Circulating tumor DNA predicts survival in patients with resected high-risk stage II/III melanoma.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Patients with high-risk stage II/III resected melanoma commonly develop distant metastases. At present, we cannot differentiate between patients who will recur or those who are cured by surgery. We investigated if circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) can predict relapse and survival in patients with resected melanoma.

Patients and methods

We carried out droplet digital polymerase chain reaction to detect BRAF and NRAS mutations in plasma taken after surgery from 161 stage II/III high-risk melanoma patients enrolled in the AVAST-M adjuvant trial.

Results

Mutant BRAF or NRAS ctDNA was detected (≥1 copy of mutant ctDNA) in 15/132 (11%) BRAF mutant patient samples and 4/29 (14%) NRAS mutant patient samples. Patients with detectable ctDNA had a decreased disease-free i

SUBMITTER: Lee RJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5834029 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature