RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Differences in Cytokine Levels in Melanoma Patients with and without Redness (Brenner Sign) JF Anticancer Research JO Anticancer Res FD International Institute of Anticancer Research SP 1793 OP 1796 VO 29 IS 5 A1 JACOB MASHIAH A1 SARAH BRENNER A1 YAKOV PESSACH A1 VIVIANNE BARAK A1 JACOB SCHACHTER YR 2009 UL http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/29/5/1793.abstract AB Background: In view of several studies highlighting an observation of an erythematous eruption in the vicinity of or distant from the lesion in melanoma patients (The Brenner sign), this study sought to assess whether this phenomenon might be related to the blood level of cytokines IL-6 and IL-8. Patients and Methods: Sera specimens obtained from 27 patients with melanoma, of which 15 had erythematous eruptions and 12 did not, were studied by immunohistochemistry for the expression of IL-6 and IL-8. Results: IL-6 was detected in all melanoma patients in both groups. The mean level of IL-6 in the redness group (2.41 pg/L) was significantly higher than in the group without redness (1.25 pg/L). IL-8 was detected in all 27 melanoma patients in the two groups. The serum level was less than 5 pg/L in only 1 patient (6.7%) in the redness group, and in 6 patients (50%) in the group without redness, a statistically significant difference. Conclusion: The Brenner sign appears to reflect a more advanced disease and herald a poor prognosis according to its correlation with the IL-8 and IL-6 blood level. However, in view of the biphasic effect of IL-8 level on tumor progression, and IL-6's ability to inhibit early stage melanoma, redness in melanoma patients could be a sign of a better prognosis of the melanoma.