Figure 6. Detection of melanoma cells in peripheral blood by real-time qPCR.

cDNA, generated from RNA extracted from serially collected whole blood mononuclear cells for each study subject, was used as a template for qPCR using primers and probes specific for MAGE3 (a TAA used for vaccination) and MCAM (a melanoma TAA not included in the vaccine). (A) Baseline expression levels of MAGE3 and MCAM for each study subject, expressed relative to housekeeping gene GAPDH. (B) qPCR values for each individual subject and the indicated markers, normalized to baseline at time 0 (day of first vaccination). Data represent mean ± SEM of duplicate measurements.