Detection of Submicroscopic Lymph Node Metastases with Polymerase Chain Reaction in Patients with Malignant Melanoma

Abstract

The RT-PCR method is an extremely sensitive, reproducible, and efficient technique for the identification of micrometastases in patients with melanoma and could be widely applicable. If clinical correlation is obtained, staging of the melanoma patient becomes more accurate, and treatment becomes more standardized and rational, because all those patients who have evidence of nodal disease can be identified so that they may benefit from more extensive surgery (formal node dissections) or adjuvant therapies. Based on these results, RT-PCR could be a powerful tool to detect micrometastatic melanoma.