Oncogenesis and tumour progression of melanoma group
This group belongs to the UMR 1279 - Tumor cell dynamics
In our group we are studying in parrallel:
- The biology of melanocytes which are pigment producing cells responsible for skin color
- The biology of cutaneous melanoma, which derives fromm melanocytes.
Using a comprehensive approach, we strive to identify mutations responsible for melanoma transformation and genes involved in metastasis.
Research topics
Melanomas arise from epidermal cells called melanocytes. Altough the proportion of melanoma is only around 1% of all skin cancers, it is responsible for ~75% of skin cancer deaths. The deadliness of melanoma is linked to their high metastatic potential; and once they disseminate, there is no efficient treatment. Hence it is crucial to understand in detail the mechanisms involved in metastasis to improve actual treatment. Using different approaches, our lab strives to identify genes driving the early steps of melanoma progression to discover new therapeutic targets.
