Serum levels of circulating intercellular adhesion molecule 1 in human malignant melanoma.

Current reports have suggested a role for intracellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) in the progression of human malignant melanoma and other cancers. Stage I, II, and III patients with histologically diagnosed malignant melanoma had significantly increased serum levels of circulating ICAM-1 (cICAM-1) and a striking increase in the incidence of positive sera. In Stage II and III patients, the level of cICAM-1 was inversely correlated with survival. Patients with elevated levels of serum cICAM-1 (greater than 2 SD units above control mean) had a significantly shorter mean survival. We suggest that elevated levels of serum cICAM-1 may be of diagnostic and prognostic importance in patients with malignant cutaneous melanoma.