Gene expression in melanoma cell lines and cultured melanocytes: correlation between levels of c-src-1, c-myc and p53.

The molecular genetics of melanoma is little understood and has concentrated largely on DNA analyses. We have examined mRNA levels of 21 different oncogenes, antioncogenes, growth factors and proteases in cultured melanocytes and 17 melanoma cell lines. C-mel, c-erb-B2, c-myc, c-src-1, p53, platelet derived growth factor A chain, gro, transforming growth factor alpha, epidermal growth factor receptor and tissue plasminogen activator were all expressed in at least some cell lines. Most striking was the finding that there are significant intercorrelations of c-myc, p53 and c-src-1 levels, and between p53 and c-erb-B2, which may be due to common regulatory control of these genes in cells of the melanocytic lineage.