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Detection of melanoma cells in peripheral blood stem cell harvests of patients with progressive metastatic malignant melanoma
Author(s) -
ProbstKepper Michael,
Schrader Andres,
Buer Jan,
Grosse Jens,
Volkenandt Matthias,
Illiger HansJoachim,
Metzner Bernd,
Kadar Janosch,
Duensing Stefan,
Hertenstein Bernd,
Ganser Arnold,
Atzpodien Jens
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
british journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.907
H-Index - 186
eISSN - 1365-2141
pISSN - 0007-1048
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2141.1997.1963015.x
Subject(s) - melanoma , medicine , stem cell , melanocyte , cancer research , malignant cells , tyrosinase , chemotherapy , peripheral blood , cell , pathology , oncology , immunology , cancer , biology , enzyme , biochemistry , genetics
The detection of melanocyte‐specific messenger RNA in patients with malignant melanoma suggests the potential contamination of peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) harvests by neoplastic cells. In this study, the melanocyte‐specific transcripts of tyrosinase and Melan‐A/MART‐1 were used to detect neoplastic cells in PBSC harvests of nine metastatic malignant melanoma patients. Only one patient’s PBSC harvest tested positive for tyrosinase. All harvests were negative for Melan‐A/MART‐1. Our results suggest that contamination of PBSC harvests with neoplastic cells may not contribute to disease progression following high‐dose chemotherapy in advanced malignant melanoma.