A 3D Skin Melanoma Spheroid-Based Model to Assess Tumor-Immune Cell Interactions

Advancements in melanoma cancer metastasis models

Metastatic melanoma is a complex and deadly disease. Due to its complexity, the development of novel therapeutic strategies to inhibit metastatic melanoma remains an outstanding challenge. Our ability to study metastasis is advanced with the development of in vitro and in vivo models that better mimic the different steps of the metastatic cascade beginning from primary tumor initiation to final metastatic seeding. In this review, we provide a comprehensive summary of in vitro models, in vivo models, and in silico platforms to study the individual steps of melanoma metastasis. Furthermore, we highlight the advantages and limitations of each model and discuss the challenges of how to improve current models to enhance translation for melanoma cancer patients and future therapies.

Innate Lymphoid Cells in Skin Homeostasis and Malignancy

Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are mostly tissue resident lymphocytes that are preferentially enriched in barrier tissues such as the skin. Although they lack the expression of somatically rearranged antigen receptors present on T and B cells, ILCs partake in multiple immune pathways by regulating tissue inflammation and potentiating adaptive immunity. Emerging evidence indicates that ILCs play a critical role in the control of melanoma, a type of skin malignancy thought to trigger immunity mediated mainly by adaptive immune responses. Here, we compile our current understanding of ILCs with regard to their role as the first line of defence against melanoma development and progression. We also discuss areas that merit further investigation. We envisage that the possibility to harness therapeutic potential of ILCs might benefit patients suffering from skin malignancies such as melanoma.