title: Detection of circulating melanoma cells in choroidal melanocytic lesions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To detect and quantify circulating tumour cells (CTCs) in peripheral blood of patients with uveal melanoma primary non-metastatic tumours, and to analyze the possible relationship between CTCs and clinical risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study with two clinical groups: 4 patients diagnosed with choroidal nevus and 8 patients with choroidal melanoma prior to treatment. A single sample of 7.5 mL of peripheral blood was taken and the CTCs were isolated using a CellSearch system that captures positive cells for the CD146 antigen (MUC18).
  
  
  RESULTS
  None of the patients with choroidal nevus showed CTCs in peripheral blood. More than one CTC/7.5 mL was detected in 50 % of patients with choroidal melanoma prior to treatment. The higher level of CTC cells in peripheral blood (3/7.5 mL) was detected in the patient with the larger choroidal melanoma which also presented extrascleral extension and epithelioid pathology.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Performing an analysis with the CellSearch system allows to quantify the choroidal melanoma CTCs in peripheral blood. This finding highlights the potential usefulness of this technique to achieve the correct stratification and monitoring of the treatment.
authors.affiliation: Ocular Oncology Unit, Servizo de Oftalmoloxía, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain. verman017@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Manuel F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Bande
authors.affiliation: Ocular Oncology Unit, Servizo de Oftalmoloxía, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain. velasmi33@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Santiago
authors.affiliation: Liquid Biopsy Analysis Unit, Translational Medical Oncology Group, Health Research Institute of Santiago (IDIS), Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain. lmuirom@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Muinelo-Romay
authors.affiliation: Ocular Oncology Unit, Servizo de Oftalmoloxía, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain. Maria.Jose.Blanco.Teijeiro@sergas.es.
authors.forename: Maria Jose
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Blanco
authors.affiliation: Ocular Oncology Unit, Servizo de Oftalmoloxía, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain. Purificacion.Mera.Yanez@sergas.es.
authors.forename: Purificacion
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mera
authors.affiliation: Ocular Oncology Unit, Servizo de Oftalmoloxía, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain. hatman_matt@hotmail.es.
authors.forename: Carmela
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Capeans
authors.affiliation: Grupo Obesidómica, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago (IDIS), Hospital Clínico Universitario de Santiago (CHUS/SERGAS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain. maruxapardo@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pardo
authors.affiliation: Ocular Oncology Unit, Servizo de Oftalmoloxía, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain. Antonio.Pineiro.Ces@sergas.es.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piñeiro
mesh_terms: D002830:Choroid Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating; D011446:Prospective Studies