Detection of circulating neoplastic cells by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction in malignant melanoma: association with clinical stage and prognosis.

Abstract

The detection of circulating melanoma cells in peripheral blood by RT-PCR correlated with the clinical stage of patients with melanoma and was an independent prognostic factor for recurrence. Further studies are warranted to better assess the significance of this test in the evaluation of prognosis, early detection of relapse, and in monitoring the effectiveness of systemic therapy.