Impact on clinical practice of a non-invasive gene expression melanoma rule-out test: 12-month follow-up of negative test results and utility data from a large US registry study

Dermatol Online J. 2019 May 15;25(5):13030/qt61w6h7mn.

Abstract

The Pigmented Lesion Assay (PLA, sensitivity 91-95%, specificity 69-91%, negative predictive value ?99%) is a commercially available, non-invasive gene expression test that helps dermatologists guide pigmented lesion management decisions and rule out melanoma. Earlier studies have demonstrated high clinical utility and no missed melanomas in a 3-6-month follow-up period. We undertook the current investigations to provide 12-month follow-up data on PLA(-) tests, and to further confirm utility. A 12-month chart review follow-up of 734 pigmented lesions that had negative PLA results from 5 US dermatology centers was performed. Thirteen of these lesions (1.8%) were biopsied in the follow-up period and submitted for histopathologic review. None of the lesions biopsied had a histopathologic diagnosis of melanoma. The test's utility was studied further in a registry (N=1575, 40 US dermatology offices, 62 participating providers), which demonstrated that 99.9% of PLA(-) lesions were clinically monitored, thereby avoiding a surgical procedure, and 96.5% of all PLA(+) lesions were appropriately biopsied, most commonly with a tangential shave. This long-term follow-up study confirms the PLA's high negative predictive value and high utility in helping guide the management of pigmented lesions to avoid unnecessary surgical procedures.

MeSH terms

  • Biopsy / statistics & numerical data
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Genetic Testing / methods
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Melanoma / diagnosis*
  • Melanoma / genetics
  • Melanoma / pathology
  • Middle Aged
  • Nevus, Pigmented / diagnosis*
  • Practice Patterns, Physicians' / statistics & numerical data
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Registries
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Skin Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Skin Neoplasms / genetics
  • Skin Neoplasms / pathology
  • United States