biostudies-literatureAnderson ANMelanoma Research FoundationAmerican Association for Cancer Research Ocular Melanoma FoundationU.S. National Library of MedicineNational Institutes of HealthNational Human Genome Research InstituteNational Cancer Institute, United StatesCenter for Cancer ResearchCCR NIH HHSMedical Research FoundationMelanoma Research Foundation Medical Student AwardMalcolm M. Marquis, MD Endowed Fund for InnovationNHGRI NIH HHSNCI NIH HHSNLM NIH HHSNIH HHS67https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11264923biostudies-literatureUnknown12(1)<h4>Background</h4>Uveal melanoma is the most common non-cutaneous melanoma and is an intraocular malignancy affecting nearly 7,000 individuals per year worldwide. Of these, approximately 50% will progress to metastatic disease for which there are currently no effective curative therapies. Despite advances in molecular profiling and metastatic stratification of uveal melanoma tumors, little is known regarding their underlying biology of metastasis. Our group has identified a disseminated neoplastic cell population characterized by co-expression of immune and melanoma proteins, circulating hybrid cells (hybrids), in patients with uveal melanoma. Compared to circulating tumor cells, which lack expression of immune proteins, hybrids are detected at an increased prevalence in peripheral blood Biomarker researchDetection of neoplastic-immune hybrid cells with metastatic properties in uveal melanoma.PMC11264923P30CA069533U24 HG012198T32GM141938U41 HG0037515U01CA23906T15 LM0070885U41HG003751P30 CA0695335T15LM007088R44 CA250861U01 CA239069P30 EY010572F31CA271676R44CA250861Sengupta SKJones JAFan YPang AWu GSkalet AHWong MHFarley HCKlocke CDConley PDawson ADAnderson ANGillingham ARGibbs SLfalseDetection of neoplastic-immune hybrid cells with metastatic properties in uveal melanoma.<h4>Background</h4>Uveal melanoma is the most common non-cutaneous melanoma and is an intraocular malignancy affecting nearly 7,000 individuals per year worldwide. Of these, approximately 50% will progress to metastatic disease for which there are currently no effective curative therapies. Despite advances in molecular profiling and metastatic stratification of uveal melanoma tumors, little is known regarding their underlying biology of metastasis. Our group has identified a disseminated neoplastic cell population characterized by co-expression of immune and melanoma proteins, circulating hybrid cells (hybrids), in patients with uveal melanoma. Compared to circulating tumor cells, which lack expression of immune proteins, hybrids are detected at an increased prevalence in peripheral blood 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 Jul2026-06-01T20:36:45.415Z2025-05-18T13:26:44.772ZS-EPMC112649233903065310.1186/s40364-024-00609-6