Circulating tumour cells as tumour biomarkers in melanoma: detection methods and clinical relevance

Circulating tumour cells (CTC) derived from solid tumors are detectable in blood and a prerequisite step in metastases formation. Numerous heterogeneous studies have reported on CTC detection in melanoma but there is no consensus as to utility of CTC. In this review we focus on detection methods and the prognostic and predictive value of CTC detection in cutaneous, mucosal and ocular melanoma.Circulating tumour cells (CTCs) are cells of solid tumour origin detectable in the peripheral blood. Their occurrence is considered a prerequisite step for establishing distant metastases. Metastatic melanoma was the first malignancy in which CTCs were detected and numerous studies have been published on CTC detection in melanoma at various stages of disease. In spite of this, there is no general consensus as to the clinical utility of CTCs in melanoma, largely due to conflicting results from heterogeneous studies and discrepancies in methods of detection between studies. In this review, we examine the possible clinical significance of CTCs in cutaneous, mucosal and ocular melanoma, focusing on detection methods and prognostic value of CTC detection.