The effect of flavopiridol on the growth of p16+ and p16- melanoma cell lines.

Flavopiridol is the first cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor to enter clinical trials. Flavopiridol has been shown to mimic, in part, the effect of the cell cycle control gene p16, which is frequently lost or mutated in malignant melanoma, making it an ideal candidate for targeted therapy in this disease. In these studies we investigated the effect of flavopiridol, at various concentrations, on the growth and gene expression of nine human melanoma cell lines with intact, absent or mutated p16.

The genes and genetics of malignant melanoma.

Background: Population-based studies have identified several clinical variables associated with an increased risk of developing cutaneous melanoma that include phenotype, amount of and response to sun exposure, and family history. However, these observations are of limited relevance to clinical practice as the risk associated with each factor is individually modest and the characteristics of these variables lack precision when applied to a particular individual.

Objective: To review the literature regarding recent advances made in the understanding of the genes and genetics of clinical variables associated with an increased risk of melanoma.