Use of microphthalmia for diagnosis, prognosis and/or treatment of melanoma

摘要

Microphthalmia (Mi) while present in melanocytes, a cells and osteoclast, is not normally present in other cells. We have found that Mi is present in the nucleus of melanoma cells. Melanoma can be diagnosed by contacting a malignant cell with a probe for Mi. If the probe identifies Mi in the nucleus of the cell, the cell is a melanoma.