PCR‐based circulating melanoma cells detection in uveal melanoma

Abstract

AbstractPurpose to investigate the presence of circulating melanoma cells (CMCs) in patients affected by posterior uveal melanoma in different stages of the disease and to determine their prognostic relevance.Methods Blood samples from 14 healthy donors and 23 patients affected by posterior uveal melanoma were collected. Fourteen patients were included at the time of initial treatment without any evidence of metastatic disease using liver ultrasonography and Pet‐CT (non‐metastatic group). Nine patients were included at time of initial treatment of liver metastasis (metastatic group). mRNA expression of tyrosinase, MelanA/MART1 and GP100 as a surrogate marker for the presence of CMCs was analyzed by real‐time RT‐PCR and compared with patient characteristics.Results There was no significant difference on tyrosinase, MelanA/MART1 and GP100 levels between healthy donors and uveal melanoma patients (p>0.05). There was also no significant difference between non‐metastatic vs metastatic group (p>0.05). High levels of tyrosinase, MelanA/MART1 and GP100 in non‐metastatic patients were not related to the development of metastasis in a median follow‐up time of 24 months (p>0.05).Conclusion PCR‐based detection of tyrosinase, MelanA/MART1 and GP100 in uveal melanoma patients appear unrelated with presence/absence of the disease and with the disease stage.