Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 29, 2026

A 3D Organotypic Melanoma Spheroid Skin Model
08:49

A 3D Organotypic Melanoma Spheroid Skin Model

Published on: May 18, 2018

Drug resistance in human melanoma: mechanisms and therapeutic opportunities

H Röckmann1, D Schadendorf

  • 1Skin Cancer Unit at the German Cancer Research Center, University of Heidelberg, Germany. h.roeckemann@dkfz.de

Onkologie
|January 8, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Chemotherapy resistance in malignant melanoma is a major challenge, often stemming from disrupted apoptotic processes. Understanding these mechanisms offers new therapeutic targets for melanoma treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • Malignant melanoma exhibits poor response to conventional chemotherapy.
  • Melanoma chemoresistance significantly contributes to its poor prognosis.
  • Cellular mechanisms underlying melanoma chemoresistance require further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review established drug-resistance mechanisms in melanoma.
  • To investigate the role of apoptosis dysregulation in melanoma chemoresistance.
  • To identify novel therapeutic targets for overcoming chemoresistance.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of drug-resistance mechanisms (transport, enzyme systems, DNA repair).
  • Analysis of studies implicating apoptosis in melanoma chemoresistance.
  • Examination of genetic and protein factors regulating apoptosis.

Main Results:

  • Drug resistance in melanoma is strongly linked to dysregulated apoptotic processes.
  • Apoptosis regulation involves complex molecular signaling pathways.
  • Identification of apoptosis-related genes and proteins provides therapeutic avenues.

Conclusions:

  • Dysregulation of apoptosis is a key factor in melanoma chemoresistance.
  • Targeting apoptosis pathways offers potential strategies to enhance chemotherapy efficacy.
  • Further research into molecular variants can lead to new melanoma treatments.

More Related Videos

A Melanoma Patient-Derived Xenograft Model07:07

A Melanoma Patient-Derived Xenograft Model

Published on: May 20, 2019

A Robust Discovery Platform for the Identification of Novel Mediators of Melanoma Metastasis07:41

A Robust Discovery Platform for the Identification of Novel Mediators of Melanoma Metastasis

Published on: March 8, 2022

Related Concept Videos

Treatment Resistant Cancers02:56

Treatment Resistant Cancers

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. A cancer cell is genetically unstable and hence can mutate faster. They can also modify their microenvironment and escape immune surveillance. The difficulties in treating cancer are further compounded by the emergence of rapid resistance to anticancer drugs. The most common ways to attain resistance in cancer cells include alteration in drug transport and metabolism, modification of drug target, elevated DNA damage response, or...
Treatment Resistent Cancers02:56

Treatment Resistent Cancers

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. A cancer cell is genetically unstable and hence can mutate faster. They can also modify their microenvironment and escape immune surveillance. The difficulties in treating cancer are further compounded by the emergence of rapid resistance to anticancer drugs. The most common ways to attain resistance in cancer cells include alteration in drug transport and metabolism, modification of drug target, elevated DNA damage response, or...
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine02:50

Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine

Combining two or more treatment methods increases the life span of cancer patients while reducing damage to vital organs or tissue from the overuse of a single treatment. Combination therapy also targets different cancer-inducing pathways, thus reducing the chances of developing resistance to treatment.
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells02:53

Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells

Cancer cells accumulate genetic changes at an abnormally rapid rate due to the defects in the DNA repair mechanisms. From an evolutionary perspective, such genetic instability is advantageous for cancer development. Mutant cell lines accumulate a series of beneficial mutations that contribute to their progression into cancer.
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...