DETECTION OF LOSS OF HETEROZYGOSITY IN TUMOR AND SERUM OF MELANOMA PATIENTS

摘要

A method is provided for assessing allelic losses on specific chromosomal regions in melanoma patients. The method relies on the evidence that free DNA may be released in the plasma/serum of cancer patients allowing the detection of DNA with LOH in the plasma/serum of cancer patients by analysis for microsatellite markers. The amount of and specific allelic loss allows a prognosis to be made regarding tumor diagnosis and progression, tumor metastasis, tumor recurrence, and mortality.