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Updated: May 24, 2026

Pharmacologic Induction of Epidermal Melanin and Protection Against Sunburn in a Humanized Mouse Model
Published on: September 7, 2013
Poly(ADP-ribose) in the skin and in melanomas
Zsuzsanna Géhl1, Péter Bai, Edina Bodnár
1Department of Medical Chemistry, Medical and Health Science Center, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
Abstract:
Cutaneous melanoma (CM) and uveal melanoma (UM) represent the most aggressive pigment cell tumor types. Our investigation examined the signaling molecule poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR) in CM and UM. We have demonstrated PAR in keratinocytes, sebocytes, hair follicles, endothelial cells and in subcutaneous adipocytes in the normal skin indicating that PAR may regulate physiological functions in these cell types. Furthermore, CM cells were PAR positive and tumor invasion level/thickness of CM correlated with the PAR content of the cell nuclei, with higher Clark and Breslow indices and AJCC scores associating with higher PAR content. This correlation was especially marked in the samples of female patients. In UM tumors (n=12) a slight overall and strong perivascular PAR staining was observed with considerable individual variations. In view of recent successful clinical trials with PARP inhibitors as adjuvant chemotherapeutic agents, our results suggest that melanomas may display differential sensitivity towards this novel therapeutic modality which should be considered for the selection of patients.
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