Comprehensive analysis of cellular and molecular characteristics of acral melanoma
Acral melanoma is most common among people of Asian, Hispanic and African American heritage. Those who develop the disease are often diagnosed at a late, more advanced stage and therefore have poorer outcomes. Additionally, some of the common genetic alterations observed in melanoma are not seen in acral melanoma. Despite these differences, acral melanoma is treated with the same therapies used for melanoma and are often unsuccessful.
The Moffitt team, led by Keiran Smalley, Ph.D., and Y. Ann Chen, Ph.D., sought to identify the characteristics that distinguish acral melanoma from melanoma to better understand the disease and design more effective therapies. They analyzed the molecular and cellular composition of acral melanoma patient samples, including those from primary tumors and sites of metastatic spread. They also compared these samples to patient samples from those with melanoma.
The researchers discovered several key characteristics of acral melanoma that may be potential therapeutic targets.
The researchers hope that their identification of these key differences will lead to more effective treatments for acral melanoma patients in the future.
“We have undertaken the first comprehensive analysis of the immune/tumor transcriptional landscape of acral melanoma. Our study identified unique features of the immune environment of acral melanoma, including immune checkpoints of translational interest that could represent novel therapeutic targets for this neglected disease,” said Smalley.
This study was supported by the National Cancer Institute (P30CA076292), the Melanoma Research Alliance, the Florida Department of Health (9LA03) and the Moffitt Foundation.