title: Commentary. A picture of Mitf in melanoma immortality.
abstract: The Mitf gene has a key role in melanocytes and melanoma by regulating cell cycle progression, survival and differentiation. Two papers in this issue of Oncogene (Cheli et al., 2011; Strub et al., 2011) reveal that low-Mitf cells can initiate tumors with high efficiency, and that Mitf blocks senescence by regulating genes implicated in S-phase progression and mitosis.
authors.affiliation: Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Headington, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Goding
mesh_terms: D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000235:genetics; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D016922:Cellular Senescence / Q000235:genetics*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D008545:Melanoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality; D051739:Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality
chemical_list: C497234:MITF protein, human; D051739:Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor