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Tyrosinase: Overview

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Abstract

Tyrosinase is the key enzyme of the melanin pigment production pathway in both normal melanocytes and malignant melanoma cells. The expression of tyrosinase in metastatic melanoma is more common and homogenous, as compared to other melanocyte/melanoma differentiation proteins. Therefore, several studies have indicated the clinical benefit of detecting tyrosinase in peripheral circulation and regional lymph nodes. Importantly, tyrosinase has been found to elicit cellular and humoral immune responses in patients with malignant melanoma. Accordingly, efforts have been made to develop immunotherapeutic strategies using tyrosinase peptides and/or protein. In summary, tyrosinase can provide an attractive target for the immunotherapy of malignant melanoma.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL, 60153, USA

    Michael I. Nishimura

  2. Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA

    Amir A. Al-Khami

  3. Section of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA

    Shikhar Mehrotra

  4. III. Medizinische Klinik (Hematology, Oncology, Pneumology), University Medical Center of the Johannes Guttenberg University, D-55101, Mainz, Germany

    Thomas Wolfel

Authors
  1. Michael I. Nishimura
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  2. Amir A. Al-Khami
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  3. Shikhar Mehrotra
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  4. Thomas Wolfel
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michael I. Nishimura .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Hematology & Oncology, Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA

    John L. Marshall

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Nishimura, M.I., Al-Khami, A.A., Mehrotra, S., Wolfel, T. (2017). Tyrosinase: Overview. In: Marshall, J. (eds) Cancer Therapeutic Targets. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0717-2_102

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