[Melanoblastoma in laboratory minipigs: a model for studying human malignant melanoma]

Human malignant melanoma is a progressively growing tumour mostly with a fatal prognosis during short time. Its frequency has doubled in some states of the USA during the last few years. Surgical treatment, which is still generally used, has very low efficiency due to the numerous metastases in different organs. An animal model is a necessary prerequisite to develop a new therapy methods. We have recorded primary cutaneous malignant melanomas as well as extensive metastases in the visceral organs in darkly pigmented laboratory minipigs. The primary skin tumours were mostly multiple and they showed a tuberous nodular form. The regular occurrence of tumours in a progeny of three specific mating types suggests the existence of genetic predisposition to malignant transformation. We discuss the use of this animal model for further studies and treatment of human malignant melanoma by our ischemization technique developed previously.