02-25-2014, 02:21 AM
The University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) have announced that researchers in their Cell Biology and Histology Department have patented a method for diagnosis and prognosis of cutaneous melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. This method should assist in earlier diagnosis of melanoma and help in developing personalised treatments. The patent has been filed with the Spanish Patents and Trademarks Office, reference P10196ES00.
Melanoma arises from transformation of melanocytes, which are the melanin-synthesising cells of the body. Melanin is essential for protection from harmful effects of solar radiation. Melanoma is one of the less common skin cancers but it has the highest mortality rate due to its high metastatic potential. The key to successful treatment is early diagnosis, as “patients with early-stage melanoma have a survival rate of 95%, while 5-year survival falls to 50% in patients with metastasis,” according to Dr Yoana Arroyo, one of the researchers contributing to the patented method.
The patented method arose from research in the Tumour Markers and New Therapies research group of the Department of Cell Biology and Histology in UPV/EHU. The group were interested in identifying markers which could reliably distinguish between melanoma cells versus normal, untransformed melanocytes. An approach was adopted based on comparing gene expression data, mutational analysis and epigenetic data.
The group were able to confirm that the melanoma cells have characteristic patterns of gene and protein expression which distinguished tumour versus non-tumour status. Furthermore, they have developed a method to identify cells with higher invasive capacity which are most likely to metastasise. Thus the patented method includes new molecular biomarkers that are relevant in melanoma diagnosis, prognosis and susceptibility.
Dr Arroyo concluded: “This diagnosis method is a way of identifying those patients who are more likely to develop metastasis, so that their treatment and survival can be improved. This study could also open up new avenues of research for the development of new, more personalised treatments.”
Source
UPV/EHU press release; available at: http://www.basqueresearch.com/berria_ira...wttJLavnIU [Accessed 24 February 2014].
Melanoma arises from transformation of melanocytes, which are the melanin-synthesising cells of the body. Melanin is essential for protection from harmful effects of solar radiation. Melanoma is one of the less common skin cancers but it has the highest mortality rate due to its high metastatic potential. The key to successful treatment is early diagnosis, as “patients with early-stage melanoma have a survival rate of 95%, while 5-year survival falls to 50% in patients with metastasis,” according to Dr Yoana Arroyo, one of the researchers contributing to the patented method.
The patented method arose from research in the Tumour Markers and New Therapies research group of the Department of Cell Biology and Histology in UPV/EHU. The group were interested in identifying markers which could reliably distinguish between melanoma cells versus normal, untransformed melanocytes. An approach was adopted based on comparing gene expression data, mutational analysis and epigenetic data.
The group were able to confirm that the melanoma cells have characteristic patterns of gene and protein expression which distinguished tumour versus non-tumour status. Furthermore, they have developed a method to identify cells with higher invasive capacity which are most likely to metastasise. Thus the patented method includes new molecular biomarkers that are relevant in melanoma diagnosis, prognosis and susceptibility.
Dr Arroyo concluded: “This diagnosis method is a way of identifying those patients who are more likely to develop metastasis, so that their treatment and survival can be improved. This study could also open up new avenues of research for the development of new, more personalised treatments.”
Source
UPV/EHU press release; available at: http://www.basqueresearch.com/berria_ira...wttJLavnIU [Accessed 24 February 2014].
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