Isolation and Culture of Melanoma Cell Lines

Since the dawn of mankind, there has been cancer. From so simple a beginning, cancer, in all of its forms and complexities, has become the second leading cause of death in the United States. It is responsible for one out of four deaths, and totaled 549,838 (23% of all deaths) for the year 1999 (1 ). It is estimated that it will surpass cardiovascular disease as the number one killer by the year 2015. For melanoma, the incidence is increasing at an alarming rate. For the year 2002, new melanoma cases will be diagnosed in 53,600 individuals, claiming 7,400 lives (1 ). We have had limited success in the treatment of advanced stage melanoma with most patients succumbing to death within the first year of diagnosis.