Authors: Quaglino, Pietro; Savoia, Paola; Osella-Abate, Simona; Bernengo, Maria Grazia

Source: Expert Review of Molecular Diagnostics, Volume 4, Number 5, September 2004 , pp. 727-741(15)

Publisher: Expert Reviews

Abstract:

Controversial data are reported in the literature concerning the role of peripheral blood tyrosinase messenger RNA reverse transcription PCR analysis in melanoma patient management. Some papers assess the clinical relationship between tyrosinase expression and disease outcome, while others address the high degree of variability in the positive rate percentage and demonstrate the transient shedding of melanoma cells in the bloodstream. An overview of the current knowledge about the applications and limitations of tyrosinase analysis compared with other biologic markers is presented herein. Tyrosinase expression should not be considered as a tumor burden-related marker in the peripheral blood, but rather as a measure of the potential increased risk of metastatic spreading. In this view, reverse transcription PCR gains a clinical significance when sequential determinations are performed during follow-up, whereas the evaluation of a single sample, either positive or negative, does not bring any additional clinical information.

Keywords: biologic markers; melanoma follow-up; melanoma prognosis; peripheral blood; RT-PCR; tyrosinase mRNA

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1586/14737159.4.5.727

Publication date: 2004-09-01

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• Expert Review of Molecular Diagnostics provides expert reviews on molecular diagnostic technologies and applied pharmacogenomics in clinical medicine. Coverage includes molecular diagnostics, biomarkers, diagnostic technologies, microarrays and biochips, proteomics, pharmacogenomics, pharmacogenetics and personalized medicine.
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