title: Prognostic molecular biomarkers for cutaneous malignant melanoma.
abstract: Molecular signatures of melanoma have propelled new approaches to early diagnosis, monitoring of treatment response, and targeted therapy. This review discusses messenger RNA (mRNA), genomic, and epigenomic melanoma biomarkers in blood and tissue specimens. The major focus is on tissue-based molecular assays to upstage sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs), and blood-based assays to detect melanoma progression by monitoring levels of circulating tumor cells (CTC) and circulating DNA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Oncology, John Wayne Cancer Institute at Saint John's Health Center, Santa Monica, California, USA.
authors.forename: Ryo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Koyanagi
authors.forename: Norihiko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Narita
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.forename: Dave S B
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Hoon
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics*; D057890:Epigenomics; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008545:Melanoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D012333:RNA, Messenger