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Tumor progression is a multistep process in which proproliferation mutations must be accompanied by suppression of senescence. In melanoma, proproliferative signals are provided by activating mutations in NRAS and BRAF, whereas senescence is bypassed by inactivation of the p16Ink4a gene. Melanomas also frequently exhibit constitutive activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway that is presumed to induce proliferation, as it does in carcinomas. We show here that, contrary to expectations, stabilized β-catenin reduces the number of melanoblasts in vivo and immortalizes primary skin melanocytes by silencing the p16Ink4a promoter. Significantly, in a novel mouse model for melanoma, stabilized β-catenin bypasses the requirement for p16Ink4a mutations and, together with an activated N-Ras oncogene, leads to melanoma with high penetrance and short latency. The results reveal that synergy between the Wnt and mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathways may represent an important mechanism underpinning the genesis of melanoma, a highly aggressive and increasingly common disease.

Original publication

DOI

10.1101/gad.450107

Type

Journal article

Journal

Genes & Development

Publisher

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

Publication Date

15/11/2007

Volume

21

Pages

2923 - 2935