Comparison of growth factor signalling pathway utilisation in cultured normal melanocytes and melanoma cell lines.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K-PKB), mitogen activated protein kinase (MEK-ERK) and the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR- p70S6K), are thought to regulate many aspects of tumour cell proliferation and survival. We have examined the utilisation of these three signalling pathways in a number of cell lines derived from patients with metastatic malignant melanoma of known PIK3CA, PTEN, NRAS and BRAF mutational status.

Methods

Western blotting was used to compare the phosphorylation status of components of the PI3K-PKB, MEK-ERK and mTOR-p70S6K signalling pathways, as indices of pathway utilisation.

Results

Normal melanocytes could not be distinguished from melanoma cells on the basis of pathway utilisation when grown in the presence of serum, but cou

SUBMITTER: Kim JE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3352269 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature