MART-1 is expressed less frequently on circulating melanoma cells in patients who develop distant compared with locoregional metastases

Citation
Bj. Curry et al., MART-1 is expressed less frequently on circulating melanoma cells in patients who develop distant compared with locoregional metastases, J CL ONCOL, 17(8), 1999, pp. 2562-2571
Citations number
32
Categorie Soggetti
Oncology,"Onconogenesis & Cancer Research
Journal title
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ONCOLOGY
ISSN journal
0732183X → ACNP
Volume
17
Issue
8
Year of publication
1999
Pages
2562 - 2571
Database
ISI
SICI code
0732-183X(199908)17:8<2562:MIELFO>2.0.ZU;2-Q
Abstract
Purpose: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with tyrosinase and with MART-1 pe rmits detection of small numbers of circulating melanoma cells (CMCs) in pa tients who have undergone surgical resection of localized disease. In a pre vious study, we showed that PCR with MART-1 had sensitivity and specificity similar to those of PCR with tyrosinase in terms of detection of CMCs but that PCR with MART-1 seemed to identify a different but overlapping subgrou p of patients. In the current study we examined the utility and prognostic significance of PCR with tyrosinase and with MART-1. Patients and Methods: We analyzed the prognostic significance of the patter ns of expression of tyrosinase and MART-1 in 186 patients followed sequenti ally before and after surgical removal of American Joint Committee on Cance r stage I, II, or III melanoma. Results: PCR with tyrosinase and with MART-1 in the first 3 months after su rgery identified 68.5% of 73 patients who developed recurrence in the 2-yea r period after surgery. Approximately 35% of patients with positive tests r emained disease-free at 5-year followup. We found that patients with dissem inated recurrence had a significantly lower incidence of MART-1-positive CM Cs (16%) than of tyrosinase-positive CMCs (63%). Patients with locoregional metastases had CMCs that expressed tyrosinase and MART-1 at similar rates. These differences in expression of the markers in patients with disseminat ed recurrence were also associated with a much lower disease-free survival, in those who had CMCs that were positive for tyrosinase but negative for M ART-1. The reverse applied in those with locoregional disease. Conclusion: These findings suggest that PCR with MART-1 and with tyrosinase identifies subgroups of patients who develop disseminated or locally recur rent metastases. We hypothesize that immune responses against MART-I may re duce the establishment of disseminated metastases. (C) 1999 by American Soc iety of Clinical Oncology.