該小組的研究發(fā)現(xiàn)黑色素瘤和非黑色素瘤性病變有22個基因甲基化水平顯著不同，以及有12個點可以高度預測惡性黑色素瘤。對于托馬斯來說，團隊的另一個目標是建立一個黑色素瘤腫瘤細胞DNA的脫落進入血液試驗，并可以作為測量疾病DNA甲基化的依據(jù)。
　　“如果這測試可以發(fā)展起來的,它將開啟早期診斷和治療復發(fā)腫瘤的大門，腫瘤剛發(fā)生時更容易治療，這也給我們提供了另一種方式，以監(jiān)測患者對治療的反應，并幫助我們更好地優(yōu)化處理每一個病人，“托馬斯說。
　　這項研究是由美國國家癌癥研究所和一個UNC萊恩伯格試點格蘭特贊助。
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