[Detection of circulating malignant cells in patients with uveal melanoma].
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of our study was to detect circulating malignant cells (CMCs) in oversea-shipped blood samples of patients with uveal melanoma diagnosed in Brazil. METHODOS: Melan-A and tyrosinase were the two markers used for the detection of CMCs, using reverse transcriptase nested polymerase chain reaction (RT-nested-PCR) in 6 patients with uveal melanoma. The expression of beta-actin and GAPDH were used to assess the quality of the material.


RESULTS
Five patients (83.33%) tested positive for the presence of CMCs. The RT-nested-PCR was positive for melan-A in 4 patients (66.7%) and positive for tyrosinase in 4 (66.7%) of the 6 patients. Three (50%) patients were positive for both markers. One (16.7%) patient was negative for both markers. All negative controls were negative.


CONCLUSIONS
The quality of the blood samples shipped overseas, from patients with uveal melanoma, was preserved. The detection of CMCs using RT-nested-PCR was positive in the majority of the patients.
Fernandes
Bruno F
BF
Departamento de Oftalmologia e Patologia da McGill University Health Center & Henry C. Witelson Ocular Pathology Laboratory, Montreal, Canadá. bruno.mtl@gmail.com
Antecka
Emilia
E
dos Passos
Gilberto
G
Burnier
Miguel N
MN
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000097:blood*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D058965:MART-1 Antigen; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000097:blood / Q000556:secondary*; D008875:Middle Aged; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase / Q000097:blood*; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating / Q000737:chemistry*; D013048:Specimen Handling; D013997:Time Factors; D014604:Uveal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology*
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D058965:MART-1 Antigen; C548667:MLANA protein, human; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase