qPCR Assay Identifies Melanoma Patients With Low-Risk Tumor That Could Avoid Invasive Biopsy
By LabMedica International staff writers Posted on 06 Sep 2022 |
Melanoma is an aggressive type of skin cancer. Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is an invasive surgical procedure used to determine metastatic spread of the cancer for staging purposes. In approximately 80% of surgeries, the biopsy comes back negative for metastasis, where it does not further impact the patient pathway. Now, a new test provides a more personalized insight on the metastatic propensity of the tumor, identifying patients with a low-risk tumor that could avoid the surgery.
SkylineDx’s (Rotterdam, The Netherlands) Merlin Assay identifies melanoma patients that have a low risk for nodal metastasis and therefore can safely forgo a SLNB surgery. The CE-IVD device is based on a well-established qPCR method that can easily run in molecular diagnostic laboratories. Merlin Assay uses the CP-GEP model, a powerful proprietary algorithm that calculates the risk of metastasis in a patient's sentinel lymph nodes. The model is able to calculate risk on an individual basis through a combination analysis of eight genes from the patient's primary tumor, the tumor thickness and the patient's age; and has been analytically and clinically validated. SkylineDx has announced the commercial launch of Merlin Assay as CE-IVD distributable test kit in Europe.
"Launching Merlin Assay as CE-IVD marked manual kit in Europe signifies a major milestone in making our diagnostic solutions available to patients globally," said Dharminder Chahal, CEO SkylineDx.
Related Links:
SkylineDx
Latest Molecular Diagnostics News
- Blood Proteins Could Warn of Cancer Seven Years before Diagnosis
- New DNA Origami Technique to Advance Disease Diagnosis
- Ultrasound-Aided Blood Testing Detects Cancer Biomarkers from Cells
- New Respiratory Syndromic Testing Panel Provides Fast and Accurate Results
- New Synthetic Biomarker Technology Differentiates Between Prior Zika and Dengue Infections
- Novel Biomarkers to Improve Diagnosis of Renal Cell Carcinoma Subtypes
- RNA-Powered Molecular Test to Help Combat Early-Age Onset Colorectal Cancer
- Advanced Blood Test to Spot Alzheimer's Before Progression to Dementia
- Multi-Omic Noninvasive Urine-Based DNA Test to Improve Bladder Cancer Detection
- First of Its Kind NGS Assay for Precise Detection of BCR::ABL1 Fusion Gene to Enable Personalized Leukemia Treatment
- Urine Test to Revolutionize Lyme Disease Testing
- Simple Blood Test Could Enable First Quantitative Assessments for Future Cerebrovascular Disease
- New Genetic Testing Procedure Combined With Ultrasound Detects High Cardiovascular Risk
- Blood Samples Enhance B-Cell Lymphoma Diagnostics and Prognosis
- Blood Test Predicts Knee Osteoarthritis Eight Years Before Signs Appears On X-Rays
- Blood Test Accurately Predicts Lung Cancer Risk and Reduces Need for Scans