According to an article from Healio, gene expression analysis could be an effective method for diagnosing melanoma, a type of skin cancer, in people of color. A poster on the subject was recently presented at the Winter Clinical Dermatology Conference. The approach, called gene expression programming (GEP), is a noninvasive method that has the potential to make detection of this cancer much easier in people with darker skin tones.
Study Results
The research involved a comparison of 2-GEP assay testing findings using data from 4,152 patients of varying skin tones. Skin cells were collected from participants with adhesive, noninvasive patches. The RNA from these cells was then extracted then tested for expression of LINC00518 and/or PRAME, forms of RNA expression that are indicators of cancer. In patients that had lesions which tested negative, they received continued follow up through clinical surveillance.
The team found that GEP was able to predict negative test results reliably across all skin tones as measured with Fitzpatrick skin types, which range from type I through type VI.
You can read more about this study over at Healio.
About Melanoma
Melanoma is a form of skin cancer which develops from pigment cells, which are called melanocytes. This cancer also less commonly affects the eyes, intestines, or mouth. The lesions often appear on the legs of women and backs of men and develop from atypical moles in some cases. The cause of this skin cancer can be traced to DNA damage as a result of UV radiation as well as certain genetic characteristics. Signs and symptoms include changes in the color or shape of a mole or the appearance of a lump on the skin. Moles may itch or bleed in later stages. In metastatic disease, symptoms such as fatigue, appetite loss, vomiting, and nausea may appear. This cancer may be treated in a variety of ways, such as surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapies. Rates of this disease are increasing, and it is most common in areas with predominantly white European populations. To learn more about melanoma, click here.
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Last modified: February 20, 2024
