Recent advances in sunlight-induced carcinogenesis using the Xiphophorus melanoma model

Unlike breast and prostate cancers, the nature and sequence of critical genetic and epigenetic events involved in the initiation and progression of melanoma are not well understood. A contributing factor to this dilemma, especially given our current understanding of the importance of UV light in melanoma etiology, is the lack of quality UV-inducible melanoma animal models. In this study we elaborate on the capability of UV light to induce cutaneous malignant melanomas (CMM) in Xiphophorus fishes, which were previously found to develop melanomas after acute neonatal UVB irradiation. In two separate tumorigenesis experiments, we exposed adult Xiphophorus hybrids to either acute UVB irradiations (5 consecutive daily treatments) or chronic solar irradiations (continuous UVA/UVB treatment for 9 months). Acute adult UVB irradiation resulted in the significant induction of melanomas, and moreover, this induction rate is equivalent to that of animals exposed to acute neonatal UVB irradiation. This study represents the first evidence that acute adult UVB irradiation, in the absence of any early life exposures, induces CMM. Similar to the findings conducted on other divergent melanoma models, including HGF/SF transgenic mice and Monodelphis domestica, prolonged chronic solar UV was not a factor in melanomagenesis.