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Updated: Jul 2, 2025
Spatial and Temporal Control of Murine Melanoma Initiation from Mutant Melanocyte Stem Cells
Published on: June 7, 2019
Dormancy of cutaneous melanoma
Kathrin Singvogel1, Birgit Schittek2,3
1Division of Dermatooncology, Department of Dermatology, University of Tübingen, Liebermeisterstr. 25, D -72076 , Tübingen, Germany.
Abstract:
Many cancer-related deaths including melanoma result from metastases that develop months or years after the initial cancer therapy. Even the most effective drugs and immune therapies rarely eradicate all tumor cells. Instead, they strongly reduce cancer burden, permitting dormant cancer cells to persist in niches, where they establish a cellular homeostasis with their host without causing clinical symptoms. Dormant cancers respond poorly to most drugs and therapies since they do not proliferate and hide in niches. It therefore remains a major challenge to develop novel therapies for dormant cancers. In this review we focus on the mechanisms regulating the initiation of cutaneous melanoma dormancy as well as those which are involved in reawakening of dormant cutaneous melanoma cells. In recent years the role of neutrophils and niche components in reawakening of melanoma cells came into focus and indicate possible future therapeutic applications. Sophisticated in vitro and in vivo melanoma dormancy models are needed to make progress in this field and are discussed.
Insights
Melanoma cells can become dormant after treatment, evading therapies. Understanding dormancy initiation and reawakening mechanisms, especially involving neutrophils, is key to developing new treatments for persistent cancer.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cancer Biology
- Immunology
Background:
- Metastatic melanoma remains a significant cause of cancer mortality, often arising years after initial therapy.
- Current treatments rarely eliminate all tumor cells, leading to persistent dormant cancer cells.
- Dormant cancer cells evade therapies by not proliferating and residing in protective niches.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the mechanisms controlling the initiation of cutaneous melanoma dormancy.
- To explore the processes involved in the reawakening of dormant cutaneous melanoma cells.
- To highlight potential therapeutic strategies targeting melanoma dormancy.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on melanoma dormancy.
- Analysis of recent findings on the role of neutrophils and niche components.
- Discussion of current and needed melanoma dormancy models.
Main Results:
- Melanoma dormancy is regulated by specific initiation and reawakening mechanisms.
- Neutrophils and niche components play crucial roles in reawakening dormant melanoma cells.
- These insights suggest potential future therapeutic applications.
Conclusions:
- Targeting dormancy initiation and reawakening pathways offers novel therapeutic opportunities for melanoma.
- Further development of sophisticated in vitro and in vivo models is essential for advancing this field.
- Understanding melanoma dormancy is critical for preventing metastasis and improving patient outcomes.
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