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Dugan MM, Perez MC, Karapetyan L, Zager JS. Management of acral lentiginous melanoma: current updates and future directions. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1323933. [PMID: 38390259 PMCID: PMC10882087 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1323933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Acral lentiginous melanoma is a rare subtype of melanoma generally associated with poor outcomes, even when diagnosed at an early stage. The tumor genetic profile remains poorly understood, but it is known to have a suppressed immune environment compared to that of non-acral cutaneous melanomas, which limits therapy options. There is significant attention on the development of novel therapeutic approaches, although studies are limited due to disease rarity. For local disease, wide local excision remains the standard of care. Due to frequent under-staging on preoperative biopsy, wider margins and routine sentinel lymph node biopsy may be considered if morbidity would not be increased. For advanced disease, anti-PD1 monotherapy or combination therapy with anti-PD1 and anti-CTLA4 agents have been used as first-line treatment modalities. Anti-PD1 and anti-CTLA4 combination therapies have been shown to be particularly beneficial for patients with BRAF-mutant acral lentiginous melanoma. Other systemic combination regimens and targeted therapy options may be considered, although large studies with consistent results are lacking. Regional and intralesional therapies have shown promise for cutaneous melanomas, but studies generally have not reported results for specific histologic subtypes, especially for acral melanoma. Overall, the unique histologic and genetic characteristics of acral lentiginous melanoma make therapy options significantly more challenging. Furthermore, studies are limited, and data reporting has been inconsistent. However, more prospective studies are emerging, and alternative therapy pathways specific to acral lentiginous melanoma are being investigated. As further evidence is discovered, reliable treatment guidelines may be developed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle M Dugan
- Department of Cutaneous Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Matthew C Perez
- Department of Cutaneous Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Lilit Karapetyan
- Department of Cutaneous Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, United States
- Department of Oncologic Sciences, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Jonathan S Zager
- Department of Cutaneous Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, United States
- Department of Oncologic Sciences, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL, United States
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Ito T, Tanaka Y, Murata M, Kaku-Ito Y, Furue K, Furue M. BRAF Heterogeneity in Melanoma. Curr Treat Options Oncol 2021; 22:20. [PMID: 33558987 DOI: 10.1007/s11864-021-00818-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
OPINION STATEMENT In the era of molecular targeted therapy, the accurate detection of BRAF mutation in melanoma has become increasingly important. With the advances of molecular analyses and immunohistochemistry, the presence of BRAF mutational heterogeneity in melanoma has been widely recognized. Although most patients with melanoma have a homogeneous BRAF mutation status because the BRAF mutation occurs at an early stage of melanoma development and acts as a driver gene mutation, BRAF mutational heterogeneity does exist, among different tumor sites of a single patient (intertumor heterogeneity) and/or even within a single tumor (intratumor heterogeneity). To summarize the published reports, about 10% of melanoma patients may show intertumorally discordant BRAF status and about 15% of BRAF-mutated melanomas may have intratumor BRAF heterogeneity, although the reported results vary strikingly among the studies and methods used. Considering the BRAF heterogeneity of melanoma, a single biopsy from a single tumor may not be sufficient to uncover the entire BRAF status of a patient. Multiple samples from different sites may be preferable to assess the indication of BRAF/MEK inhibitors, as recommended by the current clinical guidelines. The impact of BRAF heterogeneity on patient survival or the response to treatment with BRAF/MEK inhibitors is an interesting issue, but requires further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takamichi Ito
- Department of Dermatology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Maidashi 3-1-1, Higashiku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan.
| | - Yuka Tanaka
- Department of Dermatology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Maidashi 3-1-1, Higashiku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Maho Murata
- Department of Dermatology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Maidashi 3-1-1, Higashiku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Yumiko Kaku-Ito
- Department of Dermatology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Maidashi 3-1-1, Higashiku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Kazuhisa Furue
- Department of Dermatology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Maidashi 3-1-1, Higashiku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Masutaka Furue
- Department of Dermatology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Maidashi 3-1-1, Higashiku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
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Tod BM, Schneider JW, Bowcock AM, Visser WI, Kotze MJ. The tumor genetics of acral melanoma: What should a dermatologist know? JAAD Int 2020; 1:135-147. [PMID: 34355205 PMCID: PMC8329760 DOI: 10.1016/j.jdin.2020.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Dermatologists stand at the gateway of individualization of classification, treatment, and outcomes of acral melanoma patients. The acral melanoma genetic landscape differs in vital ways from that of other cutaneous melanomas. These differences have important implications in understanding pathogenesis, treatment, and prognosis. The selection of molecularly targeted therapy must be adapted for acral melanoma. It is also critical to recognize that tumor development is far more complex than an isolated event, reliably treated by a medication acting on a single target. Tumors exhibit intratumor genetic heterogeneity, metastasis may have different genetic or epigenetic features than primary tumors, and tumor resistance may develop because of the activation of alternative genetic pathways. Microenvironmental, immune, and epigenetic events contribute and sustain tumors in complex ways. Treatment strategies with multiple targets are required to effectively disrupt the tumor ecosystem. This review attempts to translate the current molecular understanding of acral melanoma into digestible concepts relevant to the practice of dermatology. The focus is tumor genetics defining potentially treatable cancer pathways, contextualized within the relevant pathologic and molecular features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianca M. Tod
- Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Academic Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Johann W. Schneider
- Division of Anatomical Pathology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University and National Health Laboratory Service, Tygerberg Academic Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Anne M. Bowcock
- Departments of Dermatology, Oncological Sciences and Genetics and Genome Science, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Willem I. Visser
- Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Academic Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Maritha J. Kotze
- Division of Chemical Pathology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University and National Health Laboratory Service, Tygerberg Academic Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
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Keppeke GD, Barcelos D, Fernandes M, Comodo AN, Guimarães DP, Cardili L, Carapeto FCL, Andrade LEC, Landman G. IMP dehydrogenase rod/ring structures in acral melanomas. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res 2020; 33:490-497. [PMID: 31883196 DOI: 10.1111/pcmr.12854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Revised: 12/19/2019] [Accepted: 12/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM) is a rare subtype of melanoma with aggressive behavior. IMPDH enzyme, involved in de novo GTP biosynthesis, has been reported to assemble into large filamentary structures called rods/rings (RR) or cytoophidium (cellular snakes). RR assembly induces a hyperactive state in IMPDH, usually to supply a high demand for GTP nucleotides, such as in highly proliferative cells. We investigate whether aggressive melanoma tumor cells present IMPDH-based RR structures. Forty-five ALM paraffin-embedded tissue samples and 59 melanocytic nevi were probed with anti-IMPDH2 antibody. Both the rod- and ring-shaped RR could be observed, with higher frequency in ALM. ROC curve analyzing the proportions of RR-positive cells in ALM versus nevi yielded a 0.88 AUC. Using the cutoff of 5.5% RR-positive cells, there was a sensitivity of 80% and specificity of 85% for ALM diagnosis. In ALM, 36 (80%) showed RR frequency above the cutoff, being classified as RR-positive, compared with only 9 (15%) of the nevi (p < .001). Histopathology showed that 71% of the RR-positive specimens presented Breslow thickness > 4.0mm, compared with only 29% in the RR-low/negative (p = .039). We propose that screening for RR structures in biopsy specimens may be a valuable tool helping differentiate ALM from nevi and accessing tumor malignancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerson D Keppeke
- Rheumatology Division, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Denise Barcelos
- Department of Pathology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mariana Fernandes
- Department of Pathology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Andréia N Comodo
- Department of Pathology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Daiane P Guimarães
- Department of Pathology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Cardili
- Department of Pathology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fernando C L Carapeto
- Department of Pathology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Luis E C Andrade
- Rheumatology Division, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Gilles Landman
- Department of Pathology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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