Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 30, 2026

Detection and Monitoring of Tumor Associated Circulating DNA in Patient Biofluids
Published on: June 8, 2019
Detection of BRAFV600E Mutation in Melanoma Patients by Digital PCR of Circulating DNA
Tatiana Burjanivova1,2, Bibiana Malicherova1,2, Marian Grendar3
11 Division of Oncology, Biomedical Center Martin JFM CU, Commenius University in Bratislava, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin (JFM CU), Martin, Slovakia.
Aims:
About 50% of melanomas have the BRAFV600E mutation. This mutation is an attractive therapeutic target. The aims of our study were to detect BRAFV600E mutations within circulating cell-free DNA in plasma ("liquid biopsy") by a droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) method, and to investigate how well the Breslow-Clark score can be predicted by ddPCR.
Materials And Methods:
We analyzed 113 patients with malignant melanoma. ddPCR was performed using the QX200 system (BIO-RAD®, Hercules). All samples were tested in duplicate. Besides the results of the liquid biopsy, we have collected data on gender and age of the patients, as well as the mitotic activity of the tumor; the tumor subtype and localization, and the Breslow-Clark score. The limit of detection (LoD) was determined by the method of Tzonev. The LoD was found to be five events per well.
Results:
The BRAFV600E mutation was detected in 37 of 113 samples. A moderate predictive accuracy of the Breslow-Clark score can be attained with the mitotic activity and the type of melanoma as the most important predictors.
Conclusion:
Our results show that ddPCR is a highly sensitive method and could be used for a routine laboratory detection of the BRAFV600E mutation as well as for follow-up monitoring to determine the treatment response in patients with malignant melanomas.
Related Concept Videos
Mutations
Mutations
Chromosomal Alterations Are Large-Scale Mutations
While point mutations are changes in a single nucleotide in...
PCR
Viral Mutations
Mutation, Gene Flow, and Genetic Drift
Coronary Circulation
Coronary circulation begins at the base of the aorta, where two main arteries arise—the left and right coronary arteries. These arteries encircle the heart in the coronary sulcus and supply the...

