Detection of circulating neoplastic cells by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction in malignant melanoma: association with clinical stage and prognosis.

1996 ◽  
Vol 14 (7) ◽  
pp. 2091-2097 ◽  
Author(s):  
B Mellado ◽  
D Colomer ◽  
T Castel ◽  
M Muñoz ◽  
E Carballo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Malignant Melanoma ◽  
Prognostic Factor ◽  
Peripheral Blood ◽  
Clinical Stage ◽  
Melanoma Cells ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
Polymerase Chain ◽  
Circulating Neoplastic Cells

PURPOSE Circulating melanoma cells can be detected in peripheral blood by means of tyrosinase mRNA amplification by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). We conducted a prospective study to evaluate the clinical significance of the presence of circulating neoplastic cells in the blood of patients with malignant melanoma (MM). METHODS A sensitive RT-PCR assay was used to detect tyrosinase mRNA in the peripheral blood of patients with stages I to IV melanoma. Healthy subjects or patients with other malignancies were used as negative controls. RESULTS Ninety-one assessable patients were included in the study. There was a statistically significant association between RT-PCR positivity and clinical stage. Circulating melanoma cells were detected in 36% of patients with localized disease (stages I and II), in 45% of patients with regional nodal involvement (stage III), and in 94% of patients with metastatic disease (stage IV) (P < .001). In stage II-III patients who were RT-PCR-positive for mRNA tyrosinase in blood, the recurrence rate and disease-free survival were significantly worse than patients who were RT-PCR-negative. In multivariate analysis, RT-PCR was an independent prognostic factor for recurrence in patients with nonmetastatic disease (P = .002). CONCLUSION The detection of circulating melanoma cells in peripheral blood by RT-PCR correlated with the clinical stage of patients with melanoma and was an independent prognostic factor for recurrence. Further studies are warranted to better assess the significance of this test in the evaluation of prognosis, early detection of relapse, and in monitoring the effectiveness of systemic therapy.

Polymerase Chain Reaction-Based Detection of Circulating Melanoma Cells as an Effective Marker of Tumor Progression

1999 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 304-304 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giuseppe Palmieri ◽  
Maria Strazzullo ◽  
Paolo A. Ascierto ◽  
Sabrina M.R. Satriano ◽  
Antonio Daponte ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Tumor Progression ◽  
Peripheral Blood ◽  
Melanoma Cells ◽  
Disease Stage ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
Gene Markers ◽  
Risk Of Recurrence ◽  
Polymerase Chain

PURPOSE: Reverse transcriptase (RT) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with multiple markers has been demonstrated to be highly sensitive in detecting circulating cells from patients with malignant melanoma (MM). We evaluated the clinical significance of the presence in peripheral blood of specific PCR-positive mRNA markers as an expression of circulating melanoma cells. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Total cellular RNA was obtained from the peripheral blood of 235 patients with either localized (n = 154) or metastatic (n = 81) melanoma. We performed RT-PCR using tyrosinase, p97, MUC18, and MelanA/MART1 as gene markers. The PCR products were analyzed by gel electrophoresis and Southern blot hybridization. In addition, 20 healthy subjects and 21 patients with nonmelanoma cancer were used as negative controls. RESULTS: Although detected at various levels among assessable patients, each mRNA marker was significantly correlated with disease stage. A significant correlation with disease stage was demonstrated for patients who were positive to all four markers (P < .0001) or to at least three markers (P < .001). Univariate analysis showed a significant correlation between risk of recurrence (evaluated in stage I, II, and III patients) and increasing number of PCR-positive markers (P = .0002). Logistic regression multivariate analysis indicated that each single marker (except tyrosinase) and, more especially, the presence of four PCR-positive markers remained statistically independent prognostic factors for tumor progression. CONCLUSION: Our data establish the existence of a significant correlation among clinical stages, tumor progression, and presence of circulating melanoma-associated antigens in peripheral blood of MM patients. Preliminary assessment of a subset of patients with a higher risk of recurrence needs longer follow-up and further studies to define the role of RT-PCR in monitoring MM patients.

Prognostic Value of Circulating Melanoma Cells Detected by Reverse Transcriptase–Polymerase Chain Reaction

2003 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 767-773 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giuseppe Palmieri ◽  
Paolo A. Ascierto ◽  
Francesco Perrone ◽  
Sabrina M.R. Satriano ◽  
Alessandro Ottaiano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Subgroup Analysis ◽  
Peripheral Blood ◽  
Predictive Value ◽  
Prognostic Value ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Stage Of Disease ◽  
Polymerase Chain

Purpose: Factors that are predictive of prognosis in patients who are diagnosed with malignant melanoma (MM) are widely awaited. Detection of circulating melanoma cells (CMCs) by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) has recently been postulated as a possible negative prognostic factor. Two main questions were addressed: first, whether the presence of CMCs, defined as the patient being positive for any of the three markers, had a prognostic role; and second, what the predictive value of each individual marker was. Patients and Methods: A consecutive series of 200 melanoma patients observed between January 1997 and December 1997, with stage of disease ranging from I to IV, was analyzed by semiquantitative RT-PCR. Tyrosinase, p97, and MelanA/MART1 were used as markers to CMCs on baseline peripheral blood samples. Progression-free survival (PFS) was used as a unique end point and was described by the product limit method. Multivariable analysis was applied to verify whether the auspicated prognostic value of these markers was independent of the stage of disease, and a subgroup analysis was performed that excluded patients with stage IV disease. Results: Overall, 32% (64 of 200) of patients progressed, and a median PFS of 52 months in the whole series was observed. The presence of CMCs and the markers individually or combined was predictive of prognosis in the univariate analysis but did not provide additional prognostic information to the stage of disease in multivariable models. In the subgroup analysis of stage (ie, I–III subgroup), similar results were observed. Conclusion: Detection of CMCs in peripheral blood samples at the time of MM diagnosis by semiquantitative RT-PCR does not add any significant predictive value to the stage of disease. Thus, this approach should not be used in clinical practice, and further studies are required to determine its usefulness.

Polymerase chain reaction detection of melanoma cells in the circulation: relation to clinical stage, surgical treatment, and recurrence from melanoma.

1998 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 1760-1769 ◽  
Author(s):  
B J Curry ◽  
K Myers ◽  
P Hersey
Keyword(s):  
Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Regional Lymph Node ◽  
Clinical Stage ◽  
False Negative ◽  
Primary Melanoma ◽  
Melanoma Cells ◽  
Early Postoperative Period ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
Negative Results ◽  
Polymerase Chain

PURPOSE The detection of melanoma cells in the circulation by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays has been shown by several investigators to correlate with the stage of the disease and possibly with prognosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS We performed prospective studies on 276 patients with primary melanoma and regional lymph node (LN) metastases to assess the predictive value of PCR detection of tyrosinase and melanoma antigen recognized by T cells-1 (MART-1) in the blood for recurrence of melanoma. RESULTS PCR tests for gp 100, Muc-18, and p97 reacted with RNA in blood from healthy subjects and were considered unsuitable for patient monitoring. The tests were most frequently positive in the first 3 months after surgery. There were 47 recurrences in 123 patients who had been followed up for 18 months. Assays within 3 months of surgery predicted recurrence from melanoma in 66% of the latter (tests for tyrosinase alone detected 51% and MART-1 alone 21% of the patients). Hence, 34% of recurrences were not predicted by tests in the early postoperative period. This did not appear to be because of marker-negative melanoma because summation of tests over the first year identified 89% of those with recurrent disease. CONCLUSION Positive tests were recorded in 35% of patients who remained disease free, but it is too early to assess whether these represent false-positive results. The false-negative results raise the question of whether the assays will provide a reliable basis for selection of patients for adjuvant therapy.

scholarly journals The detection of melanoma cells in peripheral blood by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction

1995 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 155-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
AJE Foss ◽  
MJ Guille ◽  
NL Occleston ◽  
PG Hykin ◽  
JL Hungerford ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Reverse Transcription ◽  
Peripheral Blood ◽  
Melanoma Cells ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
Polymerase Chain
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document