Cutaneous melanoma

Abstract

The incidence of cutaneous melanoma is increasing significantly and responds poorly to current therapies. At the root of this problem is the transformation of melanocytes, which normally synthesize melanin to protect the skin against ultra violet (UV) damage, into highly invasive cells which can colonize many different regions of the body, reminiscent of their neural crest origin. Paradoxically, UV radiation increases the incidence of melanoma and the penetrance of melanoma susceptibility genes such as CDKN2A. Abnormal expression of cadherins, integrins, and other cell adhesion and matrix proteins are key in melanoma cell transformation and in transendothelial migration, a key step in metastasis. © 2006 Humana Press Inc.