Malignancy without immortality? Cellular immortalization as a possible late event in melanoma progression

Soo, J.K. et al. (2011) Malignancy without immortality? Cellular immortalization as a possible late event in melanoma progression. Pigment Cell and Melanoma Research, 24(3), pp. 490-503. (doi: 10.1111/j.1755-148X.2011.00850.x)

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Publisher's URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1755-148X.2011.00850.x

Abstract

P>Cell senescence is a permanent growth arrest following extended proliferation. Cultured cancer cells including metastatic melanoma cells often appear immortal (proliferate indefinitely), while uncultured benign nevi (moles) show senescence markers. Here, with new explantation methods, we investigated which classes of primary pigmented lesions are typically immortal. Nevi yielded a few proliferating cells, consistent with most nevus cells being senescent. No nevus culture (0/28) appeared immortal. Some thin and thick melanoma cultures proved immortal under these conditions, but surprisingly few (4/37). All arrested cultures displayed three senescence markers in some cells: beta-galactosidase, nuclear p16, and heterochromatic foci/aggregates. However, melanoma cultures also showed features of telomeric crisis (arrest because of ultrashort telomeres). Moreover, crisis markers including anaphase bridges were frequent in uncultured vertical growth-phase (VGP) melanomas. Conversely, all immortal melanoma cultures expressed telomerase reverse transcriptase and telomerase, showing aneuploidy. The findings suggest that primary melanomas are typically precrisis, with immortalization/telomere maintenance as a late event

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Hoare, Miss Stacey and Keith, Professor Nicol
Authors: Soo, J.K., MacKenzie Ross, A.D., Kallenberg, D.M., Milagre, C., Heung Chong, W., Chow, J., Hill, L., Hoare, S., Collinson, R.S., Hossain, M., Keith, W.N., Marais, R., and Bennett, D.C.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cancer Sciences
Journal Name:Pigment Cell and Melanoma Research
ISSN:1755-1471

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