Melanoma is a particularly aggressive type of skin cancer. The severity of the condition is marked by its tendency to spread throughout the body in a process called metastasis. Before melanoma cells achieve this ability, however, they must first obtain a blood supply, which provides oxygen and nutrients necessary for cell growth. The cells trigger the body to form new blood vessels via a process called angiogenesis. By stopping angiogenesis, scientists aim to prevent melanoma cells from reaching a stage where they can spread. A recent study out of Penn State College of Medicine indicates that macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1 (MIC-1), a protein, is produced in high levels in about 2/3 of highly developed melanomas. When the researchers interfered with the function of MIC-1, they observed a notable decrease in angiogenesis and cancer cell growth. These findings suggest that MIC-1 may be an additional target in the treatment of melanoma.
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