Publisher： Bentham Science Publishers
E-ISSN： 1873-4294|12|1|2-2
ISSN： 1568-0266
Source： Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry, Vol.12, Iss.1, 2012-01, pp. : 2-2
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Abstract
The incidence of cutaneous melanoma is rapidly increasing across the world. Treatment of metastatic melanoma is very difficult. One of the most promising strategies is based on the fact that melanoma cells are immunogenic and stimulate the endogenous production of anti-tumor T cells.This special issue of Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry, “The Medicinal Chemistry of Melanoma” covers different novel therapeutic modalities in the treatment of metastatic melanoma.This special issue starts with a review by Sapoznik et al. on the potential value of CEACAM1 (Carcinoembryonic antigenrelated cell adhesion molecule 1) as a melanoma biomarker and therapeutic target. Melanoma patients with active disease have high serum levels of soluble CEACAM1. Clinical relevance of CEACAM1 as a biomarker has been discussed. Based on invitro, in-vivo and patients-derived data authors developed an anti-human CEACAM1 monoclonal antibody, which blocks CEACAM1 homophilic interactions and inhibits melanoma progression in human melanoma-xenografted mice. The research team led by Professor Jacob Schechter suggests that CEACAM1 can be a novel target for anti-melanoma immuno-interventions.In the next article, Ferrucci et al. reviewed newly identified tumour antigens as promising cancer vaccine targets in the treatment of metastatic melanoma. This in-depth review of novel and contemporary antigen-targeted vaccination strategies in the treatment of melanoma has two parts. The first part discusses vaccine modalities targeting MAGE-A3 and the Cancer testis (CT) antigens while the second part gives a comprehensive overview on vaccine strategies based on Heat shock proteins. Ferrucci et al. suggests tailored therapy for each melanoma patient chosen on the basis of the gene alterations identified in the single tumour.In the following contribution, an overview of the importance of angiogenesis in melanoma and future directions for antiangiogenic strategies in the management of melanoma was presented. This extensive review discusses different molecularly targeted anti-angiogenic strategies to inhibit angiogenesis in melanoma according to their targets: agents targeting proangiogenic ligands, monoclonal antibodies interrupting pro-angiogenic pathways, VEGF-Trap (soluble VEGF receptor), small molecule kinase inhibitors, drugs targeting MMPs and Integrins and anti-angiogenic agents with other mechanisms of action (agents with actions beyond the VEGF(R) axis).In his review Gartel summarized recent data on anticancer drug-induced apoptosis in human melanoma cells and discussed different proteasome inhibitors used alone or in combination with other drugs to inducing efficient, caspase-dependent and caspase-independent apoptosis in melanoma cells. This review provides important information needed for designing more efficient combinations of anticancer drugs against melanoma.....
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