title: The role of O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase in a long-surviving metastatic melanoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Brain metastases commonly occur in patients with metastatic melanoma and are associated with a poor prognosis. Only a few chemotherapeutic agents have been shown to be potentially active. Resistance to chemotherapy is one of the main limitations to treatment. A key mechanism of resistance is O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT). The methylation of its promotor could inhibit the activity of this enzyme; consequently, it is very important to evaluate the methylation status of all available specimens.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report the case of a long-surviving patient in whom combination treatment with an alkylating agent inhibiting MGMT, such as temozolomide, was useful in clinical control of the disease.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gatti
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: di Meo
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stinco
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Malagoli
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bonin
authors.forename: Giusto
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Trevisan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D019853:O(6)-Methylguanine-DNA Methyltransferase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019853:O(6)-Methylguanine-DNA Methyltransferase