Melanoma Diagnostic/Prognostic Assay
A non-invasive blood test for melanoma that reliably detects early stage tumour spread and thus has the potential to improve diagnosis, staging, progression and treatment monitoring.
At present, melanoma metastases are most often first detected using scanning techniques or invasive biopsies conducted on the lymph nodes or systemic tissues. These techniques cannot reliably detect early stage metastases thereby creating a demand for more sensitive techniques.
The world wide incidence of melanoma in 2002 was 160,177 cases and is increasing at 6-7% per annum making it the fastest growing of all cancers. Melanoma is responsible for 80% of skin cancer related deaths and cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) represents 90% of all melanoma. In Australia the incidence of CMM is increasing (1000 new cases annually in Western Australia alone) and mortality rates remain high (WA Cancer Registry, 2004).
ECU Associate Professor Melanie Ziman of the School of Exercise, Biomedical and Health Sciences, has identified markers that can be used to detect melanoma and melanoma metastasis in patient blood. The markers have potential to enable more efficient diagnosis and staging of melanoma and to assist with monitoring disease progression and treatment responses.
To date over 200 patients have been tested and results show that the test has significant diagnostic significance. Further research over the next year will focus on confirming the prognostic capabilities of the markers. A patent application is being prepared and a full market analysis is underway to develop the commercialisation strategy.