Metastatic melanoma: Dual treatment to fight

Monika R, PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore

Melanoma is a deadly skin cancer that is said to occur mainly because of the accumulation of mutations in growth-regulating genes, the loss of adhesion receptors, and the increase in autocrine and paracrine growth factors- all of which contribute to uncontrolled proliferation promoting the survival of those abnormal cells. 

Globally, metastatic melanoma is the leading reason behind death from skin cancer. The primary treatment for this disease involves inhibiting the BRAF oncogene expression, but the limitation of this approach is that the cancer cells can become resistant to the therapy and regrow because the inhibitor only stops them rather than killing them. Additionally, chemotherapy alone has not been able to enhance overall survival for patients with this disease. But recently groundbreaking research was conducted which can provide a crucial weapon in fighting this deadly disease. 

This study was demonstrated as a collaborative effort by researchers from the Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Hospital del Mar, and CIBER Cancer (CIBERONC), and also the Bellvitge Medical Research Institute.

The researchers were optimistic about the dual treatment approach, which involves the combination of chemotherapy and inhibition of BRAF oncogene expression, to avoid certain resistance and relapse and to fight this disease.

Does the dual treatment work?

In the article, the team analyzed what effect the combination of chemotherapy and BRAF oncogene inhibitors have on metastatic melanoma. The same researchers, in their previous study, have demonstrated the ability to reduce rectal and colon cancer by inhibiting BRAF oncogene expression to repair after chemotherapy treatment. 

Dr Lluís Espinosa, a researcher at the IMIM-Hospital del Mar and CIBERONC and also the author of the study said: “We have tested the performance of dual treatment both separately and together in tumour cells and in mice in vitro. This dual treatment approach proved to be superior in all trials after one week of treatment, with the advantages maintained at the treatment’s conclusion”.

Mechanism

The mechanism was simple. The researchers combined low-dose chemotherapy, which has very low toxicity, with BRAF inhibitors and damaged the cell’s DNA with the chemotherapy while at the same time they prevented the cell from repairing itself due to the BRAF inhibitors. This not only enhances the effect of each of the treatments, but it would also make the effect irreversible.

Uses of this novel method

The dual treatment method has potentially revealed the most optimal strategy for defeating metastatic melanoma- the leading reason for death from skin cancer around the globe, by combining chemotherapy and BRAF oncogene inhibitors.

Dr. Fernando Gallardo, head of the dermatology department and the co-author of the study, said, “We have demonstrated the therapeutic potential of dual treatment to eradicate cancer cells. This strategy also offers a brand-new therapeutic perspective for patients with mutations affecting the BRAF oncogene“.

This study reveals that dual treatment can have an infinite effect on the progression of metastatic melanoma. Furthermore, because the combined treatment eliminates tumor cells instead of stopping their growth, it might eradicate lengthy treatments and potential resistance. The researchers also are confident in this approach, that it may be applied to treat other types of cancer, including some rare subtypes of melanoma that are currently untreatable. 

Also read: Understanding Cancer pathophysiology via isotopic tracing

Source:

• Thomas, J. (2021, July 13). Optimising metastatic melanoma therapy by combining two treatments. Health Europa. https://www.healtheuropa.eu/optimising-metastatic-melanoma-therapy-by-combining-two-treatments/109884/
• Researchers discover new approach to fight metastatic melanoma. DtNext.In. https://www.dtnext.in/Lifestyle/Wellbeing/2021/07/13225733/130543/Researchers-discover-new-approach-to-fight-metastatic-.vpf

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About the author: Monika Raman is an undergraduate student pursuing her final year B. Tech in Biotechnology. She is an enthusiastic Biotech student aspiring for an opportunity to develop skills and grow professionally in the research field. Extremely motivated and possess strong interpersonal skills.