# FISH MELANOMA:  A MODEL FOR CELL DEVELOPMENT AND CANCER

> **NIH NIH R01** · BRITISH COLUMBIA CANCER AGENCY · 1988 · $70,188

## Abstract

Cancer is due to misguided cell developmental processes such as cell
growth, cell determination and differentiation.  Unless we understand the
basic molecular mechanisms of these processes, we cannot understand the
developmental biology of neoplastic cells.

To tackle these problems, advantage will be taken of the hereditary
melanoma formation in certain fish.  Genetic factors have been identified
which govern the development of a distinct pigment cell, the M cell: the M
gene, determines embryonic neural crest cells to differenctiate into M
cells; a linked regulating gene, IR, controls this process, several
non-linked R genes, n1R, control the proliferation and differentiation of
the determined cells.  By mutating or outcrossing R genes, one can create a
whole spectrum of R genotype, each giving rise to developmentally mutant M
cells forming benign melanomas at one end of the spectrum and malignant
melanomas at the other end.

The long-term goal of ths research is to analyze cell developmental
processes by unravelling the molecular functions of the mentioned genetic
factors and by studing at the cellular level, characteristics of normally
and tumorously developing M cells.

To achieve this goal, the research proposed two aims:

(i) to isolate the M gene, thereby laying the basis for a molecular
analysis of the determination process.  The isolation will be done using
the methodology of a recently described gene transfer system:  total
genomic DNA from M genotypes, when injected into the neural crest region of
embryos, resulted in almost 10% of the fish displaying M cell colonies
after 3 months.  We will use this powerful system as a bioassay to
sub-select from genomic and sub-genomic libraries for an M gene-specific
clone.

(ii) To establish an in vitro model system in the form of neural crest
cells which give rise to normal M cells when R genes are unaltered, and to
various abnormal (tumorous) M cells when respective R genes are mutated
and/or outcrossed.  While establishing the system, it is anticipated that
initial insights will be gained into the function of R genes and thus into
the principles of normal and cancerous cell development.  One very
important advantage of such a system:  the development of cancerous cells
in culture can be observed from the very beginning as the changes take
place.  This is an advantage over tumour cell lines where such changes have
already taken place.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3176179
- **Project number:** 5R01CA038138-03
- **Recipient organization:** BRITISH COLUMBIA CANCER AGENCY
- **SAM.gov UEI:** LKF9B2BABMM6
- **Principal Investigator:** JUERGEN R VIELKIND
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1988
- **Award amount:** $70,188
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1986-03-01 → 1989-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3176179

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3176179, FISH MELANOMA:  A MODEL FOR CELL DEVELOPMENT AND CANCER (5R01CA038138-03). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3176179. Licensed CC0.

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