Original Article
Subject Category: Melanocytes/Melanoma
Journal of Investigative Dermatology (2005) 124, 633–637; doi:10.1111/j.0022-202X.2005.23633.x
Quantification of Melanoma Micrometastases in Sentinel Lymph Nodes Using Real-Time RT-PCR
Thomas Giese*, Monika Engstner†, Ulrich Mansmann‡, Wolfgang Hartschuh† and Bernhard Arden†
- *Institute of Immunology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- †Department of Dermatology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- ‡Institute of Medical Biometry and Informatics, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
Correspondence: Thomas Giese MD, Institute of Immunology, Im Neuenheimer Feld 305, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany. Email: Thomas.Giese@urz.uni-heidelberg.de
Received 4 August 2004; Revised 13 October 2004; Accepted 9 November 2004.
Abstract
Detection of micrometastases in the regional tumor-draining lymph nodes is critical for staging and prognosis in melanoma patients. We applied a quantitative multiple-marker RT-PCR assay to improve the detection of occult melanoma cells in the sentinel lymph node (SLN). From 139 patients with primary cutaneous melanoma who underwent sentinel lymphadenectomy, a total of 235 SLN were assessed for Melan-A and tyrosinase expression by real-time quantitative RT-PCR. Twenty-three patients (17%) were positive by histopathology and expressed messenger RNA of one or two markers. Of the patients with histopathologically negative SLN 39 (28%) were reclassified by positive RT-PCR. Patients were examined for tumor recurrences during a median follow-up period of 29 mo. Tumor recurrences were demonstrated in eight patients (35%) with histopathologically positive SLN, in four patients (10%) with submicroscopic tumor cells detected exclusively by real-time RT-PCR, and in none of the patients negative by both methods. The differences in recurrence rates were statistically significant (p=0.01). These data indicate that real-time quantitative RT-PCR for the detection of minimal residual melanoma in SLN improves the prediction of disease-free survival.
Keywords:
melan-A, quantitative PCR, regional lymph node, staging, tyrosinase
Abbreviations:
CI, confidence interval; HE, hematoxylin and eosin; IH, immunohistology; mRNA, messenger RNA; SLN, sentinel lymph node
MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS
These links to content published by NPG are automatically generated.
RESEARCH
Detection of Melanoma Micrometastases in the Sentinel Lymph Node and in Nonsentinel Nodes by Tyrosinase Polymerase Chain ReactionJournal of Investigative Dermatology Original Article
Sentinel node in melanoma patients: triple negativity with routine techniques and PCR as positive prognostic factor for survivalModern Pathology Original Article
RT in situ PCR detection of MART-1 and TRP-2 mRNA in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues of melanoma and neviModern Pathology Original Article
Multimarker RT?PCR assay for the detection of minimal residual disease in sentinel lymph nodes of breast cancer patientsBritish Journal of Cancer Original Article
See all 25 matches for Research


