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Increased thymidylate synthase gene expression in metastatic melanoma
T Vlaykova1, A P Jekunen, M Kesomaa
1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Higher Medical Institute, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria.
Oncology
|March 1, 1997
Summary
Thymidylate synthase (TS) gene expression is significantly higher in metastatic melanoma than in normal tissues. This finding may help predict treatment response in melanoma patients.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Oncology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Thymidylate synthase (TS) is crucial for DNA synthesis and a primary target in cancer chemotherapy.
- Elevated TS expression is implicated in various cancers, potentially affecting treatment efficacy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and compare Thymidylate synthase (TS) gene expression levels in metastatic melanoma tissues versus normal control tissues.
- To evaluate the correlation between TS expression and patient response to immunochemotherapy.
Main Methods:
- Semiquantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was employed to measure TS gene expression.
- TS expression levels were quantified relative to the beta-actin housekeeping gene.
- Expression data were statistically analyzed to determine significance.
Main Results:
- Metastatic melanoma samples exhibited significantly higher mean TS/beta-actin ratios (2.0) compared to control tissues (mean 0.5).
- A statistically significant difference (p = 0.0000713) was observed between melanoma and control groups.
- Higher TS expression correlated with a complete response versus progressive disease (p = 0.0002) in patients undergoing immunochemotherapy.
- No clear association was found between high TS/beta-actin ratio and S phase fraction in melanoma samples.
Conclusions:
- Thymidylate synthase (TS) gene expression is markedly upregulated in metastatic melanoma.
- TS expression levels may serve as a predictive biomarker for treatment response in melanoma patients receiving immunochemotherapy.