Study sheds light on cell type-specific biomarkers of melanoma

Source: News Medical Life Science, July 2022

A new UC Davis-led study sheds light on cell type-specific biomarkers, or signs, of melanoma. The research was recently published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology.

Melanoma, the deadliest of the common skin cancers, is curable with early diagnosis and treatment. However, diagnosing melanoma clinically and under the microscope can be complicated by what are called melanocytic nevi-;otherwise known as birth marks or moles that are non-cancerous. The development of melanoma is a multi-step process, where “melanocytes," or the cells in the skin that contain melanin, mutate and proliferate. Properly identifying melanoma at an early stage is critical for improved survival.

The study examined the expression of over 1,000 genes in 134 regions of interest enriched for melanocytes, a cell in the skin and eyes that produces the pigment called melanin, as well as neighboring keratinocytes or immune cells. The tissue examined came from patient biopsies from 12 tumors, ranging from benign to malignant, using the NanoString GeoMx® Digital Spatial Profiler.

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