Research Abstract
Dr. Tahan's research interests are the identification of genes and their products important in the progression of melanocytic lesions, and the identification of biologic markers of aggressiveness/prognosis in melanoma and other human skin neoplasms. Recent work includes: 1. Discovery of autocrine regulatory function of CXCL10 and its receptor dependency on melanoma growth rate and invasiveness, and investigation of molecular mechanisms of this action. 2. Demonstration of stem cell marker expression among subpopulation of melanoma cells,
3. Studying molecular changes in human Kaposi's sarcoma associated with regression after treatment with Taxol derivatives and anti-angiogenetic agents.
