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IN VITRO METHOD FOR DETECTING TUMOR GROWTH AND DIAGNOSING OR PROGNOSTICATING THE RISK OF METASTASIS IN A HUMAN SUBJECT THAT HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH UVEAL MELANOMA
EP18733208
The present invention provides an in vitro method for detecting tumor growth and diagnosing or prognosticating the risk of metastasis in a human subject that has been diagnosed with uveal melanoma, wherein the method comprises using, as an indicator, the levels of PMEL/ME20-S/gp 100 positive exosomes, obtained from a biological sample isolated from the human subject selected from the list consisting of blood, or serum, of at least melanocyte protein PMEL/ME20-S/gp 100, and obtaining a result of the method by comparing the levels of at least said protein with a reference value or with the levels of a control, wherein an increase of melanocyte protein PMEL/ME20-S/gp 100 is indicative of a risk of the patient having or suffering from metastasis.
The present invention provides an in vitro method for detecting tumor growth and diagnosing or prognosticating the risk of metastasis in a human subject that has been diagnosed with uveal melanoma. This method incorporates new techniques that differentiate it from the potential competitors (mainly genetic tests) in several aspects. Our method is non-invasive (as it does not require a tumor biopsy), it does not require specific training and sampling is included in the hospital routine (blood extraction). Besides, it can be used after the application of the treatment, allowing not only to monitor the tumor advance and the early development of metastasis but also to help monitoring the effect of the treatment. In addition, it would be a more economical method.