Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41566306›Full record

ArticleJournal of translational medicine2026

Circulating cellular communication network factor 1 (CCN1) as a liquid biopsy marker indicating progression in advanced melanoma.

Isabel Heidrich, Kim-Lea Reese, Helen Ullemeyer, Julian Kött, Hanna Freiberg, Glenn Geidel, Alessandra Rünger, Inga Hansen-Abeck, Finn Abeck, Stefan W Schneider and 3 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of translational medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Isabel HeidrichInstitute of Tumor Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany.
Kim-Lea ReeseInstitute of Tumor Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany.
Helen UllemeyerInstitute of Tumor Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany.
Julian KöttDepartment of Dermatology and Venereology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany.
Hanna FreibergInstitute of Tumor Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany.
Glenn GeidelDepartment of Dermatology and Venereology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany.
Alessandra RüngerDepartment of Dermatology and Venereology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany.
Inga Hansen-AbeckDepartment of Dermatology and Venereology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany.
Finn AbeckDepartment of Dermatology and Venereology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany.
Stefan W SchneiderDepartment of Dermatology and Venereology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany.
Christoffer Gebhardt *Department of Dermatology and Venereology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany.
Klaus Pantel *Institute of Tumor Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany. pantel@uke.de.ORCID 0000-0001-5736-2772
Daniel J Smit *Institute of Tumor Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany. d.smit@uke.de.ORCID 0000-0002-3190-9511

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundCellular communication network factor 1 (CCN1, also referred to as CYR61), a secreted matricellular protein, has been implicated in tumor progression and stromal remodeling within the metastatic tumor microenvironment of melanoma. Here, we investigated, for the first time, whether CCN1 circulating in the blood can serve as a biomarker in melanoma patients.

methodsIn this retrospective study, serum CCN1 levels before treatment initiation were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 95 patients with advanced melanoma (unresectable AJCC stage III and AJCC IV) treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors. The association between CCN1 serum levels and clinico-pathological parameters, as well as clinical outcomes, was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox proportional hazards models. Moreover, CCN1 levels were also evaluated in relation to established biomarkers, including S100B.

resultsAn optimal cutoff of 221.76 pg/mL was calculated for serum CCN1 to stratify patients into high and low CCN1 groups. No significant associations, despite T status, with demographic, clinico-pathological, or laboratory parameters of the CCN1 groups were detected. High serum CCN1 levels were significantly associated with reduced OS (median OS: 15 months vs. median OS not reached, p = 0.011), but only a trend was toward impaired PFS was detected. Combination of CCN1 with established prognosticators in melanoma, such as S100B serum levels, enhances risk stratification. Patients with high serum levels of both CCN1 and S100B exhibited the poorest prognosis (median OS: 5 months), while those with low levels of CCN1 and S100B had the most favorable outcomes (median OS not reached; overall log-rank p < 0.0001, adjusted p = 0.00032), indicating the complementary value of CCN1. In the multivariate Cox-regression analysis, CCN1 sustained as an independent prognostic factor of impaired OS (HR = 3.50, 95% CI: 1.69–7.26, p = 0.001) besides Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 2 (HR: 4.10, 95% CI 1.62–10.36, p = 0.003) and elevated S100B (HR: 4.64, 95% CI: 1.93–11.16, p = 0.001).

conclusionCCN1 is an independent prognostic blood-based liquid biopsy biomarker for OS in advanced melanoma (especially if combined with S100B), suggesting a potential role in melanoma aggressiveness and potential involvement in immunotherapy resistance that warrants further functional investigation.

Indexed as

Biomarkers, TumorCysteine-Rich Protein 61Disease ProgressionMelanomaAdultAgedFemaleHumansKaplan-Meier EstimateLiquid BiopsyMaleMiddle AgedNeoplasm StagingPrognosisBiomarkers, TumorCCN1 protein, humanCysteine-Rich Protein 61CCN1Cellular communication network factor 1Immune checkpoint inhibitionLiquid biopsyMelanomaPrognostic biomarker

Identifiers

PMID41566306
PMCPMC12905931

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.