Abstract
Purpose: :
To screen expression of the discriminating genes (CDH1, ECM1, EIF1B, FXR1, HTR2B, ID2, LMCD1, MTUS1, RAB31, ROBO1, and SATB1) used for predicting systemic metastasis of uveal melanoma in various human tissues, especially in whole blood, in order to evaluate if any of these discriminating genes can be used as a biomarker for detection of circulating uveal melanoma cells.
Methods: :
We screened the GeneNote through the GeneCards.org for tissue-based expression of the discriminating genes used for predicting systemic metastasis in uveal melanoma. We screened microarray analysis, electronic northern blot analysis and serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) for the discriminating genes.
Results: :
Based on our screening, microarray analysis showed expression of all 12 discriminating genes in normal whole blood. However, electronic northern blot analysis and SAGE expression did not confirm the expression of these genes. Similarly, all these 12 discriminating genes were expressed in microarray analysis of normal liver, lung and skin tissues, which are the most common systemic metastatic sites. Electronic northern blot expression and SAGE expression of all 12 genes were observed in these tissues except for ROBO1 and HTR2B genes.
Conclusions: :
The discriminating genes for predicting systemic metastasis in uveal melanoma may not be used as a biomarker in blood because of expression of these genes in normal whole blood tissue. Lack of detection of these genes by electronic northern blot analysis or SAGE expression may be related to limitation of these techniques.
Keywords: uvea • melanoma • gene/expression