Structure and Control of the Melanocyte

The first five International Pigment Cell Conferences have all been held in U.S.A., from 1948 to 1961. The late MYRON GORDON (1899-1959), was one of their initiators and was the person who was able to give a skillful continuity to these Conferences which have permitted a gathering together of the multiple aspects of investigations in pigment cell biology, including the clinical problem of melanomas. During the International Cancer Congress in Moscow, in 1962, mem­ bers of the Oncological Research Institute in Sofia offered to organize the Sixth Pigment Cell Conference. Because of their interest and experience in the field of experimental and human melanomas, this seemed highly appropriate. The International Union Against Cancer agreed to sponsor the Conference, since one of the final goals of studies in pigment cell bio­ logy is certainly the control of the neoplastic deviation of the melanocyte. Thus, for the first time, the Pigment Cell Conference was held in Europe. After discussions with various investigators, the Program Com­ mittee decided to limit somewhat the chemical and biological part of the program in order to allow relatively more space to electron microscopy of the melanocyte, biology of experimental melanomas, and epidemiology and clinical aspects of human melanomas.