Vincent J. Hearing & Stanley P. L. Leong 
From Melanocytes to Melanoma 
The Progression to Malignancy

Leading researchers and clinicians join forces to explain how malignant melanoma develops from its benign precursor cell type. The authors focus on the molecular mechanisms involved in melanogenesis, in the malignant transformation of melanocytes, and in the further progression of primary melanomas into invasive and metastatic melanomas. They also review recent advances in our understanding of the basic biology of melanocytes and the development, migration, and differentiation of melanoblasts into melanocytes. The book provides an up-to-date understanding of the progressive mechanisms of oncological development in malignant melanoma, a likely model of malignant progress for other types of cancer, and the ongoing development of novel therapeutics.

Table of Content

Melanocyte Development and Function.- The Origin and Development of Neural Crest-Derived Melanocytes.- MITF.- MITF.- Melanocytes and the Transcription Factor Sox10.- Human Cutaneous Pigmentation.- Melanocyte Distribution and Function in Human Skin.- Melanocyte Transformation and Progression to Melanoma.- Altered Signal Transduction in Melanoma.- BRN2 in Melanocytic Cell Development, Differentiation, and Transformation.- The Dynamic Roles of Cell-Surface Receptors in Melanoma Development.- Familial Melanoma Genes, Melanocyte Immortalization, and Melanoma Initiation.- Genetic Progression From Melanocyte to Malignant Melanoma.- The Multiple Roles of the Oncogenic Protein SKI in Human Malignant Melanoma.- RB/E2F Regulation and Dual Activity in the Melanocytic System.- Melanoma Development and Pigment Cell Transformation.- The Biology and Genetics of Melanoma.- The Biology of Xeroderma Pigmentosum.- Divergent Pathways to Cutaneous Melanoma.- Pigmentation, DNA Repair, and Candidate Genes.- Low-Penetrance Genotypes, Pigmentation Phenotypes, and Melanoma Etiology.- The Biology of Melanoma Progression.- Optical Imaging Analysis of Atypical Nevi and Melanoma.- Proteomics Analysis of Melanoma Cell Lines and Cultured Melanocytes.- Primary Invasive Melanoma to Metastatic Melanoma.- Paradigm of Metastasis for Malignant Melanoma.- Repair of UV-Induced DNA Damage and Melanoma Risk.- High-Risk Factors for Melanoma Metastasis.- Role of Melanoma Inhibitory Activity in Early Development of Malignant Melanoma.- Role and Regulation of PAR-1 in Melanoma Progression.- Molecular Mechanisms of Melanoma Metastasis.- Overview of Tumor Progression in Melanoma.- The Plasticity of Melanoma Cells and Associated Clinical Implications.- The Clinical Use of Molecular Markers as Predictors of Disease Outcome and Response to Therapy in Malignant Melanoma.- The Role of DCT/TYRP2 in Resistance of Melanoma Cells to Drugs and Radiation.- How Melanoma Cells Evade Chemotherapy.- Apoptosis in Melanoma.- Role of Melanoma-Associated Antigens.- Host Responses to Melanoma.- Future Perspectives.