Subversion of Ras Small GTPases in Cutaneous Melanoma Aggressiveness
The rising incidence and mortality rate associated with the metastatic ability of cutaneous melanoma represent a major public health concern. Cutaneous melanoma is one of the most invasive human cancers, but the molecular mechanisms are poorly understood. Moreover, currently available therapies are...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2020-09-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fcell.2020.575223/full |
| _version_ | 1828446217504292864 |
|---|---|
| author | Cheila Brito Duarte C. Barral Marta Pojo |
| author_facet | Cheila Brito Duarte C. Barral Marta Pojo |
| author_sort | Cheila Brito |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The rising incidence and mortality rate associated with the metastatic ability of cutaneous melanoma represent a major public health concern. Cutaneous melanoma is one of the most invasive human cancers, but the molecular mechanisms are poorly understood. Moreover, currently available therapies are not efficient in avoiding melanoma lethality. In this context, new biomarkers of prognosis, metastasis, and response to therapy are necessary to better predict the disease outcome. Additionally, the knowledge about the molecular alterations and dysregulated pathways involved in melanoma metastasis may provide new therapeutic targets. Members of the Ras superfamily of small GTPases regulate various essential cellular activities, from signaling to membrane traffic and cytoskeleton dynamics. Therefore, it is not surprising that they are differentially expressed, and their functions subverted in several types of cancer, including melanoma. Indeed, Ras small GTPases were found to regulate melanoma progression and invasion. Hence, a better understanding of the mechanisms regulated by Ras small GTPases that are involved in melanoma tumorigenesis and progression may provide new therapeutic strategies to block these processes. Here, we review the current knowledge on the role of Ras small GTPases in melanoma aggressiveness and the molecular mechanisms involved. Furthermore, we summarize the known involvement of these proteins in melanoma metastasis and how these players influence the response to therapy. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T22:08:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7e15614e414846ad9b471ed382752435 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-634X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T22:08:46Z |
| publishDate | 2020-09-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology |
| spelling | doaj.art-7e15614e414846ad9b471ed3827524352022-12-22T01:31:40ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology2296-634X2020-09-01810.3389/fcell.2020.575223575223Subversion of Ras Small GTPases in Cutaneous Melanoma AggressivenessCheila Brito0Duarte C. Barral1Marta Pojo2Unidade de Investigação em Patobiologia Molecular (UIPM) do Instituto Português de Oncologia de Lisboa Francisco Gentil E.P.E., Lisbon, PortugalCEDOC, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, NOVA Medical School, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisbon, PortugalUnidade de Investigação em Patobiologia Molecular (UIPM) do Instituto Português de Oncologia de Lisboa Francisco Gentil E.P.E., Lisbon, PortugalThe rising incidence and mortality rate associated with the metastatic ability of cutaneous melanoma represent a major public health concern. Cutaneous melanoma is one of the most invasive human cancers, but the molecular mechanisms are poorly understood. Moreover, currently available therapies are not efficient in avoiding melanoma lethality. In this context, new biomarkers of prognosis, metastasis, and response to therapy are necessary to better predict the disease outcome. Additionally, the knowledge about the molecular alterations and dysregulated pathways involved in melanoma metastasis may provide new therapeutic targets. Members of the Ras superfamily of small GTPases regulate various essential cellular activities, from signaling to membrane traffic and cytoskeleton dynamics. Therefore, it is not surprising that they are differentially expressed, and their functions subverted in several types of cancer, including melanoma. Indeed, Ras small GTPases were found to regulate melanoma progression and invasion. Hence, a better understanding of the mechanisms regulated by Ras small GTPases that are involved in melanoma tumorigenesis and progression may provide new therapeutic strategies to block these processes. Here, we review the current knowledge on the role of Ras small GTPases in melanoma aggressiveness and the molecular mechanisms involved. Furthermore, we summarize the known involvement of these proteins in melanoma metastasis and how these players influence the response to therapy.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fcell.2020.575223/fullras Small GTPasesbiomarkersmetastasiscancer progressioncancer therapiescutaneous melanoma |
| spellingShingle | Cheila Brito Duarte C. Barral Marta Pojo Subversion of Ras Small GTPases in Cutaneous Melanoma Aggressiveness Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology ras Small GTPases biomarkers metastasis cancer progression cancer therapies cutaneous melanoma |
| title | Subversion of Ras Small GTPases in Cutaneous Melanoma Aggressiveness |
| title_full | Subversion of Ras Small GTPases in Cutaneous Melanoma Aggressiveness |
| title_fullStr | Subversion of Ras Small GTPases in Cutaneous Melanoma Aggressiveness |
| title_full_unstemmed | Subversion of Ras Small GTPases in Cutaneous Melanoma Aggressiveness |
| title_short | Subversion of Ras Small GTPases in Cutaneous Melanoma Aggressiveness |
| title_sort | subversion of ras small gtpases in cutaneous melanoma aggressiveness |
| topic | ras Small GTPases biomarkers metastasis cancer progression cancer therapies cutaneous melanoma |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fcell.2020.575223/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT cheilabrito subversionofrassmallgtpasesincutaneousmelanomaaggressiveness AT duartecbarral subversionofrassmallgtpasesincutaneousmelanomaaggressiveness AT martapojo subversionofrassmallgtpasesincutaneousmelanomaaggressiveness |