Cyclic Adenosine 3′,5′-Monophosphate in the Control of Melanoma Cell Replication and Differentiation2

Abstract

A melanotic clone of the B16 melanoma was treated with different doses of cyclic AMP, dibutyryl cyclic AMP, and two phosphodiesterase inhibitors, caffeine and theophylline. At nontoxic doses, all agents retarded cellular replication, enhanced melanogenesis, and produced morphologic altertions, i.e., cellular hypertrophy and exaggerated dendrite formation. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that cyclic AMP is a potent regulator of melanoma cellular replication and differentiation.