M. V. Zhilnikova, O. S. Troitskaya, D. D. Novak, V. V. Atamanov, O. A. Koval
{"title":"Uveal Melanoma: Molecular and Genetic Mechanisms of Development and Therapeutic Approaches","authors":"M. V. Zhilnikova, O. S. Troitskaya, D. D. Novak, V. V. Atamanov, O. A. Koval","doi":"10.1134/s0026893324020183","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Abstract</h3><p>Uveal melanoma (UM) is a neuroectodermal tumor that results from malignant transformation of melanocytes in the eye uvea, including the iris, the ciliary body, and the choroid. UM accounts for 5% of all melanoma cases and is extremely aggressive with half of the UM patients developing metastases within the first 1‒2 years after tumor development. Molecular mechanisms of UM carcinogenesis are poorly understood, but are known to differ from those of skin melanoma. Activating mutations of the <i>GNAQ</i> and <i>GNA11</i> genes, which code for the large G protein subunits Gq and G11, respectively, are found in 90% of UM patients. The Gaq/PKC/MAPK signaling pathway is a main signaling cascade that leads to the transformation of melanocytes of the uveal tract, and major regulators of the cascade provide targets for the development of drugs. Metastatic UM (MUM) is most often associated with mutations of <i>BAP1</i>, <i>EIF1AX</i>, <i>GNA11</i>, <i>GNAQ</i>, and <i>SF3B1</i>. A combination of a commercial expression test panel of 15 genes and a mutation panel of 7 genes, supplemented with data on the size of the primary tumor, is highly efficient in predicting the risk of metastasis. The risk of metastasis determines the choice of therapy and the patient follow-up regimen. However, no systemic therapy for MUM has been developed to date. New drugs undergoing clinical trials are mostly targeted drugs designed to inhibit the protein products of mutant genes or immunotherapeutic agents designed to stimulate the immune response against specific antigens. In addition to these approaches, potential therapeutic targets of epigenetic regulation of UM development are considered in the review.</p>","PeriodicalId":18734,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Biology","volume":"45 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5000,"publicationDate":"2024-04-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Molecular Biology","FirstCategoryId":"99","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1134/s0026893324020183","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q4","JCRName":"BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Uveal melanoma (UM) is a neuroectodermal tumor that results from malignant transformation of melanocytes in the eye uvea, including the iris, the ciliary body, and the choroid. UM accounts for 5% of all melanoma cases and is extremely aggressive with half of the UM patients developing metastases within the first 1‒2 years after tumor development. Molecular mechanisms of UM carcinogenesis are poorly understood, but are known to differ from those of skin melanoma. Activating mutations of the GNAQ and GNA11 genes, which code for the large G protein subunits Gq and G11, respectively, are found in 90% of UM patients. The Gaq/PKC/MAPK signaling pathway is a main signaling cascade that leads to the transformation of melanocytes of the uveal tract, and major regulators of the cascade provide targets for the development of drugs. Metastatic UM (MUM) is most often associated with mutations of BAP1, EIF1AX, GNA11, GNAQ, and SF3B1. A combination of a commercial expression test panel of 15 genes and a mutation panel of 7 genes, supplemented with data on the size of the primary tumor, is highly efficient in predicting the risk of metastasis. The risk of metastasis determines the choice of therapy and the patient follow-up regimen. However, no systemic therapy for MUM has been developed to date. New drugs undergoing clinical trials are mostly targeted drugs designed to inhibit the protein products of mutant genes or immunotherapeutic agents designed to stimulate the immune response against specific antigens. In addition to these approaches, potential therapeutic targets of epigenetic regulation of UM development are considered in the review.
期刊介绍:
Molecular Biology is an international peer reviewed journal that covers a wide scope of problems in molecular, cell and computational biology including genomics, proteomics, bioinformatics, molecular virology and immunology, molecular development biology, molecular evolution and related areals. Molecular Biology publishes reviews, experimental and theoretical works. Every year, the journal publishes special issues devoted to most rapidly developing branches of physical-chemical biology and to the most outstanding scientists.