Clinical significance of the molecular detection of melanoma cells circulating in the peripheral blood in melanoma patients.
BACKGROUND
Blood circulating melanoma cells may be important for the spread of the disease. The current methods are not sensitive in detecting micro metastases. Tyrosinase mRNA can be detected in peripheral blood by a molecular test. As tyrosinase is expressed only in melanocytes and melanocytes normally do not circulate in the blood, the test may prove reliable in detecting circulating melanoma cells.


METHODS



METHODS
we used a reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) detecting tyrosinase mRNA in the blood. A prospective investigation in melanoma patients undergoing surgery was conducted; follow-up duration was 12 months.


METHODS
University Department Laboratory and Melanoma Clinic of a Tertiary Hospital.


METHODS
a total of 27 Greek patients with a diagnosis of malignant melanoma at different stages of the disease; 12 months follow-up after surgery. Samples form 12 healthy volunteers and 13 patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia served as controls.


METHODS
none.


METHODS
none.


RESULTS
We detected mRNA tyrosinase in the peripheral blood in 16 out of 27 melanoma patients studied. No tyrosinase mRNA was detected in any of the 25 samples from the controls. Two of the 16 positive cases developed a metastasis within the next 12 months following testing. The other 14 positive cases remain metastasis free for this period, as also did the test negative cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Detection of blood circulating melanoma cells by a RT-PCR technique, may be helpful in defining melanoma patients who are at risk for the spread of the disease.
Konstantopoulos
K
K
University of Athens School of Medicine, First Department of Medicine, Laikon Hospital, Athens, Greece.
Psatha
M
M
Kalotychou
V
V
Frangia
N
N
Ioannovits
I
I
Meletis
I
I
Loukopoulos
D
D
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase / Q000235:genetics; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000097:blood; D012016:Reference Values; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase