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Updated: Jun 1, 2026

A Robust Discovery Platform for the Identification of Novel Mediators of Melanoma Metastasis
Published on: March 8, 2022
A novel function of junctional adhesion molecule-C in mediating melanoma cell metastasis
Harald F Langer1, Valeria V Orlova, Changping Xie
1Experimental Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
Abstract:
Hematogenous dissemination of melanoma is a life-threatening complication of this malignant tumor. Here, we identified junctional adhesion molecule-C (JAM-C) as a novel player in melanoma metastasis to the lung. JAM-C expression was identified in human and murine melanoma cell lines, in human malignant melanoma, as well as in metastatic melanoma including melanoma lung metastasis. JAM-C expressed on both murine B16 melanoma cells as well as on endothelial cells promoted the transendothelial migration of the melanoma cells. We generated mice with inactivation of JAM-C. JAM-C(-/-) mice as well as endothelial-specific JAM-C-deficient mice displayed significantly decreased B16 melanoma cell metastasis to the lung, whereas treatment of mice with soluble JAM-C prevented melanoma lung metastasis. Together, JAM-C represents a novel therapeutic target for melanoma metastasis.
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