Oncogenes in Human Melanoma

Abstract

Study of the activation of oncogenes has greatly added to our understanding of the pathogenesis of malignancy. Increased expression and/or mutations of these endogenous proteins leads to uncontrolled cellular proliferation, morphologic transformation, and metastatic and invasive growth. Recent studies have shown that ultraviolet radiation is involved in the mutation of the p53 and ras oncogenes in cutaneous malignancies, including squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. Human melanomas frequently contain a mutation of a particular site on the ras gene, known as the 61st codon. These authors sought to …