What is in the Melanoma Panel?

The UltraSEEK Melanoma Panel by Agena is a powerful tool for research laboratories conducting mutation profiling of melanoma-derived cfDNA. This liquid biopsy panel targets 61 clinically relevant variants across 13 genes commonly associated with melanoma progression and therapy resistance. Key targets include BRAF (13 variants), NRAS (19 variants), and KIT (7 variants), among others.

The panel requires as little as 10 ng of cfDNA and detects mutations at a sensitivity as low as 0.1% VAF. Whether used with circulating tumor cells (CTCs) or circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), the assay supports real-time tumor monitoring and molecular characterization in translational research studies.

Role of Melanoma-Related Variants in Disease

Melanoma is a highly aggressive form of skin cancer characterized by genetic heterogeneity and resistance to standard therapies. Mutations in genes such as BRAF, NRAS, and KIT are key drivers of melanoma and are used to guide targeted treatments.

For example, BRAF V600E mutations are often present in metastatic melanoma and are targeted with BRAF inhibitors. Resistance can develop through additional mutations in NRAS or MAP2K1, necessitating longitudinal mutation tracking. Detecting these melanoma-associated variants through cfDNA allows researchers to study tumor evolution, treatment response, and resistance pathways non-invasively and over time.

About the UltraSEEK® Melanoma Panel

The UltraSEEK Melanoma Panel (RUO) is designed for the simultaneous detection of mutations across a diverse genetic landscape relevant to melanoma. This highly multiplexed assay provides:

• Broad coverage: 13 genes and 61 known variants

• High sensitivity: Down to 0.1% VAF

• Rapid workflow: Only 1 hour of hands-on time

• Efficient sample usage: Requires just 10 ng of cfDNA

The included genes (as shown in the product chart or variant list) span critical pathways such as MAPK, PI3K/AKT, and cell cycle regulation:

This level of coverage ensures that researchers capture both common and rare mutations relevant to disease progression and therapy resistance.

Principle and Workflow

Using Agena Bioscience’s mass spectrometry-based detection, the UltraSEEK Melanoma Panel applies PCR amplification followed by single-base extension and highly specific mass-based variant detection. The streamlined process allows multiple mutations to be profiled in a single reaction.

Workflow Overview:

1. cfDNA extraction from plasma

2. PCR amplification of 13 melanoma-relevant genes

3. Single-base extension of mutant alleles

4. Mass spectrometry detection

5. Automated analysis and reporting

Compared to next-generation sequencing (NGS), this workflow is faster, requires less input, and reduces the likelihood of sample rejection due to low tumor content.

Clinical Application in Melanoma Research

While this panel is intended for research use only (RUO), its design mirrors clinical needs in the field of melanoma biomarker discovery and drug resistance monitoring. Researchers can use the panel to explore how tumor mutational profiles evolve in response to treatment or identify resistance pathways by tracking low-frequency mutations in cfDNA.

Because many melanoma patients may not be candidates for repeated tissue biopsy, liquid biopsy using the UltraSEEK Melanoma Panel becomes a vital tool for ongoing molecular surveillance. Its ability to detect variants in low-yield or poor-quality specimens increases study inclusion rates and improves real-world research outcomes.