MART-1

DESCRIPTION: Protein MelanA (Melanoma Antigen), also known as MART-1 (Melanocytic Antigen Recognized by cytotoxic T lymphocytes) is a common biomarker used to identify malignant melanoma (MM) in patients, it falls under the MHC (major histocompatability complex) I class. MART-1 is encoded by the MLANA gene in humans and is present normally on the surface of benign nevi (beauty marks), as well as on melanocytes, the pigment-producing cells of your skin that become abnormal and grow out of control if malignant melanoma has developed. Approximately 76,000 new cases of melanoma are diagnosed annually in the Unites States, which accounts for about 2% of the total skin cancer diagnosis in United States annually; however 75% of skin cancer related deaths are the result of MM which exhibits how devastating this form of cancer is. With early detection of melanoma being correlated highly to improved prognosis of patients, it is necessary to create a point of care device that can measure the presence of MART-1 antigen in peripheral blood as a screening technique during annual examinations and upon identification of suspicious skin lesions Protein melan-A is a protein that in humans is encoded by the MLANA gene . A fragment of the protein, usually consisting of the nine amino acids 27 to 35, is bound byMHC class I complexes which present it to T cells of the immune system. These complexes can be found on the surface of melanoma cells. Decameric peptides (26-35) are being investigated as cancer vaccines.
The names MART-1 and melan-A were coined by two groups of researchers who independently sequenced the gene for this antigen in 1994. Both names are currently in common use. Kawakami et al. at the National Cancer Institute coined the term MART-1, which stands for "melanoma antigen recognized by T-cells. ]Coulie et al. of Belgium