title: The impact of genomics in understanding human melanoma progression and metastasis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent technological advances in the analysis of the human genome have opened the door to improving our primitive understanding of the gene expression patterns in cancer. For the first time, we have an overview of the complexities of tumorigenesis and metastatic progression of cancer. The examination of the phenotypic and (epi)genetic changes in cutaneous melanoma has identified several genes deemed central to the development and progression of melanoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  A review of the recent literature was performed to determine the role of array-based high-throughput gene expression analysis in understanding the specific genes involved as well as the pathways and the comparative gene expression patterns of primary and metastatic melanoma.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most studies utilizing gene microarray analysis and other whole genome approaches reveal a wide array of genes and expression patterns in human melanoma. Furthermore, several of the same genes have been found in comparative studies, with some studies attempting correlation with clinical outcome. Several genes have been identified as potential prognostic markers of tumor progression and overall clinical outcome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High-throughput gene expression analysis has had a major impact in melanoma research. Several gene expression platforms have provided insight into the gene expression patterns in melanoma. Such data will provide the foundations for the future development of prognostic markers and improved targeted therapies for patients with melanoma.
authors.affiliation: Surgical Oncology Program, University of South Alabama-Mitchell Cancer Institute, Mobile, AL 36688, USA.
authors.forename: Suping
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Suhu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Howell
authors.forename: Yaguang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xi
authors.forename: Steven A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Enkemann
authors.forename: Jingfang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ju
authors.forename: Adam I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Riker
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics*; D018450:Disease Progression; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000235:genetics*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D004273:DNA, Neoplasm