Real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis of melanoma progression-associated genes.
BACKGROUND
Melanoma is an aggressive disease that spreads quickly and is resistant to most therapeutic agents. In an effort to provide insight into the molecular basis of melanoma progression, the expression of 94 genes in 20 metastatic melanomas using a high-throughput real-time quantitative RT-PCR assay was analysed.


METHODS
A TaqMan low density array (LDA) was designed containing probes/primers directed towards a cohort of genes previously found to be differentially expressed in an isogenic cell line model of melanoma progression. For each sample, cDNA was prepared and added to the quantitative assay. The resulting data were then analysed for correlations with clinical data.


RESULTS
Clustering analysis divided the melanomas into two major subgroups based on gene expression patterns. When analysed individually, several genes were associated with overall survival, depth and type of the primary tumour.


CONCLUSIONS
We have identified a selection of genes linked to melanoma progression and patient outcome.
Rafferty
Mairin
M
UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, UCD Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Ireland.
Faller
William J
WJ
Moss
Catherine
C
McCormack
Janet
J
Mãlandsmo
Gunhild M
GM
Easty
David J
DJ
Gallagher
William M
WM
D018450:Disease Progression; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods