Molecular Biology, Immune Surveillance and Progressive Disease: New Insights in Melanoma Research
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Biology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2021) | Viewed by 14886
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Molecular analysis has revolutionized both the diagnostic and therapeutic approach to cancer. Histology of melanoma metastases can mimic many different tumor types, especially if non-pigmented. While some patients with metastatic disease have no melanoma history given complete primary melanoma regression or incorrect initial nevus diagnosis, immunohistochemistry with metastatic positivity for melanocytic markers/S-100 protein enables correct diagnosis. However, some transdifferentiated melanomas are negative for those markers and may even show aberrant mesenchymal and/or epidermal differentiation. In early 2000, polymerase chain reaction and, later on, next-generation sequencing (NGS) detected BRAF, NRAS, and other driver mutations in melanoma. Identifying such melanoma driver mutations enables correct diagnosis in transdifferentiated melanomas. Furthermore, NGS is increasingly used for the assessment of diagnostically difficult melanocytic lesions with morphologically uncertain malignant potential.
New medications targeting driver genes as well as immune check-point inhibitory medications have revolutionized melanoma therapy. Molecular analysis is critical here too to evaluate whether medication is available for the present driver mutation. Furthermore, tumors with high mutational burden and many tumor-associated macrophages are better responders to immune checkpoint inhibitory therapies.
Molecular analysis has demonstrated that melanomas are inconsistent among each other. Cutaneous, acral, uveal, and mucosal melanomas have site-specific mutations and different mutational burden. However, epigenetic influences should not be underestimated, as methylom analyses have shown in brain tumors.
The aim of this Special Issue is to provide studies and reviews offering insights into molecular biology, immune surveillance, and tumor progression of melanoma.
Dr. Daniela Mihic-Probst
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- Melanoma
- Metastasis
- Angiotropism
- Tumor cell plasticitiy
- Stem cells
- Hypoxia
- Angiogenesis
- Melanoma-associated macrophages
- Regression
- Immune surveillance
- immune check point inhibitor
- tumor targeting therapy
- melanoma therapy
- melanoma therapy adverse events