Detection of β-human chorionic gonadotropin mRNA as a marker for cutaneous malignant melanoma

✍ Scribed by Fukashi Doi; Dorcas D. J. Chi; Burt B. Charuworn; Andrew J. Conrad; James Russell; Donald L. Morton; Dave S. B. Hoon

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1996
• Tongue: French
• Weight: 799 KB
• Volume: 65
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0020-7136
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1097-0215(19960208)65:4<454::aid-ijc11>3.0.co;2-a

✦ Synopsis

The P chain of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) hormone is produced by fetal cells, gonadal cell tumors and several types of non-gonadal carcinoma. hCG is composed of an Q and a P chain, the latter of which can be used to distinguish the molecule from other related gonadotropin hormones. Detection of P-hCG mRNA transcripts can be potentially useful as a marker to identify tumor cells. We devised a highly specific and sensitive assay to detect the atavistic expression of P-hCG in cutaneous melanoma by RT-PCR. Twenty-four melanoma cell lines and 43 melanoma biopsies were evaluated for P-hCG mRNA expression. An RT-PCR assay was developed to specifically distinguish P-hCG poly-A mRNA from other related gonadotropin P chains. This was performed by endonuclease digestion of a unique Sty I site in the p chain, followed by Southern blot analysis with a P-hCG cDNA probe. Of the 24 melanoma cell lines analyzed, 18 expressed P-hCG mRNA. Analysis of melanoma biopsy specimens revealed P-hCG mRNA expression in 17/25 melanoma-positive TDLN, and in only 5/ I5 non-lymphoid melanoma metastases. P-hCG mRNA expression had a 53Oh correlation to tyrosinase mRNA, a predominant melanoma marker. P-hCG mRNA was not detected in normal