Establishment and characterization of an oral mucosal melanoma cell line (MEMO) derived from a longstanding primary oral melanoma.

Oral mucosal melanoma is rare. Its incidence peaks between 41 and 60 years of age; male/female ratio is 2:1. Preferred oral sites include hard palate and maxillary gingiva. Risk factors have not been clearly identified, but pigmented lesions may be present before the diagnosis of oral melanoma. We report an unusual case of oral mucosal melanoma of long-standing duration on hard palate and maxillary alveolar ridge in a male patient. Histopathologic features confirmed the diagnosis of invasive melanoma with a prominent in situ component. A cell lineage derived from the tumor was established and characterized, with phenotypic markers of melanocytes.