Protein finding can pave the way for improved treatment of malignant melanoma

Today it is not possible to predict spreading from malignant melanomas. Melanoma metastases are furthermore extremely difficult to eliminate as traditional treatment such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy is mostly ineffective. Only ten per cent of the patients survive once they reach an advanced stage with distant metastases.

New research now demonstrates that the presence of the protein megalin in a malignant melanoma is an indicator of cancer cells that are particularly aggressive. The protein improves the ability of the cancer cells to divide and to survive. Accordingly, it has also been found in a number of metastases from malignant melanomas.

The discovery point towards the possibility of identifying aggressive melanomas at an earlier stage than is currently possible, which could turn out to be of utmost value for correct prognosis and improved treatment strategies for patients with malignant melanomas in the future. The research results have been published in one of the most prestigious scientific journals in the area, Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research.

May be possible to predict disease progression

It is the first time that the protein megalin, which is otherwise primarily known for its function in the kidneys, has been connected with malignant melanomas. The novel knowledge is the result of long-standing research in the field of cell surface receptor proteins at the Department of Biomedicine at Aarhus University.

Malignant melanoma is a neoplasm of melanocytes or a neoplasm of the cells that develop from melanocytes. Although it was once considered uncommon, the annual incidence has increased dramatically over the past few decades. Surgery is the definitive treatment for early-stage melanoma, with medical management generally reserved for adjuvant treatment of advanced melanoma.

The FDA has granted accelerated approval to pembrolizumab for unresectable or metastatic melanoma and disease progression following treatment with ipilimumab and, if BRAF V600 mutation positive, a BRAF inhibitor. Pembrolizumab is the first immunomodulator that acts as a programmed death (PD) inhibitor. Approval was based on data that included the results of a study in which approximately 24% of patients experienced tumor shrinkage.
Signs and symptoms

The history should address the following:

Family history of melanoma or skin cancer
Family history of irregular, prominent moles
Family history of pancreatic cancer or astrocytoma
Previous melanoma (sometimes multiple; patients have reported as many as 8 or more primary melanomas)
Previous sun exposure
Changes noted in moles (eg, size, color, symmetry, bleeding, or ulceration)
History or family history of multiple nevus syndrome