Biological aspects of human malignant melanoma

Abstract

A study of the clinical behavior of human malignant melanoma in 164 patients has revealed a variety of endocrine and immunologic factors which appear to play a role in the initiation and dissemination of the disease. Genetic factors could not be established to have a statistically significant role in disease development, despite apparently high incidence of malignancy in the relatives of patients with this disease. Survival in patients with various anatomic primary sites is consistently related to development of all stages of disease dissemination. This suggests the role of host factors relatively early in the disease which may play a role in determining eventual survival.