CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS OF CYTOGENETIC ABNORMALITIES IN MELANOMA

In contrast to leukemias, in which specific reciprocal translocations are observed frequently, melanomas are characterized by complex, recur ring chromosome anomalies. Although methods for analyzing the clinical significance of chromosome abnormalities present significant problems , there are ongoing efforts to accomplish this task. the patterns of m elanoma chromosome abnormalities may help to identify genes important in melanoma progression or pathogenesis. In the last 5 years, advances in genetic techniques have allowed the rapid identification and local ization of melanoma-related genes, and the genes involved in melanoma pathogenesis are being localized and identified. Abnormalities of the cell cycle inhibitory protein P16 may be a critical event in the progr ession of both sporadic and familial melanoma. The identification and characterization of this gene now serve as a model for current and fut ure gene-cloning efforts in melanoma. Genes associated with tumor beha vior and survival in more advanced tumors may be sought in primary spe cimens, and they may provide increased information regarding patient p opulations likely to benefit from adjuvant or investigational therapie s.