Scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have developed a genetic diagnostic test to predict whether melanoma of the eye will spread to the liver, where it quickly turns deadly. The test is based on two types of genetic patterns characteristic of the tumor cells taken from biopsies. The test can detect both whether a tumor is likely to spread to the liver and how fast.

The researchers found two sub-groups of class 2 tumors, which differ mainly in a particular region of chromosome 8. One of these subgroups has lost a section of DNA called the short arm of chromosome 8, what's known as chromosome 8p.

"If a patient has a class 2 tumor, and they have lost chromosome 8p, then that person is at high risk for spread of the cancer into the liver and at high risk that it will occur rapidly."

The scientists are also hoping that the same strategy may also be applied to other tumors, such to predict which small moles will turn into melanomas, thus allowing them to be treated earlier to reduce the chance of metastasis.

The results of this study were presented this week to the American Academy of Cancer Research. Read the full report from the WUSTL Medical News.