MOLECULAR MECHANISMS CONTROLLING HUMAN-MELANOMA PROGRESSION AND METASTASIS

Progression from normal melanocyte to metastatic melanoma is a multist ep, multigenic process. While relatively easy to conceptualize, the st ages of melanoma progression are not necessarily discrete, nor are the y unambiguously defined at the morphologic or molecular levels. The ab ility to stage the lesions more precisely would afford clinicians a gr eater confidence when designing therapeutic strategies. Unfortunately, a molecular definition of cells at each stage does not yet exist. Tow ard that end, the purpose of this review is twofold: (1) to highlight recent advances in our understanding of the molecular genetics of huma n cutaneous melanoma predisposition, and (2) to construct a molecular model of melanoma progression toward metastasis.