Effect of estrogen in malignant melanoma

Background Melanoma is associated with poor prognosis in its advanced stages. Potential influence of estrogen and its metabolites on melanoma growth has been suggested. Aims The objective of this review was to provide an overview on the evidence related to estrogen in malignant melanoma. Materials and methods Literature search using PubMed, Google Scholar and relevant cross-references of the retrieved articles was performed to review relevant published articles related to estrogen and its effects in malignant melanoma. Results Effect of estrogen signaling on a tissue largely depends on the relative expression of estrogen receptors (ER) α and β. Gender differences in melanoma may be explaine…