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Real-Time Monitoring of Melanoma Markers Predicts Relapse
Elsevier Global Medical News. 2011 Jul 14, B Jancin
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (EGMN) – Serial monitoring of melanoma tumor marker levels in peripheral blood using a novel quantitative real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction method after surgical resection of melanoma has shown promise for the early detection of patients at high risk for disease progression.
The real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay measures circulating levels of five markers unique to melanoma cells: glycoprotein 100 (gp100), melanoma antigen gene-3 (MAGE-3), tyrosinase, melanoma marker A (Melan-A), and melanoma inhibitory activity (MIA) protein, Dr. Spyridon Gkalpakiotis explained at the World Congress of Dermatology.
He reported on 65 patients who underwent peripheral blood testing and analysis of the five markers every 3 months for the first 2 years after resection of their stage II or III melanoma, for a total of 2,925 PCR assays.
Twenty-six patients experienced elevated test results. All 26 relapsed during 5 years of follow-up; the 5-year survival rate in this group was 65%.
In contrast, only 1 of 39 patients with consistently negative real-time PCR assays experienced disease progression; 5-year survival in PCR-negative patients was 97%, reported Dr. Gkalpakiotis of Charles University in Prague.
MAGE-3 was expressed in 21 patients with disease progression. The next most sensitive markers of melanoma progression were MIA and gp100.
Dr. Gkalpakiotis declared having no financial conflicts.
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