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Name

MART-1 antigen

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Definition

A protein found on normal melanocytes (cells that make the pigment melanin) in the skin and in the retina. It is also found on most melanomas (cancers that begin in melanocytes). Vaccines using pieces of the MART-1 antigen are being studied for their ability to boost the immune response to cancer cells in patients with melanoma.

Resource

Title: National Cancer Institute
NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms

Alternate Names

Melan-A protein
Melanoma Antigen Recognized by-T-cells-1

Abstractor Notes

None

Histology

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Glossary