According to the Doctors Lounge, a new study has found that biomarkers may predict metastasis in people with melanoma. A set of plasma biomarkers may be useful in predicting which patients are at risk for metastasis, according to a study published in the Clinical Cancer Research.
Harriet M. Kluger, M.D. of the Yale Cancer Center in Connecticut and a team of researchers measured plasma proteins in 108 metastatic melanoma patients and 108 patients with resected stage I or II disease. The group studied protein levels in the former group.
The researchers found seven biomarkers, all which were higher in metastatic melanoma patients than in those with early-stage of the cancer. 81 percent of the early-stage patients had no marker elevation. In 69 percent of those with metastatic disease at least one marker had an elevation.
The team used blood tests to predict the risk of metastasis with melanoma, which would be a much cheaper method than periodic imaging tests used today. According to the Association for Cancer Research, 68,130 Americans were diagnosed with melanoma in 2010, and 8,700 died of the skin cancer. Most deaths from melanoma result from metastasis.
TV broadcaster Kerry Smith died this week from melanoma. She had worked at The Breeze radio station and presented on Radio Pacific and RadioLive, and formerly worked on MediaWorks. The Breeze FM presenter took medical leave in January, saying she wanted to focus on her treatment and recovery from skin cancer. Melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer and leading cause of death from skin disease.