Analysis of monosomy-3 in immunomagnetically-isolated circulating melanoma cells in uveal melanoma patients

Summary

Monosomy-3 in primary uveal melanoma (UM) is associated with a high risk of metastasis and mortality. Although circulating melanoma cells (CMC) can be found in most UM patients, only approximately 50% of the patients develop metastases. We utilized a novel Immuno-FISH assay to detect chromosome-3 in intact CMC isolated by dual-immunomagnetic enrichment. CMC were detected in 91% of the patients (n=44) with primary non-metastatic UM, of which 58% were positive for monosomy-3. The monosomy-3 status of CMC corresponded to the monosomy-3 status of the primary tumor in 10 of the 11 patients where this could be tested. Monosomy-3 in the CMC was associated with an advanced tumor stage (P = 0.046) and was detected in all four patients who developed metastasis within the follow-up period of 4 years. This non-invasive technique may enable the identification of UM patients at risk for metastasis particularly when a primary tumor specimen is unavailable.

This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

from #MedicinebyAlexandrosSfakianakis via xlomafota13 on Inoreader http://ift.tt/29pk4dV
via IFTTT