COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR FLUID BIOPSY OF MELANOMA

摘要

The present invention provides methods for identifying circulating melanoma cells (CMCs) in a biological sample and methods for diagnosing metastatic melanoma in a subject. The methods disclosed can be used on non-enriched blood samples to identify CMC using detectable agents that are specific for a biomarker of CMCs and assessing the morphology of the cells having the detectable agents. The presence or absence of a detectable agent in combination with morphological characteristics of the cells can be used diagnose a subject with metastatic melanoma based on the number of CMCs is present in the sample.