Study discovers how moles become cancerous

STATE COLLEGE, Pa., May 6 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say they've discovered how a mole develops into melanoma by showing the interaction of two proteins involved in up to 70 percent of tumors.

"We have shown that when two proteins (B-Raf and Akt3) communicate with one another in a mole, they cooperate, leading to the development of melanoma," said Penn State University Associate Professor Gavin Robertson, lead author of the study. "We have also shown that effective therapies for melanoma need to target both these proteins, which essentially eliminates the tumors."

Melanoma is the most deadly form of skin cancer because it metastasizes so quickly, the scientists said. In general, people with advanced-stage melanoma only have months to live.

B-Raf is the most mutated gene in melanoma. The mutant protein, (V600E)B-Raf, produced by that gene is important in helping mole cells survive and grow but it is unable to form melanomas on its own, the scientists said

Robertson and his colleagues found a second protein -- produced by Akt3 -- regulates the activity of mutated B-Raf, which aids melanoma development.

The research that included Mitchell Cheung, Arati Sharma and SubbaRao Madhunapantula is reported in the journal Cancer Research.