Grant: Operating Grant

Malignant melanoma continues to rise in incidence. This deadly form of skin cancer remains poorly understood, with limited treatment options once the tumor spreads. microRNAs are short, non-coding RNA molecules which are known to regulate many cellular processes. We have discovered 9 dysregulated microRNA members in melanoma, and hypothesize that these 9 molecules plan a role in the pathogenesis of this cancer. We wish to examine the expression of our target 9 microRNAs in a large melanoma cohort to determine if they can predict clinical outcome. Furthermore, we would like to extend our preliminary findings by initially manipulating these selected 9 microRNA molecules in melanoma cell lines and determining if a biological effect can be shown. Finally, we would like to know why these molecules are dysregulated by studying the DNA in which these genes are located.