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Updated: Jul 8, 2026
A Robust Discovery Platform for the Identification of Novel Mediators of Melanoma Metastasis
Published on: March 8, 2022
Multimarker real-time reverse transcription-PCR for quantitative detection of melanoma-associated antigens: a novel
P Arenberger1, M Arenbergerova, S Gkalpakiotis
1Department of Dermatology, Charles University 3rd Medical Faculty, Prague, Czech Republic.
Background:
Detection of melanoma cells in peripheral blood is a promising method for monitoring haematogenous spread of melanoma cells. It enables us to detect early metastasis and to better stratify candidates for adjuvant immunotherapy. Inconsistent data on the sensitivity and clinical relevance of this method have been reported.
Study Design:
We developed a multimarker real-time reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) for quantification of five melanoma markers: Melan-A, gp100, MAGE-3, MIA and tyrosinase. In this prospective study, 65 patients with resected cutaneous melanoma stage IIB-III were screened. Peripheral blood samples were collected every 3 months for the following 18 months, and circulating melanoma cells were examined and compared with clinical staging results.
Results:
Eighteen patients relapsed during the trial and showed different types of melanoma progression. All these patients experienced statistically significant tumour marker elevation in the period from 0 to 9 months before the disease progression. MAGE-3 was the most sensitive progression marker. In patients with progression, we observed three concordant positive markers in 39% of cases, two concordant positive markers in 28%, and finally one marker in 33%.
Conclusions:
This report describes a multiple-marker real-time RT-PCR, which is able to provide quantitative data on melanoma markers in the peripheral blood of melanoma patients. Measurement of the studied molecular markers in our hands represents a prognostic factor and a useful method for early detection of metastasis and treatment response of melanoma patients.
