Malignant melanoma: relationship to parameters of differentiation.
Malignant melanoma is not only one of the most aggressive and lethal types of neoplasm, but its incidence in the general population is currently increasing at an alarming pace. It is interesting that most melanomas retain many of their characteristics of differentiation, including a dendritic nature and the production of melanin. This review discusses the phenotypic properties of melanoma cells, including their state of differentiation, and their tumourigenic and metastatic potentials, and attempts to provide an overview of the state of current research on the interrelationships between those parameters in murine and human systems.
Tsukamoto
K
K
Laboratory of Cell Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892.
Gersten
D M
DM
Law
L W
LW
Hearing
V J
VJ
D000818:Animals; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000556:secondary; D009074:Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology*; D008546:Melanoma, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D051379:Mice; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D010641:Phenotype; D010858:Pigmentation
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D009074:Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones