Current Trends in Mucosal Melanomas: An Overview

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Dermatology
• Genetics

Background:

• Primary mucosal melanomas (MMs) are rare melanocyte-derived tumors distinct from cutaneous melanoma (CM).
• MMs exhibit unique epidemiological, genetic, and clinical characteristics, impacting diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment response.
• Current treatment approaches for MMs often mirror CM, despite lower immunotherapy response rates and poorer survival outcomes in MM patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent molecular and clinical advancements in primary mucosal melanomas (MMs).
• To highlight updated knowledge on diagnostic, clinical, and therapeutic implications for MM subtypes.
• To explore future research directions for improving MM diagnosis and treatment.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature review focusing on molecular and clinical studies of primary mucosal melanomas (MMs).
• Analysis of 'omics' data to understand the genomic, molecular, and metabolic landscapes of MM.
• Synthesis of information on diagnostic markers, clinical presentations, and therapeutic responses across different MM subtypes.

Main Results:

• MMs possess distinct molecular and metabolic profiles compared to CM, explaining therapeutic response heterogeneity.
• Novel 'omics' techniques reveal specific genetic and molecular landscapes in MM lesions.
• Significant inter-patient variability exists in therapeutic response, particularly to immunotherapy.

Conclusions:

• Identifying MM-specific molecular features is crucial for developing new biomarkers.
• Biomarkers can improve diagnosis and patient selection for targeted therapies and immunotherapy.
• Further research into MM subtypes and their unique molecular characteristics is warranted to enhance treatment strategies and patient survival.