New Test to Improve Melanoma Monitoring

A QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute scientist, funded by the Queensland Government’s Smart Futures Fund, has identified a new way to monitor melanoma via blood tests.

Science and Innovation Minister Leeanne Enoch said the discovery of new biomarkers in melanoma patients’ blood was the latest example of the world-class research being produced in Queensland.

“This is an important discovery for a state with the highest rate of melanoma in the world,” Ms Enoch said.

“The ability to identify signs of melanoma progression sooner will be a valuable clinical tool. Testing for these new markers in regular blood tests will also help to determine whether stressful and expensive CT scanning is necessary at each follow-up.

“This has the potential to make a real difference to Queenslanders, and its effects will be felt around the world.”

QIMR Berghofer Senior Research Assistant, and PhD candidate, Mitchell Stark said the new biomarkers could monitor tumour progression in patients diagnosed with early metastatic disease.

“Earlier monitoring could improve a patient’s chance of survival by detecting the early stages of melanoma progression and allowing treatment to start sooner,” he said.

“This panel of markers is highly sensitive and specific, and is significantly better than other markers currently being used.

“Survival rates for patients with metastatic melanoma differ greatly depending on the extent of spread.

“Patients with stage III melanoma, with spread confined to regional lymph nodes, have a five-year survival rate of about 50%, compared to less than 15% if metastases are widespread.”

The blood test would look for elevated levels of the markers, or microRNAs, tiny molecules which regulate the amount of protein a gene can produce.

“In specimens from stage IV patients, the new biomarkers confirmed tumour progression in 100% of cases,” Mr Stark said.

Mr Stark’s research has been supported by the NHMRC, QUT, and the Queensland Government’s Smart Futures Fund.

“As a legacy of the strong investment previous Labor Governments made in research and innovation, we have excellent research infrastructure across the State, and a deep pool of talent too,” Ms Enoch said.

“Like the Smart Futures program built on the Smart State funding, our new Advance Queensland program will build on what we’ve got while planning for the future.”

Ms Enoch said Advance Queensland is a comprehensive plan to help Queensland attract and retain the best and brightest minds, and build the State’s reputation as a knowledge based economy.

“It identifies the policy settings that will enhance our competitive edge in key fields such as medicine, biotechnology, agriculture, bio-refining and clean energy production,” Ms Enoch said.

“This policy not only consolidates and grows our research base, but will foster the entrepreneurial skills and develop the business opportunities we need to take discoveries from the lab to the consumer.”

Media Contacts:

Tim Shipstone – Minister Enoch – 3719 7281, 0419 246 157

Kim Lyell – QIMR Berghofer – 3845 3699, 0458 650 200