Seeing the light in melanoma

UV light exposure is strongly linked to the development ofmelanoma, but the molecular mechanisms underlying the connection have been poorly understood. Now, an American research team has elucidated an important link by showing that UV light induces the expression of interferon-g, which in turn can drive the formation and growth of melanoma.¹ The findings could open up a new therapeutic area for companies developing anti-interferon-g antibodies.

A major hurdle to studying melanoma formation is that the tumors develop from melanocytes-pigment-producing cells that represent only a small fraction of the skin and thus are difficult to isolate orstudy in vivo...