A method of treating a hypopigmentary condition in a subject comprising administering to the subject an amount of SOX9 sufficient to treat
melanoma is disclosed. The hypopigmentary condition can be a result of
surgery, trauma or
vitiligo. A method of treating a hyperpigmentary condition in a subject comprising administering to the subject an amount of inhibitor of SOX9 activity sufficient to treat
melanoma is disclosed. A method of treating
melanoma in a subject comprising administering to the subject an amount of SOX9 sufficient to treat melanoma is disclosed. A method of treating melanoma in a subject comprising increasing the amounts of
retinoic acid and SOX9 in the subject by amounts sufficient to treat melanoma. A method of treating melanoma in a subject comprising administering to the subject an amount of
prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) and
retinoic acid (RA) sufficient to treat
cancer. A method of sensitizing a melanoma
cell to RA comprising administering to the subject an amount of SOX9 sufficient to decrease
PRAME expression. A method of increasing p21 expression in a subject comprising administering to the subject an amount of SOX9 sufficient to increase p21 expression. Methods of screening for compounds that treat hypopigmentary conditions and / or melanoma are provided.