Blood-borne microRNA signatures as specific biomarkers for melanoma
New study supported by febit now published in BMC Cancer
LEXINGTON, Mass. (USA), and HEIDELBERG, Germany, June 15, 2010 – Newest findings in the field of blood-borne cancer biomarkers have been published in the latest issue of BMC Cancer: Based on the joint efforts of the Biomarker Discovery Center (bdc) Heidelberg, the Saarland University, and supported by febit and its microRNA Biochip assay, this study investigated the expression of microRNA biomarkers in blood cells of melanoma patients. Malignant melanomas represent the most aggressive form of skin cancer. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) the number of melanoma cases continues to increase in incidence, faster than any other type of cancer. Melanoma accounts for about 4% of skin cancer cases but for as many as 74% of all deaths of skin cancer. In this study, a highly specific microRNA expression profile was characterized for melanoma patients using febit’s established microRNA Biochip. A summary of the study and its findings is available on the febit website. About 900 microRNA sequences were screened in blood samples of melanoma patients and healthy individuals. This approach revealed 51 differentially expressed microRNAs, including 21 microRNAs that were downregulated and 30 microRNAs that were upregulated in blood cells of melanoma patients, as compared to blood cells of healthy controls. Using a subset of 16 significantly deregulated microRNAs, a patient classification accuracy of 97.4%, a specificity of 95% and a sensitivity of 98.9% were reached. This study highlights the great potential of microRNA biomarker profiling from blood cells as a non-invasive biomarker test for melanoma and other forms of cancer.