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Biomarker Test Used In Melanoma Research
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that is becoming more common among young adults, although people of all ages can suffer. In the United Kingdom, more than 10,000 people are diagnosed with it each year and according to Cancer Research UK, it is the sixth most-common form of cancer in Britain. There are a number of factors that can increase the risk of someone developing melanoma, but the main one is exposure to ultraviolet light either by way of the sun’s rays or sunbeds. The work was carried out at the University of North Carolina’s School of Medicine using tissues held in a preservative agent for typical pathology examination after biopsy. The research team found areas on 22 genes where there were significant differences in methylation levels between melanoma and non-melanoma lesions. A statement released by the university also said there were 12 sites that were “highly-predictive” of melanoma. As with many diseases, catching melanoma as early as possible gives doctors more options for treatment. According to Professor Nancy Thomas, early diagnosis of melanoma usually results in a good prognosis, but she said that if the disease is allowed to spread then it can become very difficult to treat due to the fact that melanomas and moles can look alike on the skin, making it difficult to distinguish between the two. Professor Thomas also said an additional goal of the research team is to create a DNA-methylation test for melanoma tumour DNA which ends up in a person’s bloodstream. This type of test would be able to measure disease activity and provide doctors with a way to diagnose disease recurrence early, and glean information on how patients are responding to the treatment they’re receiving. This of course would allow experts to refine treatments to make them as effective as possible. It is hoped that the results of the work carried out at the University of North Carolina will help others involved in research into skin cancer to make further progress. Biomarkers are playing a key role in helping researchers in organisations all over the world to make breakthroughs and advance knowledge of diseases. Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com Researchers all over the world are now trying to find new cancer biomarkers to include in their biomarker database in a bid to further knowledge and push new boundaries. |
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