Based on a potential binding site of MAb8-1, we identified, molecularly cloned, and sequenced the gene, encoding this melanoma-associated antigen from a uveal melanoma copy DNA library.
Based on a potential binding site of MAb8-1, we identified, molecularly cloned, and sequenced the gene, encoding this melanoma-associated antigen from a uveal melanoma copy DNA library.
The viability of reverse transcription/polymerase chain reaction amplification of the tyrosinase gene to detect circulating melanocytes was examined as a first sign of dissemination from uveal melanoma.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether tyrosinase mRNA is detectable in the peripheral blood of patients with uveal and cutaneous melanoma and in patients with uveal melanoma undergoing surgical procedures on the eye harbouring the tumour.
Homozygous deletions of the CDKN2 locus were observed in 8 cases of cutaneous melanoma and 2 cases of uveal melanoma; mutations in CDKN2 exon 2 were found in 2 of the 46 cases with allelic deletion in 9p21.
To further study the expression of VEGF in these tumor cells we performed Northern blotting on a retinoblastoma celline, Y79, and on an uveal melanoma celline, OM431.
Transgenic mouse models developed using a tyrosinase promoter tagged with a mutated ras gene or SV40-Tag oncoprotein develop retinal pigment epithelium tumors that resemble uveal melanoma.
Seven human uveal melanoma cell lines and two murine skin melanoma cell lines were subjected to Northern blot analysis for the detection of nm23-H1 mRNA and to immuno-histochemistry to detect nm23 antigen.
Homozygous deletions of the CDKN2 locus were observed in 8 cases of cutaneous melanoma and 2 cases of uveal melanoma; mutations in CDKN2 exon 2 were found in 2 of the 46 cases with allelic deletion in 9p21.
In the present study we have investigated the expression of CD44 and the pattern of CD44 alternative splicing in uveal melanoma in relation to the cell type, diameter and invasiveness of the tumour.
The primary uveal melanoma as well as the cell line showed a high expression of monomorphic and polymorphic HLA-A antigens, while metastases showed a high expression of monomorphic and a lower expression of polymorphic antigens.
We report the findings of a prospective study using fresh uveal melanoma where the DNA index (DI) and percentage of cells in S phase (%SPF) have been determined by flow cytometry in 51 patients with a minimum follow-up of 5 years.
We conclude that (1) MDR1 may be involved in chemoresistance and tumor propagation in primary uveal melanoma, and (2) increasing levels of expression are prognostically significant and may prove a useful marker of tumor invasiveness, independent of established prognostic factors.