title: Microphthalmia-associated transcription factor in melanoma development and MAP-kinase pathway targeted therapy.
abstract: Malignant melanoma is a neoplasm of melanocytes, and the microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) is essential for the existence of melanocytes. MITF's relevance for this cell lineage is maintained in melanoma, where it is an important regulator of survival and balances melanoma cell proliferation with terminal differentiation (pigmentation). The MITF gene is amplified in ~20% of melanomas and MITF mutation can predispose to melanoma development. Furthermore, the regulation of MITF expression and function is strongly linked to the BRAF/MEK/ERK/MAP-kinase (MAPK) pathway, which is deregulated in >90% of melanomas and central target of current therapies. MITF expression in melanoma is heterogeneous, and recent findings highlight the relevance of this heterogeneity for the response of melanoma to MAPK pathway targeting drugs, as well as for MITF's role in melanoma progression. This review aims to provide an updated overview on the regulation of MITF function and plasticity in melanoma with a focus on its link to MAPK signaling.
authors.affiliation: Manchester Cancer Research Centre, Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell Matrix Research, Faculty of Life Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wellbrock
authors.affiliation: Manchester Cancer Research Centre, Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell Matrix Research, Faculty of Life Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Imanol
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Arozarena
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D063646:Carcinogenesis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002453:Cell Cycle; D006801:Humans; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System; D008545:Melanoma / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D051739:Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D012878:Skin Neoplasms; D000096142:Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma
chemical_list: D051739:Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor
keywords: BRAF; MAP kinase pathway; MEK; melanoma; microphthalmia-associated transcription factor
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