Melanoma Plasticity: Promoter of Metastasis and Resistance to Therapy

Overview

Journal Front Oncol

Specialty Oncology

Date 2021 Oct 4

PMID 34604096

Citations 28

Authors

Fan Huang

Francois Santinon

Raul Ernesto Flores Gonzalez

Sonia V del Rincon

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer. Although targeted therapies and immunotherapies have revolutionized the treatment of metastatic melanoma, most patients are not cured. Therapy resistance remains a significant clinical challenge. Melanoma comprises phenotypically distinct subpopulations of cells, exhibiting distinct gene signatures leading to tumor heterogeneity and favoring therapeutic resistance. Cellular plasticity in melanoma is referred to as phenotype switching. Regardless of their genomic classification, melanomas switch from a proliferative and differentiated phenotype to an invasive, dedifferentiated and often therapy-resistant state. In this review we discuss potential mechanisms underpinning melanoma phenotype switching, how this cellular plasticity contributes to resistance to both targeted therapies and immunotherapies. Finally, we highlight novel strategies to target plasticity and their potential clinical impact in melanoma.

Citing Articles

LncRNAs in melanoma phenotypic plasticity: emerging targets for promising therapies.

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The uniqueness of ABCB5 as a full transporter ABCB5FL and a half-transporter-like ABCB5β.

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Immune escape and metastasis mechanisms in melanoma: breaking down the dichotomy.

Shirley C, Chhabra G, Amiri D, Chang H, Ahmad N Front Immunol. 2024; 15:1336023.

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Artificial Intelligence for Precision Oncology of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Learning from Melanoma.

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BRAF - a tumour-agnostic drug target with lineage-specific dependencies.

Hanrahan A, Chen Z, Rosen N, Solit D Nat Rev Clin Oncol. 2024; 21(3):224-247.

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