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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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Cheng TW, Ahern MC, Giubellino A. The Spectrum of Spitz Melanocytic Lesions: From Morphologic Diagnosis to Molecular Classification. Front Oncol 2022; 12:889223. [PMID: 35747831 PMCID: PMC9209745 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.889223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Spitz tumors represent a distinct subtype of melanocytic lesions with characteristic histopathologic features, some of which are overlapping with melanoma. More common in the pediatric and younger population, they can be clinically suspected by recognizing specific patterns on dermatoscopic examination, and several subtypes have been described. We now classify these lesions into benign Spitz nevi, intermediate lesions identified as “atypical Spitz tumors” (or Spitz melanocytoma) and malignant Spitz melanoma. More recently a large body of work has uncovered the molecular underpinning of Spitz tumors, including mutations in the HRAS gene and several gene fusions involving several protein kinases. Here we present an overarching view of our current knowledge and understanding of Spitz tumors, detailing clinical, histopathological and molecular features characteristic of these lesions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiffany W. Cheng
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Madeline C. Ahern
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Alessio Giubellino
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
- *Correspondence: Alessio Giubellino,
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