Clinical significance of serum laminin and type-IV collagen levels in cutaneous melanoma patients

Laminin and type-IV collagen constitute a significant portion of the extracellular matrix. The objective of the present study was to evaluate whether the serum concentrations of laminin and type-IV collagen may serve as biomarkers for cutaneous melanoma. Sixty pathologically confirmed melanoma patients were enrolled in the study. Serum laminin and type-IV collagen levels were assessed using an ELISA. Thirty healthy controls were also examined. No significant differences in the baseline serum levels of laminin were identified between melanoma patients and healthy controls (P=0.45). However, the baseline serum levels of type-IV collagen were significantly elevated in melanoma patients compared with those in the control group (P0.05). Furthermore, the serum levels of laminin and type-IV collagen had no prognostic value regarding the outcome for melanoma patients (P=0.36 and P=0.26, respectively). While laminin levels showed no diagnostic value, the serum concentrations of type-IV collagen were indicated to serve as a diagnostic marker in patients with cutaneous melanoma. In conclusion, type-IV collagen levels may be used as a diagnostic marker for cutaneous melanoma, while being void of any prognostic value

Levels of serum fibronectin as a biomarker in gastric cancer patients: Correlation with clinical diagnosis and outcome

Fibronectin is an important component of the extracellular matrix and serves a role in the pathogenesis of multiple malignancies. The expression of fibronectin also affects the outcome for patients with cancer. The objective of the present study was to determine the clinical significance of the serum fibronectin levels in patients with gastric cancer. A total of 63 patients with a pathologically confirmed diagnosis of gastric cancer were enrolled into the present study. Serum fibronectin concentrations were determined by the solid-phase sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Age and sex matched healthy controls (n=30) were included in the analysis. The median age at diagnosis was 62 years (range 28-82 years). The baseline serum fibronectin levels of the patients with gastric cancer were significantly higher compared with those in the control group (median values, 606, vs. 193 ng/ml; P0.05). In addition, no correlation was observed in serum fibronectin level and response to chemotherapy (P=0.12). Serum fibronectin concentration demonstrated no prognostic role on survival (P=0.43). In conclusion, the serum levels of fibronectin may have a good diagnostic marker in patients with gastric cancer. However, its predictive and prognostic values remain to be elucidated