Immune-related biomarkers for diagnosis/prognosis and therapy monitoring of cutaneous melanoma

Abstract

Skin melanoma, a life-threatening disease, has a recently reported worldwide increase in incidence, despite primary prevention. Skin melanoma statistics emphasize the need for finding markers related to the immune response of the host. The mechanisms that are able to over-power the local immune surveillance comprise molecules that can be valuable markers for diagnosis and prognosis. This article summarizes the immune markers that can monitor the disease stage and evaluate the efficacy of therapeutic interventions. Recent data regarding immunotherapy are presented in the context of tumor escape from immune surveillance and the immune molecules that are both targets and a means of monitoring. Perspectives for developing immune interventions for skin melanoma management and the position of tissue or soluble immune markers as a diagnostic/prognostic panel are evaluated. State-of-the-art technology is emphasized for developing immune molecular signatures for a complex characterization of the patient’s immunological status.

Keywords::

• cutaneous melanoma
• diagnosis
• immune markers
• prognosis
• therapy monitoring

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank physicians Irina Margaritescu and Doru Chirita from the Universitary Military Hospital, Bucharest, Romania, for providing patient samples used in the research financed through National Grants PNII 61-009/2007 and PN 09.33-01.01/2008. The authors would like to thank students Irina Radu and Simina Neagu for technical assistance to students and graphics.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.