Melanocortin-1 Receptor Expression as a Marker of Progression in Melanoma.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) plays a critical role in human pigmentation and DNA repair mechanisms. MC1R-targeting agents are being investigated in clinical trials in patients with melanoma, yet large studies investigating the rate and degree of MC1R expression in primary and metastatic human melanoma tissue are lacking.

Methods

Using tissue microarrays containing three large cohorts of 225 cases of benign nevi, 189 with primary melanoma, and 271 with metastatic melanoma, we applied quantitative immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry to comprehensively study MC1R protein expression.

Results

We show a stepwise elevation of MC1R expression in different stages of melanoma progression (nevi, primary, metastasis). Higher MC1R expression was seen in deeper (>

SUBMITTER: Su DG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11513442 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature