Melanotransferrin (MELTF, MFI2, CD228) Expression Attenuates Malignant Melanoma Progression in the A375-Luc2 Murine Metastasis Model and Human Patients

The cell-surface glycoprotein melanotransferrin (MELTF; also known as CD228, p97, MELTF, and MFI2) is a member of the iron-binding transferrin-superfamily. Since its initial discovery as a presumable melanoma tumor antigen, ubiquitous expression of MELTF in melanocytic and nonmelanocytic cells has attracted much research substantiating a function in iron homeostasis, blood brain barrier permeability, microvascular endothelial function, plasminogen activation, angiogenesis, and tumorigenic progression across various cancer types, but a specific role in melanomagenesis has remained elusive (Mazahreh et al., 2023, Rolland et al., 2006, Rolland et al., 2009, Singh et al., 2021, Suryo Rahmanto et al., 2007).