1. ¹Cutaneous Biology Research Center, Department of Dermatology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
2. ²Melanoma Program, Department of Medical Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
3. ³Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Correspondence: Dr David E. Fisher, Department of Dermatology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Thier 204, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA. E-mail: dfisher3@partners.org

Abstract

Notch signaling is an evolutionally conserved pathway that serves as a critical regulator of cell fate. From a series of studies, including a report in this issue, researchers have begun to elucidate the critical functions of Notch signaling in the regulation of melanocyte lineage development. With evidence of a recently identified role for Notch signaling in melanomagenesis, characterization of downstream molecular events may offer potential avenues for the development of novel therapeutic strategies.