Why is melanoma so metastatic?

Summary Malignant melanoma is one of the most aggressive cancers and can disseminate from a relatively small primary tumor and metastasize to multiple sites, including the lung, liver, brain, bone, and lymph nodes. Elucidating the molecular and genetic changes that take place during the metastatic p...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Pigment cell and melanoma research 2014-01, Vol.27 (1), p.19-36
Main Authors: Braeuer, Russell R., Watson, Ian R., Wu, Chang-Jiun, Mobley, Aaron K., Kamiya, Takafumi, Shoshan, Einav, Bar-Eli, Menashe
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
angiogenesis
Animals
Antigens, Neoplasm - genetics
Antigens, Neoplasm - metabolism
Gene expression
Gene Expression Profiling
Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
Humans
Melanoma
Melanoma - genetics
Melanoma - metabolism
Melanoma - pathology
mesenchymal phenotype
metastasis
mutations profile
Neoplasm Metastasis
Neovascularization, Pathologic - genetics
Neovascularization, Pathologic - metabolism
Neovascularization, Pathologic - pathology
Organ Specificity
Skin cancer
stemness
Tumors
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Summary:Summary Malignant melanoma is one of the most aggressive cancers and can disseminate from a relatively small primary tumor and metastasize to multiple sites, including the lung, liver, brain, bone, and lymph nodes. Elucidating the molecular and genetic changes that take place during the metastatic process has led to a better understanding of why melanoma is so metastatic. Herein, we describe the unique features that distinguish melanoma from other solid tumors and contribute to the malignant phenotype of melanoma cells. For example, although melanoma cells are highly antigenic, they are extremely efficient at evading host immune response. Melanoma cells share numerous cell surface molecules with vascular cells, are highly angiogenic, are mesenchymal in nature, and possess a higher degree of ‘stemness’ than do other solid tumors. Finally, analysis of melanoma mutations has revealed that the gene expression profile of malignant melanoma is different from that of other cancers. Elucidating these molecular and genetic processes in highly metastatic melanoma can lead to the development of improved treatment and individualized therapy options.
ISSN:1755-1471
1755-148X
DOI:10.1111/pcmr.12172