Absolute quantitative PCR for detection of molecular biomarkers in melanoma patients: a preliminary report.
BACKGROUND
Malignant melanoma is the most malignant tumours of skin and mucous membranes mainly due to its aggressive biological behaviour and tendency to generate early metastases. Unfortunately, the mechanisms underlying the development, progression and the expression of an aggressive melanoma phenotype still remain largely unknown.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine whether a multi-panel of molecular transcripts can be predictive for risk of recurrent disease in malignant melanoma patients.


RESULTS
Peripheral blood was collected from 31 malignant melanoma patients in follow-up for melanoma and from 30 healthy volunteers randomly selected. Each specimen was examined by qRT-PCR analysis for the expression of six markers: PAX3d, TYR, MITFm, MCAM, TGFβ2 and ABCB5. Malignant melanoma patients expressed an important number of markers, with a median value of four markers. Only PAX3d displayed a trend in terms of differences when the levels of gene expression were made in function of Breslow index. Furthermore, PAX3d showed the best diagnostic capacity among the remaining residual markers or in combination with TGFβ2 and MTIF.


CONCLUSIONS
We demonstrated the usefulness of multimarker qRT-PCR to detect circulating melanoma cells in blood and to potentially assessing patient disease status or progression, especially when PAX3d was used in combination with MTIFm and TGFβ2.
Laboratory of Clinical Molecular and Personalized Diagnostics, Department of Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
F
F
Vendittelli
Laboratory of Clinical Molecular and Personalized Diagnostics, Department of Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
C
C
Paolillo
Laboratory of Clinical Molecular and Personalized Diagnostics, Department of Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
C
C
Autilio
Unit of Dermatology, Cristo Re Hospital, Rome, Italy.
M M
MM
Lavieri
Department of Dermatology, Catholic University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
S L
SL
Silveri
Department of Dermatology, Catholic University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
R
R
Capizzi
Laboratory of Clinical Molecular and Personalized Diagnostics, Department of Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Catholic University, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: ecapoluongo@rm.unicatt.it.
E
E
Capoluongo
D018435:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B; D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / Q000235:genetics; D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics*; D051929:CD146 Antigen / Q000235:genetics; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D000072041:PAX3 Transcription Factor; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics; D053781:Transforming Growth Factor beta2 / Q000235:genetics
C480744:ABCB5 protein, human; D018435:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B; D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D051929:CD146 Antigen; D000072041:PAX3 Transcription Factor; C489409:PAX3 protein, human; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors; D053781:Transforming Growth Factor beta2
Absolute qRT-PCR; Circulating tumor cells; Melanoma molecular biomarker; Multimarker assay