title: Microphthalmia transcription factor: a specific marker for malignant melanoma.
abstract: The transcription factor microphthalmia (MITF) is required for the formation of normal melanocytes during embryonic development and for the expression of pigment cell-specific markers, which are the downstream transcriptional targets of MITF. It also seems to be crucial for the survival of malignant melanocytes. The special interest of this review is the possible utility of MITF as a marker of malignant melanoma. Melanocyte-specific isoform of MITF appears to be a unique molecule in the differential diagnosis of melanocytic tumors.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Biology of the University Hospital Na Bulovce, Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic. jivach@upn.anet.cz
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vachtenheim
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Borovanský
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D051739:Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005819:Genetic Markers; C497234:MITF protein, human; D051739:Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor; D014157:Transcription Factors