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Valdez-Salazar F, Jiménez-Del Rio LA, Padilla-Gutiérrez JR, Valle Y, Muñoz-Valle JF, Valdés-Alvarado E. Advances in Melanoma: From Genetic Insights to Therapeutic Innovations. Biomedicines 2024; 12:1851. [PMID: 39200315 PMCID: PMC11351162 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12081851] [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: 06/14/2024] [Revised: 08/08/2024] [Accepted: 08/13/2024] [Indexed: 09/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Advances in melanoma research have unveiled critical insights into its genetic and molecular landscape, leading to significant therapeutic innovations. This review explores the intricate interplay between genetic alterations, such as mutations in BRAF, NRAS, and KIT, and melanoma pathogenesis. The MAPK and PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathways are highlighted for their roles in tumor growth and resistance mechanisms. Additionally, this review delves into the impact of epigenetic modifications, including DNA methylation and histone changes, on melanoma progression. The tumor microenvironment, characterized by immune cells, stromal cells, and soluble factors, plays a pivotal role in modulating tumor behavior and treatment responses. Emerging technologies like single-cell sequencing, CRISPR-Cas9, and AI-driven diagnostics are transforming melanoma research, offering precise and personalized approaches to treatment. Immunotherapy, particularly immune checkpoint inhibitors and personalized mRNA vaccines, has revolutionized melanoma therapy by enhancing the body's immune response. Despite these advances, resistance mechanisms remain a challenge, underscoring the need for combined therapies and ongoing research to achieve durable therapeutic responses. This comprehensive overview aims to highlight the current state of melanoma research and the transformative impacts of these advancements on clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Emmanuel Valdés-Alvarado
- Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias Biomédicas (IICB), Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44340, Mexico; (F.V.-S.)
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Slominski RM, Kim TK, Janjetovic Z, Brożyna AA, Podgorska E, Dixon KM, Mason RS, Tuckey RC, Sharma R, Crossman DK, Elmets C, Raman C, Jetten AM, Indra AK, Slominski AT. Malignant Melanoma: An Overview, New Perspectives, and Vitamin D Signaling. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:2262. [PMID: 38927967 PMCID: PMC11201527 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16122262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2024] [Revised: 06/09/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Melanoma, originating through malignant transformation of melanin-producing melanocytes, is a formidable malignancy, characterized by local invasiveness, recurrence, early metastasis, resistance to therapy, and a high mortality rate. This review discusses etiologic and risk factors for melanoma, diagnostic and prognostic tools, including recent advances in molecular biology, omics, and bioinformatics, and provides an overview of its therapy. Since the incidence of melanoma is rising and mortality remains unacceptably high, we discuss its inherent properties, including melanogenesis, that make this disease resilient to treatment and propose to use AI to solve the above complex and multidimensional problems. We provide an overview on vitamin D and its anticancerogenic properties, and report recent advances in this field that can provide solutions for the prevention and/or therapy of melanoma. Experimental papers and clinicopathological studies on the role of vitamin D status and signaling pathways initiated by its active metabolites in melanoma prognosis and therapy are reviewed. We conclude that vitamin D signaling, defined by specific nuclear receptors and selective activation by specific vitamin D hydroxyderivatives, can provide a benefit for new or existing therapeutic approaches. We propose to target vitamin D signaling with the use of computational biology and AI tools to provide a solution to the melanoma problem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Radomir M. Slominski
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA;
| | - Tae-Kang Kim
- Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; (T.-K.K.); (Z.J.); (E.P.); (C.E.); (C.R.)
| | - Zorica Janjetovic
- Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; (T.-K.K.); (Z.J.); (E.P.); (C.E.); (C.R.)
| | - Anna A. Brożyna
- Department of Human Biology, Institute of Biology, Faculty of Biological and Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University, 87-100 Torun, Poland;
| | - Ewa Podgorska
- Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; (T.-K.K.); (Z.J.); (E.P.); (C.E.); (C.R.)
| | - Katie M. Dixon
- School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2050, Australia; (K.M.D.); (R.S.M.)
| | - Rebecca S. Mason
- School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2050, Australia; (K.M.D.); (R.S.M.)
| | - Robert C. Tuckey
- School of Molecular Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia;
| | - Rahul Sharma
- Department of Biomedical Informatics and Data Science, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA;
| | - David K. Crossman
- Department of Genetics and Bioinformatics, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA;
| | - Craig Elmets
- Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; (T.-K.K.); (Z.J.); (E.P.); (C.E.); (C.R.)
| | - Chander Raman
- Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; (T.-K.K.); (Z.J.); (E.P.); (C.E.); (C.R.)
| | - Anton M. Jetten
- Cell Biology Section, NIEHS—National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA;
| | - Arup K. Indra
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
- Department of Dermatology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
- Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Andrzej T. Slominski
- Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; (T.-K.K.); (Z.J.); (E.P.); (C.E.); (C.R.)
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service, Veteran Administration Medical Center, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
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Țăpoi DA, Gheorghișan-Gălățeanu AA, Dumitru AV, Ciongariu AM, Furtunescu AR, Marin A, Costache M. Primary Undifferentiated/Dedifferentiated Cutaneous Melanomas-A Review on Histological, Immunohistochemical, and Molecular Features with Emphasis on Prognosis and Treatment. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:9985. [PMID: 37373134 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24129985] [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: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 06/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Diagnosing cutaneous melanoma is usually straightforward based on these malignancies' histopathological and immunohistochemical features. Nevertheless, melanomas can imitate various other neoplasms, sometimes lacking the expression of conventional melanocytic markers and expressing non-melanocytic ones. Furthermore, divergent differentiation is more often encountered in metastatic melanomas and is still poorly described in primary cutaneous melanomas, and little is known about these patients' prognosis and therapeutic approach. Therefore, we reviewed the literature on undifferentiated/dedifferentiated cutaneous melanomas, and we discuss the histological, immunohistochemical, and molecular profiles of undifferentiated/dedifferentiated cutaneous melanomas to understand these peculiar lesions better and improve their diagnostic algorithm. In addition to this, we also discuss how different genetic mutations may influence prognosis and become potential therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dana Antonia Țăpoi
- Department of Pathology, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Pathology, University Emergency Hospital, 050098 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Ancuța-Augustina Gheorghișan-Gălățeanu
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology and Histology, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania
- C.I. Parhon National Institute of Endocrinology, 011863 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Adrian Vasile Dumitru
- Department of Pathology, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Pathology, University Emergency Hospital, 050098 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Ana Maria Ciongariu
- Department of Pathology, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Pathology, University Emergency Hospital, 050098 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Andreea Roxana Furtunescu
- Doctoral School, Faculty of Medicine, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Dermatology, Victor Babes Clinical Hospital, 030303 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Andrei Marin
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Mariana Costache
- Department of Pathology, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Pathology, University Emergency Hospital, 050098 Bucharest, Romania
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Metastatic Melanoma: Liquid Biopsy as a New Precision Medicine Approach. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24044014. [PMID: 36835424 PMCID: PMC9962821 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24044014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Precision medicine has driven a major change in the treatment of many forms of cancer. The discovery that each patient is different and each tumor mass has its own characteristics has shifted the focus of basic and clinical research to the singular individual. Liquid biopsy (LB), in this sense, presents new scenarios in personalized medicine through the study of molecules, factors, and tumor biomarkers in blood such as circulating tumor cells (CTCs), circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), exosomes and circulating tumor microRNAs (ct-miRNAs). Moreover, its easy application and complete absence of contraindications for the patient make this method applicable in a great many fields. Melanoma, given its highly heterogeneous characteristics, is a cancer form that could significantly benefit from the information linked to liquid biopsy, especially in the treatment management. In this review, we will focus our attention on the latest applications of liquid biopsy in metastatic melanoma and possible developments in the clinical setting.
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Colic E, Patel PU, Kent OA. Aberrant MAPK Signaling Offers Therapeutic Potential for Treatment of Ovarian Carcinoma. Onco Targets Ther 2022; 15:1331-1346. [PMID: 36388156 PMCID: PMC9645123 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s361512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer remains the most lethal gynecological malignancy worldwide due to lack of effective screening, vague early symptoms, poor description of biomarkers, and absence of effective treatment regimes. Epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC) is categorized into five distinct disease subtypes which collectively account for ~90% of ovarian carcinomas. Most women present at advanced stages contributing to a poor overall 5-year survival rate. Standard treatment for EOC is cytoreductive surgery and platinum-based chemotherapy; however, most patients suffer from recurrence and platinum-resistant disease, which highlights an urgent need for targeted therapy. The high frequency of molecular alterations affecting gain-of-function signaling through the RAS mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway in EOC has prompted pre-clinical and clinical efforts toward research into the effectiveness of MAPK pathway inhibition as a second-line treatment. The RAS/MAPK pathway is a highly conserved signal transduction cascade, often disrupted in cancer, that regulates tumorigenic phenotypes including cellular proliferation, survival, migration, apoptosis, and differentiation. Herein, the role of the MAPK pathway in EOC with emphasis on targetability of the pathway is described. Pre-clinical and clinical efforts to target MAPK signaling in EOC have identified several MAPK pathway inhibitors that offer efficacious potential for monotherapy and in combination with other compounds. Thus, inhibition of the RAS/MAPK pathway is emerging as a tractable strategy for treatment of ovarian cancer that may permit development of personalized therapy and improved prognosis for women challenged by this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Colic
- Department of Pharmacology, adMare BioInnovations, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Preya U Patel
- Department of Pharmacology, adMare BioInnovations, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Oliver A Kent
- Department of Pharmacology, adMare BioInnovations, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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Single Shot vs. Cocktail: A Comparison of Mono- and Combinative Application of miRNA-Targeted Mesyl Oligonucleotides for Efficient Antitumor Therapy. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14184396. [PMID: 36139555 PMCID: PMC9496860 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14184396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Revised: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Current approaches to the treatment of oncological diseases are still suffering from a lack of efficiency and selectivity and are accompanied by pronounced non-specific toxic effects. This study evaluated the antitumor potential of highly selective multitarget antisense downregulation of small non-coding RNA molecules—microRNAs—where dysregulation in cells frequently triggers oncotransformation and tumor development. We report herein that combinations of recently developed mesyl phosphoramidate oligonucleotides, targeted to multifunctional miRNA regulators miR-17, miR-21 and miR-155, exhibited potent synergistic antiproliferative and antimigrative effects on highly aggressive tumor cells. Furthermore, the significant antitumor activity of a cocktail of three antisense oligonucleotides targeted to miR-21, miR-17, and miR-155 almost completely suppressed lymphosarcoma RLS40 tumor growth and exerted prominent antimetastatic effects in a melanoma B16 model. Such treatment elicited no sign of in vivo toxicity and even exhibited remedial effects on the liver of tumor-bearing mice. Abstract Rational combinations of sequence-specific inhibitors of pro-oncogenic miRNAs can efficiently interfere with specific tumor survival pathways, offering great promise for targeted therapy of oncological diseases. Herein, we uncovered the potential of multicomponent therapy by double or triple combinations of highly potent mesyl phosphoramidate (µ) antisense oligodeoxynucleotides targeted to three proven pro-oncogenic microRNAs—miR-17, miR-21, and miR-155. A strong synergism in the inhibition of proliferation and migration of B16 melanoma cells was demonstrated in vitro for pairs of µ-oligonucleotides, which resulted in vivo in profound inhibition (up to 85%) of lung metastases development after intravenous injection of µ-oligonucleotide-transfected B16 cells in mice. A clear benefit of µ-21-ON/µ-17-ON and µ-17-ON/µ-155-ON/µ-21-ON combination antitumor therapy was shown for the lymphosarcoma RLS40 solid tumor model. In vivo administration of the µ-17-ON/µ-155-ON/µ-21-ON cocktail into RLS40-bearing mice elicited fourfold delay of tumor growth as a result of strong inhibition of tumor mitotic activity. It was discovered that the cocktail of µ-21-ON/µ-17-ON/µ-155-ON led to a twofold decrease in total destructive changes in murine liver, which indicates both the reduction in toxic tumor burden and the absence of specific toxicity of the proposed therapy.
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