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Application of a filtration and isolating technique for detection of circulating melanoma tumor cells

The presence of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) through isolation by size of epithelial tumor cells was analyzed in the blood of subjects with cutaneous melanoma (n = 87), melanocytic nevi (n = 10), nonmelanoma skin tumors (n = 5) and healthy controls (n = 38). CTCs were not found in controls nor in the in situ melanoma group, but were seen in primary invasive melanomas (n = 62) and in 62.5% of metastatic melanoma patients (n = 8; P < 0.01). CTC detection was correlated with mRNA tyrosinase in blood samples (P = 0.001) with 77.6% concordant results. CTC detection may thus assist in monitoring therapies in melanoma patients (De ...