MCAM Expression Facilitates Melanoma-Endothelial Interactions and Promotes Metastatic Disease Progression.

ABSTRACT: Invasive growth and metastatic dissemination represent the primary cause of death in cancer patients. In order to successfully detach from the primary tumour and establish metastases in distant tissues, cancer cells need to dynamically rewire their cell adhesion machinery. Here we revisit the potential association of MCAM, a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily that was initially identified as a melanoma antigen, with disease progression. Using immunohistochemical stainings and bioinformatic analyses of published datasets, we find abundant MCAM expression both in primary and metastatic human melanomas. In additional bioinformatic analyses, we show that MCAM is highly expressed in foetal melanocytes and subsequently downregulated during melanocyte maturation. Bioinformatic inference of

SUBMITTER: Braun AD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11822558 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature