Induction of skin tanning by subcutaneous administration of a potent synthetic melanotropin

Article Abstract:

Individuals who tan poorly and sunburn easily are at greatest risk for developing skin cancer. It is possible that increased skin melanin (the black or brown pigment that occurs naturally in the skin, hair, and iris of the eye) might give these high-risk individuals some protection from the damaging ultraviolet rays of the sun. The pituitary gland of the brain makes and secretes alpha-melanotropin-stimulating hormone (MSH). This hormone regulates skin coloration by acting on melanocytes (pigment-producing cells), which make melanin. A report is presented of the effectiveness of short-term injections of a synthetic analogue of MSH to stimulate tanning. There were 28 healthy men in the study who were randomly assigned to receive subcutaneous injections of either the MSH analogue or a placebo saline. A high-potency sunscreen was used by all of the subjects during the trial. Twelve men had a history of poor tanning and of sunburning easily, and 16 tanned easily. Subjects were followed for seven weeks after the end of treatment. At the end of the study, significant skin darkening was noted in the patients given the MSH analogue; no tanning occurred in the group of men given the placebo. Treatment side effects were mild, which included flushing that lasted for less than an hour after injection accompanied by vague stomach discomfort. Some of the body areas with the greatest color change were those normally exposed to the sun. Maximum changes were seen from one to three weeks after cessation of treatment. These results indicate that tanning of the skin occurs in response to injections of synthetic melanotropin. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Research, Prevention, Skin, Dermatology, Skin color, Sunburn, Intermedin, Melanocyte stimulating hormone, Tanning, Tanning (Leather finishing)

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Relation of cytogenetic abnormalities and clinical outcome in metastatic melanoma

Article Abstract:

Cytogenetic analysis is a process of examining human cells to identify chromosome abnormalities. The presence of certain chromosome patterns in samples from patients with cancer may help to determine how long they are likely to survive. The prognostic value of cytogenetic analysis has been demonstrated in cases of leukemia and lymphoma, but has not been investigated in solid tumors such as malignant melanoma, a pigmented tumor of the skin. Sixty-two patients with melanoma that had metastasized (spread) from the original site to other parts of the body were studied. Samples of cells were taken from biopsies of their tumors and were subjected to cytogenetic analysis. The cells were examined for chromosomes with structural abnormalities, and the researchers discovered that patients who had abnormalities on chromosome 7 or 11 had a significantly shorter survival time than the other patients. From these findings, the authors conclude that performing cytogenetic analysis can improve the accuracy of prognosis for patients with metastatic melanoma. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Usage, Evaluation, Prognosis, Cancer, Cytogenetics, Human cytogenetics

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A 50-year-old woman with severe diarrhea during radiation treatment for resected metastatic melanoma

Article Abstract:

A 50-year-old woman was admitted to a hospital because she developed diarrhea after receiving radiation treatment for metastatic melanoma. Her melanoma had been discovered 15 years before and removed, but eventually spread to her breast and lymph nodes. Tests revealed that she was losing protein via her gastrointestinal tract even though she was not malnourished. Microscopic examination of intestinal biopsy samples revealed that her melanoma had metastasized to her gastrointestinal tract. She died several days later of heart and respiratory failure. An autopsy revealed widespread melanoma, affecting most organs.

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