IL-8 expression in malignant melanoma: implications in growth and metastasis

R.K. Singh and M.L. Varney

Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, USA

Offprint requests to: Dr. Rakesh K. Singh, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985660 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-5660, USA. Fax: (402) 559-4990. e-mail: rsingh@unmc.edu

Summary. This review article has described briefly studies supporting the concept that IL-8 expression and its regulation by inflammatory cytokines like IL-1 may play an important role in controlling the phenotypes associated with melanoma progression and metastasis. It is clear from the experiments presented here that IL-8 is an important autocrine multifunctional cytokine that modulates melanoma/cell proliferation, migration by induction of extracellular matrix degradation enzymes and induces neovascularization, all of which are critical for melanoma growth and metastasis. In addition, their expression in melanoma tumor specimens suggests an association between IL-8 expression and tumor aggressiveness. Further, inflammatory cytokines produced by either tumor cells or stromal cells may regulate IL-8 expression, which can control melanoma growth and enhance our current knowledge regarding melanoma progression and metastasis. Understanding these events and their significance will allow us to design novel therapeutic approaches for treatment of melanoma. Histol. Histopathol. 15, 843-849 (2000)

Key words: IL-8, Melanoma, Metastasis

DOI: 10.14670/HH-15.843