Urinary excretion of melanocytic metabolites in fertile women.

Pregnant women and women taking oral contraceptives (OCs) show urinary excretion values of 5-S-cysteinyldopa and of 6-hydroxy-5-methoxyindole-2-carboxylic acid in the same range as nonpregnant women not taking OCs. The excretion of these melanoma markers can therefore be used in the biochemical diagnosis of metastatic melanoma in pregnancy and in women taking OCs. (authors)