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Updated: Aug 9, 2026
A 3D Organotypic Melanoma Spheroid Skin Model
Published on: May 18, 2018
Melanin as a potential target for radionuclide therapy of metastatic melanoma
Ekaterina Dadachova1, Arturo Casadevall
1Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA. edadacho@aecom.yu.edu
Abstract:
Melanoma is diagnosed in approximately 100,000 patients worldwide and for those with metastatic disease, the 5-year survival is extremely poor at just 6%, because there are no satisfactory treatments. Targeted radionuclide therapy is currently gaining momentum and has evolved into an efficient modality for the treatment of patients with malignancies such as non-Hodgkins lymphoma in whom standard antineoplastic therapies are not effective. Melanoma is named after the pigment melanin, which in turn is derived from the Greek word for black. Most melanomas are pigmented by the presence of melanin, some of which is extracellular as a result of cellular turnover. Thus, melanin presents a promising target for the drugs carrying a cytotoxic payload of radiation provided such therapies spare other melanotic tissues. There are a variety of substances that could potentially serve as delivery vehicles of radionuclides for the treatment of melanoma. These substances can be divided into melanin binders, melanin precursors and binders to melanogenesis-related proteins. The authors are optimistic that therapeutic agents targeting melanin to deliver radionuclide therapy could appear in the clinic within a decade.
Insights
Targeted radionuclide therapy shows promise for treating metastatic melanoma by targeting melanin. This innovative approach aims to deliver radiation effectively while sparing healthy tissues, offering new hope for patients.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Radiochemistry
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Metastatic melanoma has a poor 5-year survival rate (6%) due to limited effective treatments.
- Targeted radionuclide therapy is an emerging treatment modality for various cancers, including non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the potential of melanin as a target for radionuclide delivery in melanoma treatment.
- To identify and categorize potential delivery vehicles for radionuclides in melanoma therapy.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on melanoma, melanin biology, and radionuclide therapy.
- Categorization of potential drug delivery vehicles based on their interaction with melanin or related proteins.
Main Results:
- Melanin, abundant in most melanomas and partly extracellular, presents a viable target for radionuclide delivery.
- Potential delivery vehicles include melanin binders, melanin precursors, and binders to melanogenesis-related proteins.
Conclusions:
- Targeting melanin with radionuclides offers a promising strategy for melanoma treatment.
- Therapeutic agents for melanin-targeted radionuclide therapy may be available within a decade.
