ATLANTA - Researchers at Emory University have found what they believe to be an early warning indicator of melanoma in moles. <br>
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Researchers found that mitogen-activated protein kinase, a signaling pathway, is turned on in the early stages of malignant melanoma, a common and lethal form of skin cancer. <br>
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Larger studies still need to be done to confirm the finding, which may lead to drugs in the future that could inhibit the pathway to prevent a mole from turning malignant, says Doctor Jack Arbiser, an assistant professor of dermatology at Emory. <br>
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Emory's finding is just one of several pathways being investigated by cancer researchers, says Doctor Laura Hutchins, a professor of medicine at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.
