Treatment and detection of melanoma

Abstract

Provided are methods for determining or predicting the diagnosis, prognosis, treatment and therapeutic efficacy of melanoma in a subject, which include evaluating the expression level of one or more miRNA biomarkers including miRNA-4487, miRNA-4706, miRNA-4731 and fragments or variants thereof as an indication of whether the subject may have, or be predisposed to, melanoma.

1 . A method of determining whether or not a subject has melanoma, including:
 determining an expression level of one or more miRNA biomarkers in a biological sample from a subject, wherein the one or more miRNA biomarkers are selected from the group consisting of miRNA-4487, miRNA-4706 and miRNA-4731, or a fragment or variant thereof, and wherein melanoma is detected if said expression level of one or more miRNA biomarkers is altered or modulated in the biological sample.   
     
     
         2 . A method of determining the prognosis of a subject with melanoma, including:
 determining an expression level of one or more miRNA biomarkers in a biological sample obtained from the subject, wherein the one or more miRNA biomarkers are selected from the group consisting of miRNA-4487, miRNA-4706 and miRNA-4731, or a fragment or variant thereof, to thereby evaluate the prognosis of melanoma in the subject.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein if the expression level of said one or more miRNA biomarkers is altered or modulated in the biological sample, the prognosis may be negative or positive. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the prognosis is used, at least in part, to determine whether the subject would benefit from treatment of melanoma. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the prognosis is used, at least in part, to develop a treatment strategy for the subject. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the prognosis is used, at least in part, to determine disease progression in the subject. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein prognosis is defined as an estimated time of survival. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , further including determining suitability of the subject for treatment based, at least in part, on the prognosis. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further including determining a disease stage and/or grade for melanoma based on, at least in part, the expression level of the one or more miRNA biomarkers. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the expression level of the one or more miRNA biomarkers is determined before, during and/or after treatment. 
     
     
         11 . A method of treating melanoma in a subject including;
 determining an expression level of one or more miRNA biomarkers in a biological sample from the subject, before, during and/or after treatment of melanoma, wherein the one or more miRNA biomarkers are selected from the group consisting of miRNA-4487, miRNA-4706 and miRNA-4731, or a fragment or variant thereof, and based on the determination made, initiating, continuing, modifying or discontinuing a treatment of melanoma.   
     
     
         12 . A method of evaluating treatment efficacy of melanoma in a subject including:
 determining an expression level of one or more miRNA biomarkers in a biological sample from the subject before, during and/or after treatment, wherein the one or more miRNA biomarkers are selected from the group consisting of miRNA-4487, miRNA-4706 and miRNA-4731, or a fragment or variant thereof; and   determining whether or not the treatment is efficacious according to whether said expression level of one or more miRNA biomarkers is altered or modulated in the subject's biological sample.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further including selecting a treatment for melanoma based on the expression level of the one or more miRNA biomarkers. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further including measuring an expression level of one or more additional miRNA biomarkers selected from the group consisting of miRNA-16, miRNA-211, miRNA-509-3p and miRNA-509-5p, or a fragment or variant thereof. 
     
     
         15 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , further including measuring an expression level of one or more additional miRNA biomarkers selected from the group consisting of miRNA-16, miRNA-211, miRNA-509-3p and miRNA-509-5p, or a fragment or variant thereof. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 2 , further including determining a disease stage and/or grade for melanoma based on, at least in part, the expression level of the one or more miRNA biomarkers. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the expression level of the one or more miRNA biomarkers is determined before, during and/or after treatment. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 2 , further including measuring an expression level of one or more additional miRNA biomarkers selected from the group consisting of miRNA-16, miRNA-211, miRNA-509-3p and miRNA-509-5p, or a fragment or variant thereof. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 12 , further including selecting a treatment for melanoma based on the expression level of the one or more miRNA biomarkers. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 12 , further including measuring an expression level of one or more additional miRNA biomarkers selected from the group consisting of miRNA-16, miRNA-211, miRNA-509-3p and miRNA-509-5p, or a fragment or variant thereof.