What is mart-1?

Mart-1, also known as Melan-A, is a protein that is expressed by melanoma cells and normal melanocytes (pigment-producing cells in the skin). It is a tumor antigen that has been used as a target for immunotherapy in melanoma treatment. Mart-1 is one of the most widely studied melanoma-specific antigens, and its expression can be detected by immunohistochemical staining. Its expression is also used as a diagnostic marker for melanoma, as it is often found in melanoma cells but not in other types of cancer. Mart-1 is a member of the melanoma-associated antigen (MAGE) family and is one of several antigens that can be targeted for melanoma immunotherapy.