Description
Although histochemical staining of the S100 protein family has been used for many years in the identification of malignant melanoma, recent studies suggest one of the proteins comprising the S100 family, S100b, has particular utility in many aspects of the clinical management of malignant melanoma. This protein has been shown to be of use in staging malignant melanoma, in establishing prognosis, in evaluating treatment success and in predicting relapse. S100b is an independent prognostic factor and pretreatment circulating S100B concentrations predict duration of survival in melanoma patients. Survival is significantly longer in melanoma patients with normal S100b levels compared to those with elevated levels