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Identifying molecular targets for the potential interference of the metastatic process of cutaneous melanoma

Beatrice Wang, MD Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC

Melanoma is a highly metastatic cancer that accounts for the majority of skin cancer deaths and can affects teenagers and adults of all ages. Melanoma cells may spread from the skin to distant organs through the blood and, in aggressive cases, the mean survival rate is only 4-6 months. Current treatments are not especially effective for the metastatic phase of the disease therefore identification of new molecular targets that can be exploited in the clinic are desperately needed.
One promising target is KISS1, a gene that is capable of suppressing metastasis. It has been identified in diverse tumors and its expression is correlated with a lower incidence of metastatic disease. We propose to study the presence of this gene in a rabbit animal model of skin melanoma in the context of the metastatic disease.
Our study has the potential for significant implications concerning melanoma and particularly metastasis in the treatment of patients. KISS1 can help physicians to predict prognosis. Understanding the molecular role of KISS1 in skin melanoma can lead to further therapeutic approaches towards metastatic phase of the disease.

©2007