Effects of a Melanotropic Peptide on Melanoma Cell Growth, Metastasis, and Invasion

Melanocyte stimulating hormone (α‐MSH, α‐melanotropin),Ac‐Ser‐Tyr‐Ser‐Met‐Glu‐His‐Phe‐Arg‐Trp‐Gly‐Ly‐Pro‐Val‐NH₂, regulates melanogenesis within epidermal melanocytes of many animals. An MSH analogue ([Nle4,D‐Phe7]α‐MSH) that exhibits superpotency and prolonged biological activity has been synthesized, biologically characterized, and is presently in clinical trials to determine its possible clinical use in tanning of the skin. It also has potential for the diagnosis, localization, and chemotherapy of melanoma. The effects of this analogue on the growth, metastatic behavior, and invasive potential of a melanotic variant of Cloudman S‐91 murine melanoma are reported here. In an intracutaneous murine model of melanoma cell tumor growth, the analogue did not increase primary tumor growth (size) after the period of administration of the peptide hormone analogue and did not affect spontaneous lung metastases. Survival times for the control and melanotropin‐treated groups were similar, suggesting that overall tumor burden was not affected by treatment with the hormone analogue. Last, melanoma cell invasion through a human amniotic basement membrane in vitro was not enhanced compared to untreated cells.