title: Simultaneous analysis of tyrosinase mRNA and markers of tyrosinase activity in the blood of patients with metastatic melanoma.
abstract: Determination of blood tyrosinase mRNA by RT-PCR and markers of tyrosinase activity (L-DOPA/L-tyrosine ratio) by HPLC have been proposed as biological tools for the detection of metastases in melanoma patients. We prospectively evaluated their significance and clinical value in a group of 30 stage III (n = 10) and IV (n = 20) melanoma patients and one with melanosis of Dubreuilh. L-DOPA/L-tyrosine ratio was elevated in 30% of stage III, 41% of stage IV patients (range: 7.5-261.0 x 10(5)) and in melanosis of Dubreuilh (184.8) (reference values: 6-16 X 10(5)). One stage III and four stage IV melanoma patients were positive for tyrosinase mRNA. In stage IV patients, tyrosinase mRNA positivity was associated with disease progression (P<0.01). The presence of tyrosinase mRNA in blood is more related to clinical status than level of melanin precursors, which probably reflects tumor burden.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Biochimie A, Hôpital Saint-Louis, Paris, France.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Le Bricon
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stoitchkov
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Letellier
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Guibal
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Spy
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Garnier
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bousquet
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase