Human KIT+ myeloid cells facilitate visceral metastasis by melanoma

Colonization of visceral organs with melanoma in humanized NSG-SGM3 mice is dependent upon human CD33+CD11b+CD117+ progenitor cells. A gene signature of KIT/CD117–expressing CD33+ subset correlates with decreased overall survival in TCGA melanoma samples and represents a novel candidate biomarker.
Metastasis of melanoma significantly worsens prognosis; thus, therapeutic interventions that prevent metastasis could improve patient outcomes. Here, we show using humanized mice that colonization of distant visceral organs with melanoma is dependent upon a human CD33+CD11b+CD117+ progenitor cell subset comprising
Graphical Abstract