In vitro characterisation of melanoma progression in a melanoma skin equivalent model

Melanoma is a fatal form of skin cancer which progresses in an orchestrated pattern in human skin. Characterising these phases of melanoma in vitro can provide key insights into mechanisms of the disease progression. In this thesis, we investigate how in vitro three-dimensional (3D) model assays that recapitulate human skin can be used to identify key features underlying melanoma progression. In particular, we construct a 3D melanoma skin equivalent model using melanoma cells from the early and late phase of the disease. We further quantify melanoma cell migration, proliferation, invasion, as well as melanoma nest formation