ABSTRACT
Cutaneous melanomas arise from melanin-producing skin pigment cells termed melanocytes, which belong to the neuron crest cell lineage. Human melanocytes play a protective role against the environmental insults such as solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) or man-made UV lamps, the single most important environmental risk factor for melanoma [1-5]. While melanin biosynthesis is stimulated by UV radiation for preventing further skin damage, the intermediates for melanin biosynthesis produce oxidative stress [6] and are potential hazards for skin damage. There is evidence that melanin-producing organelles (melanosomes) can be damaged by UV radiation, leading
Abstract .......................................................................................................................................... 259 19.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 259 19.2 Source of ROS in Melanocytes and Melanoma ....................................................................260
