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Immunobiology of primary murine melanomas
C Donawho1, R Evans, M L Kripke
1Department of Immunology, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston 77030.
Journal of Immunotherapy : Official Journal of the Society for Biological Therapy
|October 1, 1992
Summary
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation accelerates melanoma development in mice by suppressing the local skin immune response. This immunosuppression, distinct from effects on Langerhans cells, appears to facilitate melanoma cell growth.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
- Dermatology
Background:
- Primary cutaneous melanomas can be induced in mice using dimethylbenz[a]anthracene and a tumor promoter.
- Melanoma incidence is influenced by the age of carcinogen exposure.
- UV radiation significantly accelerates melanoma development in this model.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mechanisms by which UV radiation potentiates melanoma induction.
- To determine if UV irradiation's effect is due to local immunosuppression in the skin.
Main Methods:
- Induction of primary cutaneous melanomas in mice using chemical carcinogens.
- Transplantation of melanoma cells into UV-irradiated skin to study outgrowth.
- Assessment of immune responses in UV-irradiated skin.
Main Results:
- UV irradiation dramatically accelerates melanoma appearance.
- UV irradiation induces a local immunosuppressive effect on the skin, promoting melanoma cell outgrowth.
- This immunosuppressive effect is distinct from UV-induced alterations in Langerhans cells and contact hypersensitivity.
Conclusions:
- UV radiation augments melanoma development through a local immunosuppressive mechanism in the skin.
- This mechanism likely involves interference with the efferent arm of the immune response at the UV-irradiated site.