title: Transcriptional regulation in melanoma.
abstract: Transcriptional regulation in melanoma is a complex process that tends to hijack the normal melanocyte signaling pathways involved in melanocyte development, pigmentation, and survival. At the center of these often overlapping networks of transcriptional activation and repression is microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), a melanocyte lineage marker that increases pigment production and exhibits diverse effects on cell survival, proliferation, and cell cycle arrest. The particular conditions that allow MITF to produce these potentially contradictory roles have not yet been fully elucidated, but analysis of the pathways involved provides opportunities to learn about new therapeutic strategies.
authors.affiliation: Biology and Biomedical Sciences Program, Cutaneous Biology Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Building 149, 13th Street, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA.
authors.forename: Devarati
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mitra
authors.forename: David E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Fisher
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000235:genetics; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008543:Melanins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D051739:Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D009432:Neural Crest / Q000166:cytology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014849:Waardenburg Syndrome / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; C497234:MITF protein, human; D008543:Melanins; D051739:Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm