title: EGFR activated cell mobility - A link to melanoma ulceration.
abstract: Melanoma ulceration is the third most powerful survival predictor in the analysis for the currently valid 2010 AJCC melanoma staging system. However, there is still no detailed explanation for melanoma ulceration mechanism. Although thicker tumors are more commonly ulcerated, ulceration is a factor that predicts the disease outcome independently of melanoma thickness. It is our hypothesis that EGFR activates melanoma cell mobility. Melanoma cells with increased mobility move through tissue in diverse direction. Cells moving toward the epithelium weaken the intercellular bonds between the cells causing the loss of epithelium and subsequently ulceration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Brace Branchetta 20, Rijeka, Croatia. Electronic address: miljenko23@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Miljenko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Katunarić
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Brace Branchetta 20, Rijeka, Croatia.
authors.forename: Gordana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zamolo
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Brace Branchetta 20, Rijeka, Croatia.
authors.forename: Nives
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jonjić
mesh_terms: D002465:Cell Movement; D004848:Epithelium / Q000503:physiopathology; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014456:Ulcer / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D066246:ErbB Receptors