Melanoma molecular classes and prognosis in the postgenomic era

• Published in: The lancet oncology Vol. 13; no. 5; pp. e205 - e211
• Main Authors: Tremante, Elisa, PhD, Ginebri, Agnese, MD, Lo Monaco, Elisa, PhD, Frascione, Pasquale, MD, Di Filippo, Franco, MD, Terrenato, Irene, PhD, Benevolo, Maria, PhD, Mottolese, Marcella, PhD, Pescarmona, Edoardo, MD, Visca, Paolo, MD, Natali, Pier Giorgio, MD, Giacomini, Patrizio, Dr
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01-05-2012; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Arrays; Biomarkers; Biomarkers, Tumor - analysis; Breast cancer; Digital signatures; Gene expression; Gene Expression Profiling; Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Medicine; Humans; Medical prognosis; Melanoma; Melanoma - classification; Melanoma - genetics; Morphology; Prognosis; Skin Neoplasms - classification; Skin Neoplasms - genetics; Tumors
• ISSN: 1470-2045; 1474-5488
• DOI: 10.1016/S1470-2045(12)70003-7

Summary Gene expression profiling is a powerful method to classify human tumours on the basis of biological aggressiveness, response to therapy, and outcome for the patient, but its application in melanoma lags behind that of other cancers. From more than 100 articles available on the topic, we selected 14 focusing on patients' outcome. We review and briefly discuss salient findings, and list ten reasons why melanoma molecular classes are not yet used in clinical diagnosis and prognosis. The available evidence suggests that we are on the verge of creating a framework for the use of melanoma molecular classes in prognosis, but so far there is little consensus to put together informative diagnostic and prognostic gene sets.