THE LEVEL OF SOME TUMOR MARKERS IN THE SKIN MELANOMA TISSUE, ITS PERIFOCAL AREA AND ALONG THE RESECTION LINE

Introduction. In spite of active research, no highly specific and sensitive marker of skin melanoma has been found so far. The aim of the study. Studying the level of stem cell factor (SCF), neuron-specific enolase (NSE), sCD44std, and heat shock proteins Hsp27 and Hsp70 in the tissue of skin melanoma, its perifocal area and along the resection line. Methods. The content of sCD44std, neuron-specific enolase (NSE), stem cell factor (SCF), and heat shock proteins Hsp27 and HSP70 was determined by IFA method in specimens of the tissues of skin melanoma, its perifocal area and along resection line. Results. The increased expression of all studied markers related to the degree of proliferation was found in the tumor tissue. The most important findings are the 5-fold increase of the level of SCF and almost the 2-fold rise of the level of NSE at melanoma stage pT3-4N0-1M0. Higher level of tumor markers in the perifocal area tissue was found at the melanoma stage pT3-4N0-1M0. At the melanoma stage pT3-4N0- 1M0, the level of NSE along the resection line differed from the intact tissue by 40 times, while at the stage pT1-2N0M0 – only by 4 times. Conclusion. The revealed trends can be used in the delivery of methods for early diagnostics, ways of forecasting the spread of metastases, as well as monitoring the effectiveness of skin melanoma treatment in the clinical practice.