Melanoma researchers at Emory University's Winship Cancer Center are uncovering new information about a vital cellular ingredient which they believe may direct the body's immune system to kill malignant melanoma tumor cells, the most dangerous, and potentially deadly, type of skin cancer. If large doses of this ingredient can be delivered to melanoma tumors directly, the researchers believe it might be used to effectively treat advanced cases of melanoma.
Cytokines are natural proteins made by all cells, both normal and malignant.
GM-CSF is produced naturally by some human melanoma tumors, but in amounts too small to effectively eliminate tumors. We grew melanoma tumor cells in culture and added the GM-CSF gene. Then we reinjected the combination back into the mouse. The animal grew a tumor that produced an abundance of the cytokine locally. It took just five days to completely eliminate tumor cells in more than half of the mice.