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Updated: Aug 14, 2025

A Robust Discovery Platform for the Identification of Novel Mediators of Melanoma Metastasis
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Metabolism heterogeneity in melanoma fuels deactivation of immunotherapy: Predict before protect

Xinyue Zhang1,2,3, Zongguang Tai1, Fengze Miao1

  • 1Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.

Frontiers in Oncology
|January 9, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Metabolic reprogramming in malignant melanoma creates a tumor microenvironment (TME) that hinders immunotherapy. Regulating melanoma metabolism can improve the TME and enhance immunotherapy efficacy.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Immunology
  • Metabolic Research

Background:

  • Malignant melanoma, a lethal skin cancer, exhibits metabolic reprogramming.
  • Altered glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) create a hypoxic, acidic tumor microenvironment (TME).
  • This TME suppresses immune cell function, leading to poor immunotherapy response rates.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review energy metabolism in melanoma and its regulation.
  • To explore the integration of immunotherapy with metabolism regulators.
  • To identify future research directions for improving melanoma treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of melanoma metabolism and immunotherapy.
  • Analysis of metabolic reprogramming in the tumor microenvironment.
  • Discussion of metabolism regulators and their potential clinical applications.

Main Results:

  • Melanoma's metabolic heterogeneity poses challenges for treatment.
  • Metabolic regulators show promise in combination with immunotherapy.
  • Improving the TME through metabolic intervention is key to enhancing immunotherapy.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding and predicting melanoma metabolism is crucial for improving local immune responses.
  • Metabolism regulators are expected to increase treatment efficacy when combined with immunotherapy.
  • Targeting tumor metabolism offers a promising strategy for enhancing melanoma immunotherapy outcomes.
Keywords:
combination therapyimmunotherapymelanomametabolism heterogeneitytumor microenvironment

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