A Short Report on Melanocyte/Melanoma Culture, Senescence, and Reproducibility
Larue L, Barral DC, Delmas V, Egea-Rodriguez S, Aldea D, Etchevers HC, Galibert MD, Kelsh RN, Lanfrancone L, Madigan M, Moura-Alves P, White RM, Boßerhoff AK (2026)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2026
Journal
Book Volume: 39
Article Number: e70084
Journal Issue: 2
DOI: 10.1111/pcmr.70084
Abstract
At the 2025 ESPCR (European Society for Pigment Cell Research) meeting in Erlangen, a workshop on “Pigment Cell Models: Sensitivity, Innovation, and the Challenges of Cell Culture” brought together researchers to discuss technical, methodological, and reproducibility issues in culturing melanocytes, keratinocytes, fibroblasts, and melanoma cells. The discussion between experts in the field highlighted key and recurrent pitfalls affecting experimental outcomes, including low-density seeding, temperature fluctuations, over-passaging, and mycoplasma contamination, as well as sources of variability arising from media composition, batch effects, and environmental conditions. Importantly, the workshop distinguished between practices supported by evidence and consensus-based guidance derived from collective expert experience. Species- and donor-specific differences, especially between human, mouse, and zebrafish melanocyte models, were identified as additional major determinants of experimental variability. Emerging systems, including human and mouse pluripotent stem cell (PSC)-derived melanocytes, as well as avian and zebrafish melanoma lines, were discussed for their complementary mechanistic and translational value. Overall, the workshop concluded that transparent documentation, explicit reporting standards, and shared best practices are essential to improve reproducibility and further advance pigment cell research.
Authors with CRIS profile
Involved external institutions
Universidade do Porto
Portugal (PT)
University of Oxford
United Kingdom (GB)
Institut Curie
France (FR)
New University of Lisbon / Universidade Nova de Lisboa
Portugal (PT)
Klinikum der Universität München (LMU Klinikum)
Germany (DE)
Aix-Marseille University / Aix-Marseille Université
France (FR)
Institut de Génétique & Développement de Rennes (IGDR)
France (FR)
University of Bath
United Kingdom (GB)
European Institute of Oncology / Istituto Europeo di Oncologia (IEO)
Italy (IT)
University of New South Wales (UNSW)
Australia (AU)
Portugal (PT)
University of Oxford
United Kingdom (GB)
Institut Curie
France (FR)
New University of Lisbon / Universidade Nova de Lisboa
Portugal (PT)
Klinikum der Universität München (LMU Klinikum)
Germany (DE)
Aix-Marseille University / Aix-Marseille Université
France (FR)
Institut de Génétique & Développement de Rennes (IGDR)
France (FR)
University of Bath
United Kingdom (GB)
European Institute of Oncology / Istituto Europeo di Oncologia (IEO)
Italy (IT)
University of New South Wales (UNSW)
Australia (AU)
How to cite
APA:
Larue, L., Barral, D.C., Delmas, V., Egea-Rodriguez, S., Aldea, D., Etchevers, H.C.,... Boßerhoff, A.K. (2026). A Short Report on Melanocyte/Melanoma Culture, Senescence, and Reproducibility. Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research, 39(2). https://doi.org/10.1111/pcmr.70084
MLA:
Larue, Lionel, et al. "A Short Report on Melanocyte/Melanoma Culture, Senescence, and Reproducibility." Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research 39.2 (2026).
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