Melanophages reside in hypermelanotic, aberrantly glycosylated tumor areas and predict improved outcome in primary cutaneous malignant melanoma.

Background: Previously, hypermelanotic regions of cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) were found to contain a mixture of highly melanized melanoma cells and melanophages. Both cell types produced beta1,6-branched oligosaccharides. These sugars are used for motility by myeloid cells and cancer cells alike and are associated with poor survival in carcinomas of the breast, colon and lung.