Resveratrol: A New Potential Therapeutic Agent for Melanoma?

Abstract

Melanoma is the most life-threatening and aggressive class of skin malignancies. The incidence of melanoma has steadily increased. Metastatic melanoma is greatly resistant to standard antimelanoma treatments such as chemotherapy, and the 5-year survival rate of cases with melanoma who have a metastatic form of the disease is less than 10%. The contributing role of apoptosis, angiogenesis and autophagy in the pathophysiology of melanoma has been previously demonstrated. Thus, it is extremely urgent to search for complementary therapeutic approaches that could enhance the quality of life of subjects and reduce treatment resistance and adverse effects. Resveratrol, known as a polyphenol component present in grapes and some plants, has anti-cancer properties due to its function as an apoptosis inducer in tumor cells, and anti-angiogenic agent to prevent metastasis. However, more clinical trials should be conducted to prove resveratrol efficacy. Herein, for the first time, we summarize the current knowledge of anti-cancerous activities of resveratrol in melanoma.

Keywords: Melanoma; angiogenesis; apoptosis; natural compounds; resveratrol; therapy.