Metabolic Alterations and Therapeutic Opportunities in Rare Forms of Melanoma

Trends Cancer. 2021 Aug;7(8):671-681. doi: 10.1016/j.trecan.2021.05.005. Epub 2021 Jun 11.

Abstract

Melanoma is derived from melanocytes located in multiple regions of the body. Cutaneous melanoma (CM) represents the major subgroup, but less-common subtypes including uveal melanoma (UM), mucosal melanoma (MM), and acral melanoma (AM) arise that have distinct genetic profiles. Treatments effective for CM are ineffective in UM, AM, and MM, and patient survival remains poor. As reprogrammed cancer metabolism is associated with tumorigenesis, the underlying mechanisms are well studied and provide therapeutic opportunities in many cancers; however, metabolism is less well studied in rarer melanoma subtypes. We summarize current knowledge of the metabolic alterations in rare melanoma and potential applications of targeting cancer metabolism to improve the therapeutic options available to UM, AM, and MM patients.

Keywords: acral; melanoma; metabolism; mucosal; uveal.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Carcinogenesis / genetics
  • Carcinogenesis / metabolism
  • Disease Progression
  • Humans
  • Melanoma / genetics
  • Melanoma / metabolism*
  • Melanoma / mortality
  • Melanoma / pathology
  • Metabolic Networks and Pathways / genetics*
  • Mucous Membrane / pathology*
  • Mutation
  • Rare Diseases / genetics
  • Rare Diseases / metabolism*
  • Rare Diseases / mortality
  • Rare Diseases / pathology
  • Skin Neoplasms / genetics
  • Skin Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Skin Neoplasms / mortality
  • Skin Neoplasms / pathology
  • Survival Rate
  • Uveal Neoplasms / genetics
  • Uveal Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Uveal Neoplasms / mortality
  • Uveal Neoplasms / pathology

Supplementary concepts

  • Uveal melanoma