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Genetics of melanoma progression: the rise and fall of cell senescence
Author(s) -
Bennett Dorothy C.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
pigment cell and melanoma research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.618
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1755-148X
pISSN - 1755-1471
DOI - 10.1111/pcmr.12422
Subject(s) - senescence , melanoma , epigenetics , telomere , biology , somatic cell , gene , genetics , cancer research
Summary There are many links between cell senescence and the genetics of melanoma, meaning both familial susceptibility and somatic–genetic changes in sporadic melanoma. For example, CDKN 2A , the best‐known melanoma susceptibility gene, encodes two effectors of cell senescence, while other familial melanoma genes are related to telomeres and their maintenance. This article aimed to analyze our current knowledge of the genetic or epigenetic driver changes necessary to generate a cutaneous metastatic melanoma, the commonest order in which these occur, and the relation of these changes to the biology and pathology of melanoma progression. Emphasis is laid on the role of cell senescence and the escape from senescence leading to cellular immortality, the ability to divide indefinitely.