Skin Cancer Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Skin Cancer, including details on identification, causes, prevention, treatment.

Genetic progression of metastatic melanoma.

Rodolfo M, Daniotti M, Vallacchi V

Unit of Melanoma Genetics, Istituto Nazionale per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori, via G. Venezian 1, 20133 Milan, Italy. monica.rodolfo@istitutotumori.mi.it

Melanoma progression is well defined in its clinical, histopathological and biological aspects, but the molecular mechanism involved and the genetic markers associated to metastatic dissemination are only beginning to be defined. The recent development of high-throughput technologies aimed at global molecular profiling of cancer is switching on the spotlight at previously unknown candidate genes involved in melanoma, such as WNT5A and BRAF. In fact, several tumor suppressors and oncogenes have been shown to be involved in melanoma pathogenesis, including CDKN2A, PTEN, TP53, RAS and MYC, though they have not been related to melanoma subtypes or validated as prognostic markers. Here, we have reviewed the published data relative to the major genes involved in melanoma pathogenesis, which may represent important markers for the identification of genetic profiles of melanoma subtypes.

Published 14 September 2004 in Cancer Lett, 214(2): 133-47.
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