IL-6 and metastatic distribution and survival in 16 patients with metastatic malignant melanoma. Serum IL-6 levels were determined by double-antibody sandwich assay (R&D Systems, Inc. Minneapolis, USA). The serum IL-6 levels were significantly higher in patients with metastatic malignant melanoma than in the control group (p=0.009). Serum IL-6 levels were higher in patients with weight loss (p=0.02), anemic (p=0.026), elevated serum LDH levels (p= 0.028), and chemotherapy nonresponding (p=0.016). Elevated serum IL-6 concentration (p=0.002) was found as adverse prognostic factor as patients with poor performance status, weight loss, low serum hemoglobin, elevated serum LDH and unresponsive to chemotherapy. Serum levels of IL-6 was found prognostic factor as valuable as serum LDH levels in patients with metastatic malignant melanoma. Their prognostic value should be further evaluated in a larger patient population.

Keywords: Metastatic, malignant melanoma,IL-6, serum, survival