Malignant Melanoma: An Androgen-Dependent Tumour?

Risk Factors for Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma: The Western Canada Melanoma Study

“…A previous study by Beral et al (1983) found a history of acne to be protective, but their study included only female subjects. Laboratory studies have indicated that for certain tumours, short-term maintenance of melanoma cultures in vitro may proceed more favourably in the presence of androgens (Flax et al 1973;Rampen and Mulder 1980). Since acne vulgaris is a disease thought to be activated by androgens beginning at puberty (Krupp and Chatton 1982) the possible association between acne and melanoma in male subjects may deserve further study.…”

Sex disparities in melanoma outcomes: The role of biology

“…This group proposed that androgens could explain the shorter survival time in men with melanoma, irrespective of the hormonal status of women [44]. In support of this, Morvillo and colleagues demonstrated the existence of androgen receptors (ARs) in human melanoma cell lines and found that the incubation of these cells in the presence of an androgen significantly stimulated cell proliferation; this stimulation could be reversed by the anti-androgen flutamide (or its active metabolite hydroxyflutamide).…”

“…Nosrati, M.L. Wei / Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics 563 (2014)[42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50] …”

Androgen receptors in human melanoma cell lines IIB-MEL-LES and IIB-MEL-IAN and in human melanoma metastases

“…It has also been theoretically proposed [5] that an androgen dependency of melanoma could explain the longer survival time in female patients, irrespective of the hormonal status of the female host. It might also explain the incidental occurrence of rapid progression of melanoma during gestation and the spontaneous regressions sometimes associated with the termination of pregnancy, for abundant quantities of androgen precursors are secreted during pregnancy.…”