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Review
. 2012 Feb;22(1):1-8.
doi: 10.1097/CMR.0b013e32834e6aa0.

Superficial spreading and nodular melanoma are distinct biological entities: a challenge to the linear progression model

Holly S Greenwald  1 , Erica B Friedman, Iman Osman
Affiliations
Review

Superficial spreading and nodular melanoma are distinct biological entities: a challenge to the linear progression model

Holly S Greenwald et al. Melanoma Res. 2012 Feb.

Abstract

The classification of melanoma subtypes into prognostically relevant and therapeutically insightful categories has been a challenge since the first description of melanoma in the 1800s. One limitation has been the assumption that the two most common histological subtypes of melanoma, superficial spreading and nodular, evolve according to a linear model of progression, as malignant melanocytes spread radially and then invade vertically. However, recent clinical, pathological, and molecular data indicate that these two histological subtypes might evolve as distinct entities. Here, we review the published data that support distinct molecular characterization of superficial spreading and nodular melanoma, the clinical significance of this distinction including prognostic relevance and the therapeutic implications.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest: None to disclose.

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